Hypnotic improvisational string track on Cretan lyra. Layers of overlapping Cretan lyra play drone-like modal phrases. At 3 minutes, the various lines come together along with added percussion, to form a more driving, unified, full melody, growing in intensity with hints of Irish folk music and Arabic music, to a powerful ending. Mesmerising, contemplative and experimental, singular sounds for a documentary looking at lesser-known cultures, spiritual places or undefinable combinations of cultures.
Tag Archives: Strings
A Happy Death
Solemn atmospheric piano-led track with orchestral strings. Starts with a string drone that builds in force and dissonance. Single piano and glockenspiel notes tinkle on the edges. This fades out and is replaced by regular melancholy piano chords with ambient percussive rattles and mouse-like squeaks adding a layer of intrigue. Intense and melancholy yet playful, an unusual combination of sounds to suit an off-kilter film or quirky yet sombre advert.
Bea
Instrumental classical/jazz track. Strings in conversation, playing melodic cycles. Warm, resonant piano enter, joined by marimba flourishes and a deep, soothing strings melody. Jazz piano chords, and the melody repeated in various registers. Marimba solo over sustained strings and a meandering improv section in the last minute. Earthy, romantic and enveloping, a calming jazz number, reminiscent of sprawling Ethiopian jazz rooted by a strong melody, as well as the gentle, rich Gymnopédie melody. Suitable for a very laid back advert or a pastoral Film/TV sequence set under a beaming winter sun.
Forever’s Not Long Enough
Uplifting piano and guitar rock instrumental. Gentle piano chord intro building anticipation. Washes of synth and heartfelt electric guitar notes build to a strummed acoustic guitar section. Builds to full-bodied, inspiring chorus lead by guitar. Emotional, subdued mid section builds back to hopeful chorus with added string parts. Excited, driven and positive, heartwarming soft rock, perfect for a wholesome advert or as optimistic background music for daytime TV.
Cafe Incident
Tense orchestral string track. Choppy violins enter with erratic melodic phrases over a foreboding sustained double bass note. Extra layers of strings interrupt each other creating a chaotic ambiance. Screeching violin samples then flurry over drums and a strong, driving, repeated melodic idea, coming to a dramatic finish. Nerve-wracking, threatening and doom-laden, a worrying barrage of string suspense, suited to an action movie scene or advert evoking this sense of exhilarating fear.
Moonbow
Contemporary classical multi-instrumental track. Languid strings and soft piano, a gentle swaying melody. Strings trills. Chordal piano with hints of Japanese influence. New section, rhythmic, bouncy marimba and swooping, lush, woozy strings and contemplative piano. Relaxed, thoughtful and peaceful, like Satie x Studio Ghibli, a beautiful, colourful and playful set of contrasts to suit a romantic or devastatingly beautiful TV/Film scene.
And You? Dove Sei?
Hypnotic hangdrum track. A hangdrum melody repeats in cycles, joined by hand drums, suspenseful electronics and tension-building strings. Mysterious, tense and thoughtful, moody music to suit a tense thriller – the disquieting calm before the storm.
Listen to the Dialogue While I Do My Thing
Atmospheric synth instrumental. Layers of echoing synth. Fat, warm, 80s reverb-laden sound. Sombre orchestral string effect, chiming piano and glacial beats gives a serious, driving feeling. Intriguing, mysterious and strange, Twin Peaks-style ambience crossed with Enya and the Crimewatch theme tune, would suit a dark TV drama or as tension-building background music to an eye-opening documentary.
Not My Ask
Romantic jazz instrumental. Breathy saxophone melody, softly strummed guitar and gentle piano chords, joined by a selection of strings playing the undulating melodic idea in canon. Saxophone plays out before melting away to sultry breathiness again for the wistful mid-section. Strings wail, clarinet cuts through as the track builds in intensity before a quiet, reduced ending. Beautiful, sensual, intense and thoughtful, like the soulful East African jazz of Étiopiques. Would suit a highly charged, tender, romantic moment on TV/Film, or a reflective advert for something very special.
Obstinate
Dramatic orchestral track. A flighty melodic phrase on woodwind, mimicked by strings and punctuated by vigorous percussion, joined by countermelody on woodwind before fuller orchestral melody enters. Excited, suspenseful, tense and nervous. Reminiscent of the Animals of Farthing Wood theme, suitable for a dramatic, high stakes film/TV sequence or an advert for a disaster-averting product.