Challenge #2 - Deep Jungle Society

[Aephion]

Hello all; seeing as there were no people staying with the first challenge, I figured maybe it wasn't interesting enough

Here's your second challenge:
Create a musical piece to go with a deep, densely grown tropical forest / jungle; sounds cliché enough, but! make sure the jungle has a society- preferably a very sophisticated one.

This assignment, I think, will be much harder than it sounds, because an ancient jungle and sophisticated technology -in harmony- create quite a contrast.


I added an MP3 to give you an idea / setting to use; don't copy it, make your own thing
I'm really curious to hear what you people come up with, so give it your best shot.
I will not forbid you to use the included sample, but I will not post score or the midi to it, because you have to give your own efforts to be able to win ^_^

Limitations:
Just stick to the theme and you'll be fine.
No genres excluded to be possible winners, though ofcourse, if you choose for instance polka to make the music, the challenge is only that much harder for you to complete.

Prizes:
None - This challenge is just for fun and learning

Best of luck!
~Aephion

[reith]

Originally Posted by Aephion

Hello all; seeing as there were no people staying with the first challenge, I figured maybe it wasn't interesting enough ...........

..........

Limitations:
Just stick to the theme and you'll be fine.
~Aephion

Did you mean stick to the theme in your Mp3? I quite like jungles and the music they inspire but I'm not sure about adding screeches and growls and things!... Having said that, it might take some time putting something together in this lead up to the hols.


Reith

[Aephion]

Oh, nono!
Be as diverse as you wish; your songs can be techno for all I care, as long as it conveys the portrayed, written image given, in this case being: Create a musical piece to go with a deep, densely grown tropical forest / jungle; sounds cliché enough, but! make sure the jungle has a society- preferably a very sophisticated one.Other than this, everyone is completely free
Ofcourse, don't forget to have some fun

[reith]

Ok then, I might just have a go. Give me a few days - sketched some things today then I have to work out how much this laptop will let me score it!

It won't be no Pastoral Symphony, I can say that much. A teeny bit atonal, as all jungles should be!

[Gryvix]

Is there a closing date?

[Aephion]

Not until more people start showing interest
When there's a reasonably steady activity flow for the challenges, the due dates will be mentioned per challenge ^_^

[reith]

Jungle 4
Ok, here's a first shot - normally this would be left for a couple months then revised or chucked out...

Warning: it's atonal so if you don't like atonal music maybe best to save the download time and don't bother. Timing: 5 mins.

I'm not much for atonal music - only when I have to atone for all the wrong notes I played in gigs/exams and things.
= = = =
This takes a fragment of music from a different, more approachable jungle (less bird spiders and pirnahas). It's only claim to the high tech society though is the way, while composing, its twin kept falling through a space warp - as bits of what sound like Varèse's Ameriques, (Varèse's reaction when his hot-air balloon landed at Kennedy aiport).

I personally think it's a bit placid. I had a flood of inspiration when working in the tropics for a short while - particularly by the somewhat eerie nights - wrote loads of sketches but nothing came to fruition then suddenly this challenge brought it into shape - not this piece, a more tonal one, with wisps of memories of parties at outposts and things, long gone. Jungle 3. This jungle has been allowed to fester a bit.

http://www.soundclick.com/util/getpl...d=4789281&q=hi

[Aephion]

Really nice!
I would've totally not come up with that kind of music :3
I've never really heard atonal music before, besides in maybe some old movies, so I'm sortof sketchy on how to give actual criticism on it, but I like it ^_^

It sets a mood, and that was the whole idea

[MaestroX]

Great Stuf Reith!

Everytime I listen to your music it brings somthing new to me. Nice stuff!

[marcuslee]

I don't know how long this Challenge is going to stick around. I am quite sure that what I have in mind will take a lot longer, so for that reason I may start another thread later. Perhaps I am still operating within the challenge's parameters, so I'll start here.

I was contemplating the ideas expressed for this challenge (a jungle society), and I thought of making this project theme based. IOW, a different instrument (sound) and melody for each animal group in the society, weaving them together to tell a wordless story. If there is some parameter of this challenge I am forgetting, please let me know.

Anyway, I found an article on the Amazon, which listed several animals. So, I am trying to come up with some ideas for type of instrument and style of melody, etc.... (This is the part that may need a seperate thread!)

I'll just list them and any ideas I have about each:

Ants march in single file, each carrying a leaf or some other item. Possible melody - something with a good steady rhythm. If not an actual march, maybe a harmony or bass with an accented and unaccented rhythm.

Birds chirp in the treetops. Possible orchestration - higher octave instrument (flute, perhaps) with a stacatto type melody.

(Along with other birds) Woodpeckers tapping on tree trunks. Possible application - part of the percussion section, hihats for example.

Monkeys squawk and scold each other. Possible melody wouldn't flow easily, perhaps one chord competing against another. Use of rhythm would be a highlight perhaps.

Snakes (Anacondas, as well) slither to and fro. The melody would be smooth (use of slurs) and maybe even reminiscent of the snake charmer's melody, though perhaps a little more sinister.

Fish swarm in the rivers. Maybe a little corny but choose an instrument with a little Wah effect, giving the melody an underwater sound.

Of course there would be some sort of human population even in an ancient jungle (unless you go to a time before human creation, which I firmly believe in). The only thing I could think of for humans would be a bongo section and/or use of vocal/choir instruments.

Here are some animals I couldn't identify musically:
Beetles
Fireflies
Butterflies
Frogs (besides a Rib-it sound effect)
Lizards
Vultures (apart from the other chirping birds)
And ... Bears and Tigers, neither of which are residents of the Amazon, methinks.

If anyone has any ideas for these animals or any others, let me know. And, sound effects would be good for this project, so if you have any animal sound effects or know where I can get them for FREE, let me know.

One good site I know about is:

http://freesound.iua.upf.edu/

(Ones like that one would be great!)

Any other ideas? They're welcome!

Mark