Drumming the Moon

Another piece I wrote for my Druid friends (Winter Solstice was the previous one here). I have tried to recreate that unique sound of Pagan drumming using layered drum loops and various drum kits. OK, I can never recreate perfectly that sound of sitting round a bonfire on a wind-swept hill in the pouring rain. But I tried! Hope you enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXj3s5Qd2ag

Best Regards
Malcolm

Hi Rik

Sincere thanks for listening and so pleased my intent does come across in the music. When the local Druids get together in a wood here on my little Isle for a drumming session, it very much has the feel of a tribal gathering, no doubt helped by much quaffing of Mead! And Celtic and Druid just go together like strawberries and cream!

Best Regards
Malcolm

Hi Daniel

Sincere thanks. Yes, all synthed and totally written by notation in Staff View. I found a number of Pagan drum beats on the net and then tried to recreate each one using a wide range of different types of drum synths in Staff View. For each one, once I had something that I thought came close to the original, I then converted that drum sequence to .wav and made it into a loop as I was not sure at that stage what my final tempo would be. I then layered the loops to give me a composite drumming sound and added reverb with Sonitus (preset Drum Room).

A bit long-winded but the end result does seem to work. I think!

Best Regards
Malcolm

Vicente - Sincere thanks and you are absolutely right the melody and orchestration is a bit too far back in the mix. Unfortunately, many of my Druid friends think that anything other than Heavy Metal and Folk isn't real music! So I purposely allowed the drums to dominate. They like drums! The things I do for a quiet life!

Best Regards
Malcolm

Don't know the first thing about pagan drumming, but this certainly sounds how I would imagine it. I agree with Vicente's comments too, but if you did it for someone else, then I guess it has to be how they want it to be. Good job.

not a huge fan of the drum sound but I love the Celtic feel! and the pan flute is great!!

Hi thepogue - Sincere thanks. I am very much like you. I can take or leave the drums. But I just love that Celtic sound. Really does get the kilt flying! And so pleased you like the pan flute. My speakers aren't the best and I was worried when I was mixing that that lovely unique sound of the pan flute wouldn't come across.

Best Regards
Malcolm

Very cool Malcolm , somehow I miss this post untill today . You and Larry sure have great talent for writing music .

Great music ! Radio

Mission Accomplished!!!

Hi Mark (mgh) - Sincere thanks. I do know what you mean about the drums. The sound in a Drum Ring can be deafening, which I suppose is why you never hear a musician trying to compete! I wanted to have the drums to the fore but at the same time keep the music audible. A difficult balance. Interestingly, some of my Druid friends said they would like to have music like mine to drum to, although the logistics of getting a full Symphony String Orchestra into a Forest Grove might be a little difficult! Of course others said that my music was fine but they would rather not have the musicians! Oh well, such is life!

Best Regards
Malcolm

It's when the drums stop that you have to worry....

Cool grove.   Very tasteful.  Love the chords too.  Yea, this is cool.

Daryl

well done on this, like the break at 2:40, before the violin solo comes in. and the complete break down at 3:40, needed those for variation.

The percussion does sound very real, some of the strings parts seem a bit mechanically midi, but this is very good, could be used in movie part.

Cian

Very Belofante!