My final composition is titled Graceland. There is a total of 5 layers: the intro clarinet, the beat (more about that below), the piano chords, the bass notes through the organ and the vocals.
As it turned out, I was unable to meet all my hopes for this project. I had wanted to include more cultural instruments, after my extended research on the traditional instruments of Laos, Myanmar and Canada I was hoping to incorporate some of my new-found knowledge into my composition. I had never before inquired into the traditional instruments of Myanmar and Canada, realizing that they do exist, I regret not trying a little harder.
The clarinet's introduction was a good representation of my past. I was once an avid clarinet player, through the inclusion of it in my composition I am able to add a different aspect of culture and identity. It wasn't the greatest of introductions, I accidentally held one of the notes for 5 long beats instead of 4. However, I learned the art of perseverance. I was struggling to figure out how the transposing worked. It was hot and I was tired. But I managed to follow through and incorporate the clarinet, even for such a short part of the composition.
I didn't manage to add harmonizing to this recording. It comes naturally to me, when I can't sing right on the melody line. Because I chose a key I could easily sing in, and created a melody that uses my chest voice, harmonizing would mean I would have to sing much higher or much lower. Should I have spent more time on trying to figure it out, it would've been a great addition to my recording as it would've added more layer.
A big difference between the recording of my classmates and mine is that I had a more home-made approach. I did not use any pre-record loops and samples from any program. I recorded all the instruments myself and put them together in a simple cut-and-paste way. Though there are discernible layers through out the song, nothing really changes. The different layers had a little trouble when it came to blending together, however I think that drum beat (read more below) really helped in representing my culture and building the rest of the song. The slow and steady rhythm is a good representation of my faith. Faith is very much about constantly trusting that God's will for our lives is what's most important.
The clarinet's introduction was a good representation of my past. I was once an avid clarinet player, through the inclusion of it in my composition I am able to add a different aspect of culture and identity. It wasn't the greatest of introductions, I accidentally held one of the notes for 5 long beats instead of 4. However, I learned the art of perseverance. I was struggling to figure out how the transposing worked. It was hot and I was tired. But I managed to follow through and incorporate the clarinet, even for such a short part of the composition.
I didn't manage to add harmonizing to this recording. It comes naturally to me, when I can't sing right on the melody line. Because I chose a key I could easily sing in, and created a melody that uses my chest voice, harmonizing would mean I would have to sing much higher or much lower. Should I have spent more time on trying to figure it out, it would've been a great addition to my recording as it would've added more layer.
A big difference between the recording of my classmates and mine is that I had a more home-made approach. I did not use any pre-record loops and samples from any program. I recorded all the instruments myself and put them together in a simple cut-and-paste way. Though there are discernible layers through out the song, nothing really changes. The different layers had a little trouble when it came to blending together, however I think that drum beat (read more below) really helped in representing my culture and building the rest of the song. The slow and steady rhythm is a good representation of my faith. Faith is very much about constantly trusting that God's will for our lives is what's most important.
Can I let you in on one last secret? The drum beat is not your typical drum beat. It is a demonstration of my love for food. Food is an important way in which I express my culture and identity. It is through food that I share my love for others and demonstrate what I hold dear. Through using two wooden spoons, a full milk carton and sugar container, my brother, Matthew, helped me create a simple but steadfast beat that I used for the whole of the song!
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It would've been more effective during the chorus to add a strong drum beat, but I realized that the chorus is actually not your average chorus with a catchy hook. In fact, the chorus is probably the slowest part of the song, and shortest. And let me tell you, the song is very slow.
Though I didn't end up with what I had thought to have, I am happy to have a song that I can call my own. Perhaps in the future I'll build on to this song and be more open to music technology. It was such an interesting process, this composing and recording. I enjoyed some aspects and didn't enjoy too much other aspects. I have come to see that a project like this requires motivation, inspiration and perseverance.
Culture is so important. And the expression of culture comes in a variety of ways. Each and everyone of my classmates represented their personal identity and culture and done it in such a way that it's exciting to see where and how we'll move forward. I believe I was able to authentically express my culture because I stripped away all the fanciness and contemporary features of creating music and made my composition about my faith, my life and my understanding of my purpose in this world.
Though I didn't end up with what I had thought to have, I am happy to have a song that I can call my own. Perhaps in the future I'll build on to this song and be more open to music technology. It was such an interesting process, this composing and recording. I enjoyed some aspects and didn't enjoy too much other aspects. I have come to see that a project like this requires motivation, inspiration and perseverance.
Culture is so important. And the expression of culture comes in a variety of ways. Each and everyone of my classmates represented their personal identity and culture and done it in such a way that it's exciting to see where and how we'll move forward. I believe I was able to authentically express my culture because I stripped away all the fanciness and contemporary features of creating music and made my composition about my faith, my life and my understanding of my purpose in this world.