There's been much discussions on this site on low activity, and ideas on how to raise interest in the site. Well, I'm been mulling this for a few days, and think that we need "the big idea". In the past we've done a rework of a classic album (Beatles album), where members have taken part of the overall task away, and contributed to something 'bigger'. I wonder if something like this would drive activity????
Following from this, have been listening to Audibles new version of War Of the Worlds, bring alive a classic novel being read with music. I did think "we could do that" as a 'big idea' project. That would take a significant amount of work and collaboration though, and would require some one to lead the process - so would be a big ask. Although I wonder if that would fire everyone up???
B
Crikey Bruno - it's doing nothing for me but I'm sure I'll be in the minority (again)!
Quote from: Hilary on December 04, 2018, 11:29:14 AMCrikey Bruno - it's doing nothing for me but I'm sure I'll be in the minority (again)!
Fair enough - its worth putting ideas on the table, thinking outside the box and all that. Something may come from one of these ideas that everyone buys into and helps.
B
I realise it's mostly instrumental but if you want me to sing anything for you, I'm happy to help (Forever Autumn springs to mind).
Sounds good Bruno but how would that go with copyright but?
To take it even further what about an originl story?
A couple of writers write the script and then open it up for the music side.
I'll put myself up and write a couple of chapters, any offers?
What a fantastic idea.
I don't think that we'd have trouble with copyright, there are plenty of covers on here already, we are not looking for commercial gain (yet)
Either a cover of an existing work or a new work based upon an existing book would be fine. The idea of re-doing the War of the Worlds is good in that we have to reproduce the music that already exists, so we have a guide and a the musical direction is already done.
Otherwise, a book - I have a number of suggestions already - would be a great start. And, for me at least, it may prompt a return of the missing mojo.
Nice one Bruno. It would be great to get a bit of traction.
Get those ideas rolling in...
I like all of these ideas I have to say.
I am finding the idea of basing something on a book really cool, either an original story or an existing classic that hasn't had music put to it before. I'd say it's a big enough undertaking but i guess with a sufficient number of song crafters it could end up being really good... like a sort of concept album?
I would be up for chipping in if I can
Mike
How about a concept album based on a 19th century gothic horror novel......?
Oh no, wait a minute. I started that back in 2009 and so far have only done two tracks...... :-\
But seriously, we did do something similar back in 2010, see https://songcrafters.org/forum/index.php?topic=8458.0 (https://songcrafters.org/forum/index.php?topic=8458.0). This was based on paintings by Picasso. So the idea of using a book is a good one. But it's a lot of work.........
Quote from: Ferryman on December 07, 2018, 04:13:37 AMHow about a concept album based on a 19th century gothic horror novel......?
Oh no, wait a minute. I started that back in 2009 and so far have only done two tracks...... :-\
Now that's funny!
So - this is how I would think this would work - but open to suggestions.
We'd need to choose a story to do. Mrs B (as a Librarian) has suggested a number of novels on Project Gothenburg, which are royalty free - and include many classic novels. One suggestion was Journey to the Centre of the Earth - but open to suggestions.
Ferryman - would you wish to re-engergise your project?
Then, we would need a storyboard - or a Framework. This was define the work from start to end, and identify a number of songs and melodies (moods) required - and also the dialog. We'd need to work out who does the spoken parts! Anyway, once the music (in very broad terms) has been identified (i.e. a sad bit, a war bit, a song about a specific character etc), we'd list those out, and everyone can claim a tune or piece of music to write/produce/collaborate on - and then someone would have to bring the whole album together.
Now this could be a mammoth amount of work, but maybe not ....
B
Maybe a song per chapter (much like a song per painting in the Picasso Project.) Or possibly a song per character... possibly both? You could include song songs in between chapters and instrumental music under the narration. Volunteers to read a chapter or a volunteer to narrate the entire book. It's a huge undertaking to do it properly, though. Most of us have decent recording setups so we are a step ahead, but any noise in the narration (reverb included) is typically not great.
