One of the reasons I’ve been quiet here lately is because I’ve been spending a lot of time composing a new big band chart, called Addin’ Down. Here is a MIDI realization of it.
[audio:https://www.wilktone.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Addin-Down.mp3|titles=Addin’ Down]In case anyone is curious, I use Finale 2010 to do my arranging and copy work, and the playback is also done in Finale, with a little help from an old version of Band-in-a-Box to create some of the rhythm section parts and improvised solos. It’s sort of stiff sounding because of this, and I never bothered to get the drum playback to play more like the street beat feel I want on this one.
Of course, you have to use your imagination when listening to a computer play back your composition anyway. It’s tempting to feel that just because somethings sounds cool on the computer that live musicians playing it are going to sound like it does on the computer. Continue reading Addin’ Down for Big Band and Pros and Cons of Music Software