First off, neat idea! +1 for complexity increase, just like life. Sorry, kids!
 
And as it got more complicated with more awesome parts, your mix never got muddy or imbalanced or incoherent. Just NOT like life.
 
So, for true realism, I suggest by the fourth or fifth matchstick, boost 300hz by about 10db with a wide q, and if your matchstick gets married, a boost up around 3-5000mhz, something sweet but shrill, ought to do the trick.
 
Or maybe it's better the way you have it now - yeah just keep it the way it is, it's pretty darn perfect.
 
cheers,
-Tom

Dan, this is fantastic!  love that music box sound!  piano sounds full and warm.  you've got a long delay on it?  
mmmm..tasty bass strings!
 
beautiful work Dan!

Is this a music?
 
 
- a story teller !!
 
 
Surprised no one commented on the idea of the picture in soundcloud.
 
Regards
 
 
 
 

Dan ,
 
This song sounds very heartfelt and glorious at the same time
Yes, I think I can understand why your wife said what she said ...As this song unfolds it is telling a pretty deep story .
Love when you got dynamic ( around 1:40 + )
This is Excellent music ...nice matchstick story too , that pic has sort of an Archetype visual ring to it .
 
all the best ,
 
Kenny

Wookiee
I quite enjoyed that Dan, though repetitive it was not boring, you kept my interest throughout, thanks for sharing.

Thank you Wookie! I appreciate the comments!
 
Regards,
Dan

I did not read other comments...
 
This piece has very dreamlike sounds that go together well...I particularly liked the section around 2:05 where the horn comes in -- nice melody and the horn sound is lovely.  The end sections of the piece where there is a background sound of strings with "voices" sounded a little shlockey -- those "voice" things always get on my nerves though that's just a personal preference.  Well done :)
 
Allan
====
 

daryl1968
very cool Dan and sounds great. The piano and string that comes in after the music box(?) is glorious.
I like to think that I'm the middle matchstick but I think I may be the 2nd last :)

Thanks Daryl! Much appreciated!
 
Regards,
Dan

MGC59
Top shelf as always Dan!
You are the master at blending instruments and creating moods with your arrangements! 
 
You present your music visually on SoundCloud so well with your background photos!
Excellent mix and another great song!
 
Mark

Thank you Mark! I wouldn't go that far, lol...
 
Sometimes, those cover photos are the hardest part! I do it because it can help me with the title. I don't always know
how to sum up my thought process about a song until I have to slap a title on it.
 
Regards,
Dan
 

Well Dan....I just had an epiphany. When I listen to your tunes on my tablet I am staring at the photo. I takes me back to the goid old days when I would listen to my favorite albums and stare at the artwork and the liner notes! It totally enhanced the listening experience. 
 
It's all about presentation and style! Keep up the good work!

This is purely my own interpretation partly influenced by your described of the piece.
I was thinking hmmmm at the beginning. Wasn't sure about the toy piano kind of instrument there.
But yeah I guess it would fit the first stage of a life time. And there's a lullaby melody in there too. Nice.

I really liked the transition setups at 1:30 and 2:45.  The horn dynamics was well done.  Overall, a beautiful piece.
I don't know much about all the different types of orchestral music, but this seemed a bit condensed?
Bjorn