BTW, if it's a royalty free book and everyone signs off, you could sell the project as an audio book... if you wanted. Might make more sense to just put in a tag for songcrafters.org at every chapter or at the beginning and end or something and make it free to work as an advertisement for the sight.
Also, if you do songs then I'd be happy to help. The Picasso Project was fun and ended up being awesome, imo.
Quote from: bruno on December 09, 2018, 11:52:49 AMSo - this is how I would think this would work - but open to suggestions.
We'd need to choose a story to do. Mrs B (as a Librarian) has suggested a number of novels on Project Gothenburg, which are royalty free - and include many classic novels. One suggestion was Journey to the Centre of the Earth - but open to suggestions.
Journey to the Centre of the Earth was done by Rick Wakeman in 1974. I think anything we did might pale in comparison with Wakeman's work which is pretty awesome. It's worth listening to Wakeman's recording as it provides a good example of how narration and lyrics can be combined to retell a story.
How about "A Christmas Carol (http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/46)" by Charles Dickens? It's a story that everyone's familiar with, which might be a good thing for both the songwriters/storytellers
and the listeners to the finished work. And it seems a fitting theme for this time of year. Naturally, we'd never complete it by
this Christmas, but everyone could start reading the book now and finish reading it by Christmas. Then the work could begin on the storyboarding and songwriting.
I should say that I probably won't have any time to get involved in this, other than creating the jukebox. So if you don't like my idea of A Christmas Carol, feel free to suggest something else. I just thought it seemed like an ideal story to work with since everyone knows it and, hopefully, everyone's in the Christmas spirit now, so it will be fun to do (well, at least to get started on it) during the holidays.
Quote from: bruno on December 09, 2018, 11:52:49 AMFerryman - would you wish to re-engergise your project?
It's been my goal ever since I retired.... But it is an ongoing project for me and I don't think others would be that interested as the book is a bit of an acquired taste.
If we did a book, I personally would rather have the music/songs paint the pictures rather than rely on lots of narration. That way we don't make it too onerous or complex. A Christmas Carol doesn't do it for me, but how about Alice's Adventures in Wonderland? It's pretty loose in its structure so people could choose characters, scenes or sections of the book. It wouldn't need to follow too much of a formal structure.
Quote from: 64Guitars on December 09, 2018, 09:26:13 PMHow about "A Christmas Carol (http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/46)" by Charles Dickens? It's a story that everyone's familiar with, which might be a good thing for both the songwriters/storytellers and the listeners to the finished work. And it seems a fitting theme for this time of year. Naturally, we'd never complete it by this Christmas, but everyone could start reading the book now and finish reading it by Christmas. Then the work could begin on the storyboarding and songwriting.
The Muppets have done A Christmas Carol :D
I like the idea of A Christmas Carol. Dickens has some strong characters and there is plenty of scope for songs. Let me have a think on this one....
B
I like all the proposed ideas so far. I can't guarantee that I would contribute (very busy with work these days), but I'd like to do so (if possible), and I'd certainly enjoy listening to the group effort regardless of which work gets chosen.
Hi Folks,
Its been a while since I was here. I have been tremendously busy and also focused on getting healthy this year.
I love the idea of a concept album. I also love the idea of writing a musical.
A story that would lend itself to a musical is the story of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Anyone who has read the original novella would agree. It is a masterpiece. I think that we would need about 12-15 songs to tell the whole story.
I'd be happy to provide some structure. We could also borrow from Wikipedia
Ian
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a great idea. I couldn't contribute to a musical though I'm afraid, musicals are not my thing at all (sorry bout that....).
I am into a lot of these ideas... the Jekell and Hyde one too. I don't think any idea we take would have to follow the traditional musical feel... be great to modernise an old story with some of the great styles of music we hear regularly on songcrafters like I can imagine telling some part of Jekell and Hyde in a dirty old blues kinda way.
Do we need some kind of a vote (if we feel there are enough on board) on the book (or film!) that we use?
