FreeEarCandy
Listened to this a few times. A lot of nice things in this piece Dan. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I think I read that you are from around the Reading area? If so, did the inspiration for this piece come from the Reading air show? I remember working in the area a few years back and didn't know there was an air show going on. So imagine my surprise when one of those military jets buzzed by. 
 
The space is big in this piece, nevertheless not muddy in the least. Nice percussion track. Smooth transitions and plenty of color in the tapestry of sound. Thanks for sharing it Dan! 

No, I'm in Virginia. The inspiration was, believe it or not, the JD-800 crystal piano from Keyscape. I really liked the chord changes, but I couldn't figure out where to go with it. I managed to get the first 2 verses and got to the first chorus and really liked how it came together, but the chorus felt like it lacked some energy after that second verse. So I got stumped. Then I decided to open the song with that big, much slower opening, and had to rearrange a bunch of stuff to make everything fit together. I actually didn't even think of the airshow theme until after all of that, maybe six weeks ago. It sort of "took off" after that (sorry).
 
I've always loved airshows and my family used to go see the Thunderbirds every year when they visited San Antonio, where I grew up.
 
Thanks for the kind words!
 
Regards,
Dan
 

Hi Dan, Wow, this sounds amazing! Excellent tune and great job creating a big, clear and detailed soundscape.

Lynn
Dan, this is terrific.  Your use of percussion is fantastic.  It adds tension and dynamics which help to build this piece into a big sounding theme song.  I can easily envision the Blue Angels flying overhead while listening to this.  I'm glad you finished this because I've long thought that it's far easier to start a song than finish it.  Discipline pays off.

Thank you Lynn! I know what you mean. I have 30 or so "started" songs dating back several years. I am slowly working my way through them. I do still periodically add new ideas to the pile, I just don't start really working on them until I have finished whatever I am currently working on.
 
Regards,
Dan

jamesg1213
Fantastic track, once again. All your pieces have such depth and detail and you're an expert at building a piece to a conclusion.  Really majestic pay-off to this one, superb.
 
Who would be your main influences in terms of production Dan?

Thanks James! I'm not sure how to answer that. You ask like you think I plan this stuff.
 
Are you asking in terms of artists I like, style or "sound"?
 
Regards,
Dan

dcumpian

jamesg1213
Fantastic track, once again. All your pieces have such depth and detail and you're an expert at building a piece to a conclusion.  Really majestic pay-off to this one, superb.
 
Who would be your main influences in terms of production Dan?

Thanks James! I'm not sure how to answer that. You ask like you think I plan this stuff.
 
Are you asking in terms of artists I like, style or "sound"?
 
Regards,
Dan

Any of those really, stuff you listen to for inspiration

I could see this being used in a stunt kite video.
 
There is always something tolearn when I listen to your comps.
 
attention to detail,
 
2:08, hold on to your knickers!
 
It is obvious you have some very high quality tools and you know how to use them.
 
@ 4:23, another flavor
 
Your style is so far removed from mine that it is laughable, but you push me to be better because you show what is possible for the home musician.
 
Then you bring it all together around 6:45.
 
epic, regal, as good as any hollywood magic boy.
 
Peace
 
Jesse Q. Screed
 
 
 
 

Wookiee

Thanks Wookie!
 
Dan

emeraldsoul
This would have taken me 10 years, and it would have sounded like a sputtering DC-3 crash-landing in a swamp. You take six months and have magnificent aerial choreography with jets and colored smoke and such. Holy cow, Dan, really nice job here!
 
Hard to pick the highlights 'cause there are a ton. Percussion is epic yet not overwhelming at all. Mix is superb, everything tucked into the right spots. I liked the breakdown around 5:50-ish. Those tight delay synths weave in and out like they are supposed to. The whole thing is a musical arc that tells a story.
 
Glad you kept at it! Your composition is a cool combination of the prelude and the celebratory. I think you can quit your day job, assuming you still have one!
 
cheers,
-Tom

Boring day job buys me VST's, lol. Thanks Tom! I appreciate the kind words!
 
Regards,
Dan

geeare1
Hi Dan, Wow, this sounds amazing! Excellent tune and great job creating a big, clear and detailed soundscape.

Thank you Gary!
 
Regards,
Dan

jamesg1213

dcumpian

jamesg1213
Fantastic track, once again. All your pieces have such depth and detail and you're an expert at building a piece to a conclusion.  Really majestic pay-off to this one, superb.
 
Who would be your main influences in terms of production Dan?

Thanks James! I'm not sure how to answer that. You ask like you think I plan this stuff.
 
Are you asking in terms of artists I like, style or "sound"?
 
Regards,
Dan

Any of those really, stuff you listen to for inspiration

I don't listen to anything in particular for inspiration. My tastes range from Peter Gabriel and Tori Amos to Rush, Trapt and Dead Sara. As much as I have always wanted to do tracks like these bands, I can't sing (trust me on this). So I've had to find a way to do instrumentals that are still interesting. It's funny, even the most simple pop song with a decent singer is easily more ear-catching than a good instrumental. I've found that it takes a lot to keep a listener interested without a vocal.
 
For the most part, since I am limited to instrumental music, my projects aren't inspired by what I listen to, though they are influenced by production values that I like. For instrumental influences, I'd pick Mars Lasar who did a couple of CD's back in the 90's that I enjoyed. Probably also stuff by Yanni and Andreas Vollenweider. Also, soundtracks by Hans Zimmer, Anthony Anderson, Trevor Morris, Marcin Przybyłowicz, Mikolai Stroinski, and Percival.
 
Whew! How's that?
 
Regards,
Dan