First Cause

Joined : 11 Sep 2006 Posts : 137

Hey Luigi,

How are things coming along with learning this tune? Do you have any plans of recording what you're doing, or even programming it out?

Just so that all of you know, Luigi and I have decided that the drums are in 5/4 while the bass in at least initially played in 7/4. The sax plays along with the bassist at the beginning of the track and then moves on to his own improvisation.

Pretty cool stuff. I've always wanted to try writing something with multiple time signatures just to see what it might sound like. Looks like I'll be listening to First Cause much, much more closely.

Does anyone know of any other Coleman tunes with this same, general approach?

Joined : 11 Sep 2006 Posts : 137

Hello Sir Charles!

Listening to Polymad N as I write. Thanks!

I think Cubase is fantastic, especially for the price. I haven't used it in some time, but I'm sure I'd get it figured out. Let me know if you want to hear a sample of what can be done. I wrote an inspirational piece with Coleman in mind that is pretty amazing, though it was never finished (I lost the file but was able to record it to tape before it was lost).

When you ask if I use sequencers, I'm not sure that I know exactly what you mean. Do you mean like a specific drum sequencer? I've always viewed Cubase as a sequencer, but I may be wrong on that. In the end, though, I only used Cubase for creating my midi files. Awesome program!

Regarding First Cause, I would only use Cubase for all instruments. Its been quite a while since I've recorded/written any music, but here's the basics on what I would do:

I have Cubase VST with audio. This version of Cubase doesn't allow realtime effects on midi files, so I'd have to write all of the tracks first (without effects such as reverb etc...) and once they sound really nice, I'd then record each instrument individually as a wave file. Once that's done, I can then add all kinds of effects easily. This is particularly helpful for when you want to adjust volumes at specific points to highlight solos etc...

Once you've got all of the parts just right, you then mix it all down to a single stereo file and you're done! Creating my own music is in the top two greatest things I've ever done and I'd encourage all musicians to do it. When you listen to your own music, you are listening to a "snapshot" of your heart and mind during a certain period of your life and of course, you are listening to an audio expression of your thoughts and feelings. It is MOST rewarding!

BTW, Charles, I haven't found my box of software yet. I haven't forgotten about you as a month or two ago I told you that I'd ship off a free copy of software that you might be able to use. Once I find it friend, I'll let you know!! But if you can, I'd bump up to Cubase! Remember that Steinberg requires all owners of Cubase to have a physical "key" that plugs into your printer port, otherwise I'd ship off a copy to you.

See ya,

Scott

Joined : 15 Jul 2006 Posts : 5

Joined : 11 Sep 2006 Posts : 137

I'm not sure as to why you would say this. I mean, if I'm asking about tunes that have polyrhythmic status, doesn't this indicate that I'm not looking at meter and trying to understand the music in that fashion? Seems to me that I have loved his music without this understanding for many years, yet I do not always understand it as a drummer of over 20 years. Meter is "our" business as drummers. It is our job to maintain meter and have a solid understanding of what not only is, but what is to come. This can't be denied.

Not sure where you're coming from there pal. What's amazing is this: If one of the musicians were to totally mess up on the "structure" of the song (meter) Steve wouldn't be too happy about it, especially during a live perfomance that is going to be released on a CD. When a "mistake" is made, knowledgable musicans know it.