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde has already been done as a musical but I suppose that shouldn't put us off!
Quote from: Ferryman on December 10, 2018, 10:17:27 AMQuote from: bruno on December 09, 2018, 11:52:49 AMFerryman - would you wish to re-engergise your project?
It's been my goal ever since I retired....
...how about Alice's Adventures in Wonderland? It's pretty loose in its structure so people could choose characters, scenes or sections of the book. It wouldn't need to follow too much of a formal structure.
I love this idea. You could pretty much go anywhere with this, the story possibilities are endless!
It needs to be fanstastical. Then it does not need to be rooted in reality.
I propose The Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien
Get the book, read it, marvel at it. chop a leg off, buy a watch, steal a bicycle, fall in love with it. Look out for men in serge suits.
Quote from: Ferryman on December 14, 2018, 03:14:17 AMDr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a great idea. I couldn't contribute to a musical though I'm afraid, musicals are not my thing at all (sorry bout that....).
Musicals are not my thing either but if you are the one writing it, then it doesn't have to be like the others.
I like the idea of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland too but l'll get The Third Policeman's book and have a read!
I'd like to do something a bit out there - has anyone heard Dean Friedman's score for I bought a vampire bicycle?
https://soundcloud.com/deanfriedman/she-runs-on-blood-instead-of-gasoline?in=deanfriedman/sets/dean-friedman-film-tv-game (https://soundcloud.com/deanfriedman/she-runs-on-blood-instead-of-gasoline?in=deanfriedman/sets/dean-friedman-film-tv-game)
Someone could start it off and then we could each take a turn with the plot and the music. I also think it would be good to have a mute main character so that there would be lots of opportunity for instrumentals (I'm thinking of the group here and not myself!).
If those that are interested don't want to write their own plot then I like the idea of A Shape of Water - the plot's a bit out there and really intersting, no-one's done it before and neither of the 2 main characters actually speak. I think it would play to many songcrafters strengths musically (not mine, obviously) in that you've got the musical chops to do something like this.
Well Alice in Wonderland could be done in 12 songs - without narration, something like ....
1. Alice and the White Rabbit
2. Hallway of doors/The Key
3. The choice (the garden and the note to drink me)
4. That shrinking feeling
5. The white rabbit
6. The advice/Caterpillar
7. The Pigeon & the woods
8. The duchess and the cook
9. The Mad Tea Party
10. The Queen of Hearts
11. The Knave
12. Awake
Quote from: bruno on December 17, 2018, 05:51:14 AMWell Alice in Wonderland could be done in 12 songs - without narration,
Without narration, it would be a sort of rock opera like Suffering Machines (https://songcrafters.org/forum/index.php?action=festival;sa=SuffMach), which is absolutely fine if that's what people want to do. But it's worth considering some narration between songs in the way that it was done in Rick Wakeman's Journey to the Centre of the Earth. The narration serves to connect one song to the next in the story and sets the scene for the next song. It could be spoken over soft background music (strings or keyboards, for example). Ideally, that background music could be part of the next song so that it flows seamlessly into the song. The narration dosen't have to be very long. Just a few sentences to describe what happens after the events of the first song and set up the scene for the next song.
If you've never listened to Wakeman's Journey to the Centre of the Earth (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJ9W2pZwvlY) , I recommend doing so. It will inspire you in how to retell a classic story and show how narration can be used between songs to tie the songs together into a proper story.
Another one that's worth a listen is Bill Bruford's "Fainting in Coils (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMCIp7yo0cM)". It's actually an instrumental but it begins with some narration from chapter nine of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, "The Mock Turtle's Story".
I like the idea of some narration set to music but I'm guessing I won't exactly be one of the main contributors so I'm happy take advice.
Did anyone see the Simon Callow's one-man band A Christmas Carol yesterday, I was really disappointed.
Liking the Alice thing and possible synopsis
Personally I find stuff like JTTCOTE rather cringeworthy, prog at its very worst.... (sorry 64G :-[) But I don't mind if we have this whole thing narrated, just don't ask me to do the narration!
