Hello Sir, first off, let me preface how I do my reviews.
 
When I take the time to review a song I want to give it a good opportunity to communicate with me.  I want to learn what is inside of it, and quite possibly what is inside the composer.  So I always give a song at least three listens.
 
The first listen is focused on global impressions. I decide what it is about a song that makes me feel.
 
The second listen is for local events.  I listen to which elements stand out, and how they influence the piece.
 
The third listen is for me to “pretend” I am record producer. I listen for things that I would recommend an artist do to take their piece a step further.  I .would never presume to tell an artist how to make their piece better, but since this is the internet, I find it to cathartic to release my inner George Martin.
 
Of course this technique falls apart when I listen to genres that I know absolutely nothing about. Which, when I think about it, is practically all of them, but particularly the symphonic style pieces.
 
So on this piece it has been a bit of a struggle for me because I could never possibly do what you have done here.
 
Overall, your composition moved me.
 
Thank you for sharing the instruments that you used.  That in itself illuminated to me that Sonar provides some great instruments, and with the right skill and coaxing great things can happen. Also, I spent a good amount of time trying to figure out which harp was Garittan of Fantom.
 
I think that there is a difference between timing on a keyboard recorded into a daw, and a keyboard recorded through a daw.  I wonder if the bass notes on the harp were played on the fantom?
 
Also, this piece had an almost live feel.  There were minor, yet charming, timing differences that seemed to represent an artist using both quantization and also “real time” takes that fell into the realm of sitting in.
 
Obviously, the artist has a good mind for this style of music.  If this is a piece scripted and notated, then it is good, but if this is a piece that is played as is, from the heart, then it is even better.
 
The dim pro piano sounds are revealing, meaning that they sound very convincing.
 
To me, the piece really hits stride around four minutes.
 
I’m not sure who Marek is, but I find the bass part to be particularly good.
 
I do hear some white noise at the very beginning, but that is easily remedied. I do hear some clicking, and since this piece is from 2007, and considering what you were attempting, and knowing processor abilities, that is not a slake. (in the archaic sense.)
 
Sure wish I could do something like this.
 
I wish for you to find the time to make more visceral music such as this.
 
Jesse
 

Jesse Screed
Hello Sir, first off, let me preface how I do my reviews.
 
When I take the time to review a song I want to give it a good opportunity to communicate with me.  I want to learn what is inside of it, and quite possibly what is inside the composer.  So I always give a song at least three listens.
 
The first listen is focused on global impressions. I decide what it is about a song that makes me feel.
 
The second listen is for local events.  I listen to which elements stand out, and how they influence the piece.
 
The third listen is for me to “pretend” I am record producer. I listen for things that I would recommend an artist do to take their piece a step further.  I .would never presume to tell an artist how to make their piece better, but since this is the internet, I find it to cathartic to release my inner George Martin.
 
Of course this technique falls apart when I listen to genres that I know absolutely nothing about. Which, when I think about it, is practically all of them, but particularly the symphonic style pieces.
 
So on this piece it has been a bit of a struggle for me because I could never possibly do what you have done here.
 
Overall, your composition moved me.
 
Thank you for sharing the instruments that you used.  That in itself illuminated to me that Sonar provides some great instruments, and with the right skill and coaxing great things can happen. Also, I spent a good amount of time trying to figure out which harp was Garittan of Fantom.
 
I think that there is a difference between timing on a keyboard recorded into a daw, and a keyboard recorded through a daw.  I wonder if the bass notes on the harp were played on the fantom?
 
Also, this piece had an almost live feel.  There were minor, yet charming, timing differences that seemed to represent an artist using both quantization and also “real time” takes that fell into the realm of sitting in.
 
Obviously, the artist has a good mind for this style of music.  If this is a piece scripted and notated, then it is good, but if this is a piece that is played as is, from the heart, then it is even better.
 
The dim pro piano sounds are revealing, meaning that they sound very convincing.
 
To me, the piece really hits stride around four minutes.
 
I’m not sure who Marek is, but I find the bass part to be particularly good.
 
I do hear some white noise at the very beginning, but that is easily remedied. I do hear some clicking, and since this piece is from 2007, and considering what you were attempting, and knowing processor abilities, that is not a slake. (in the archaic sense.)
 
Sure wish I could do something like this.
 
I wish for you to find the time to make more visceral music such as this.
 
Jesse
 

I appreciate the very detailed comments.  The timing is such because it was played live and only Q when absolutely needed.  I'm making a video now, will post that soon.  Thanks!

video uploading now, link in 10 minutes!

video now up!
 
Michael John - The Secret Lake
https://www.youtube.com/w...g&feature=youtu.be
 

I listened to this the other day but did not feel it appropriate to comment after only one listen, also I had been mixing all day which probably made for tired furry ear lugs.
 
It is very pleasantly constructed and the mix works well here, thanks for sharing.

Very nice Mike - I like how you have only used a few instruments and not 'overdone' it.
Also, the mix clarity is excellent

Beautyful piece! Wonderful bond between the harp and piano. This is so well written, liked that it is kept clean with few instruments. Thanks for posting this!

Hello Mr. Mike, I just watched the video!
 
The visuals made that piece of music even better...in my opinion.  Wow, now I want to know where this secret lake is.  It looks like a great place to visit.
 
Did you write the piece for the video, or make the vidoe for the piece.  Nice.  What are those funky flowers @ 5:54?
 
Thanks man, this is an example of that the sum is greater than the parts.
 
Jesse

Very nice indeed. I appreciated the mellowness, and as I watched your video it seems you've matched it perfectly. Around 2:30's there is a high pitched buzzing, probably crickets or a cicada invasion or perhaps someone in the next tent is using his portable electric shaver - I'd vote for losing that particular sound, I found it distracts from the main event.
 
very nice work!
thanks,
-Tom