Quote from: Ferryman on December 20, 2018, 05:37:35 AMBut I don't mind if we have this whole thing narrated, just don't ask me to do the narration!
We can do both!
I vote Hilary for narrator!
Quote from: Kenneth on December 20, 2018, 06:41:18 PMI vote Hilary for narrator!
I'm down for No 10 - *wicked panto laugh* ;D
Quote from: Hilary on December 21, 2018, 01:15:38 AMQuote from: Kenneth on December 20, 2018, 06:41:18 PMI vote Hilary for narrator!
I'm down for No 10 - *wicked panto laugh* ;D
Here's one of my performance based narrations (my only one!)
https://songcrafters.org/forum/index.php?topic=20731.msg254476#msg254476
Quote from: Hilary on December 21, 2018, 01:47:29 AMQuote from: Hilary on December 21, 2018, 01:15:38 AMQuote from: Kenneth on December 20, 2018, 06:41:18 PMI vote Hilary for narrator!
I'm down for No 10 - *wicked panto laugh* ;D
Here's one of my performance based narrations
https://songcrafters.org/forum/index.php?topic=20731.msg254476#msg254476
Yes! !@008
The Tim Burton film is on tonight at 7pm in the UK - I'm going to do my homework!
I'm trying to knock up an instrumental for the Queen of Hearts on my Kalimba and I've got an idea for a speakyish narrative but need some extra voices. If anyone would like to say a few words on No 10 - dm me and I'll send you the 'script', you can pick which lines you'd like to do :D
So this is all very interesting and I would like in on this. Are we claiming one of brunos 12 tracks to write? Are we only responsible for a song and narration comes later?
I think this has the potential to be quite fun.
Rock on?
We need a structure for this.
As you have suggested it Bruno why don't you pick out the songcrafters to do what song from the list and we can write to suit.
From the replys here you have a list of interested people.
That way no one is starting a song someone else is working on.
I'll help out any non vocalists with lyrics etc if they do the music.
I'm very excited about No 10.
Why don't we all just pick one we fancy doing and let people know on here.
I'd like to suggest that we collaborate on all songs, maybe not all people on all songs. I could see it progressing from a demo which would set structure, melody and lyrics either as a single acoustic guitar or a piano track, which would them become a series of WAV files passed around as thre contributors add their instrument or voice (One Drive or Google Drive is particularly good for this, we can't use MP3s because the timing inside these isn't good enough) then assembled, mixed and mastered and circulated for comment amongst the contributors until everyone is happy.
I know I'm new to the discussion here but i think maybe this.
Like Hillary said we should all pick one of brunos 12 ( shes taken #10) do we have 12 members interested? I'm happy to wait and take any that arent being claimed, I'm hoping for a spark of musical inspiration.
Like Flash has said, collaboration should be encouraged, probably not mandatory. Hopefully some of the members that dont write can jump in there and get involved.
I wasnt around around when you guys did Suffering Machines but I asume someone headed that up and led the process? If no one else wants to I will volunteer. Not creatively just organisationaly. Its a litt bigger project than the Lets All Callborate projects but I thought those went smoothly. I would start or suggest that someone starts a new thread to enlist members to claim tracks ( probably give a description of the project and goal). I'm not sure what I think of a constant narration but I love the idea of making a representaion of a a novel through songs. I like Alice and if its not your 1st choice maybe this will lead to other projects. I love this idea.
Rock on!
I'm up for you orginiding it Hook if that's ok with everyone.
I'll go with what I'm told to write for.
So I'm in.
Quote from: kenny mac on January 01, 2019, 02:33:31 PMI'm up for you orginiding it Hook if that's ok with everyone.
I'll go with what I'm told to write for.
So I'm in.
Me too, Hook's got my confidence - Not sure if I would be able to assemble a complete number, but I'll help anyone that cares to draw from the meager skills in my batty wheelhouse