Essential stuff for fans of Lee Jackson

[leejacksonaudio]

I'm going to go ahead and post the WeTransfer link here to make things easier. Here 'tis:

 

https://we.tl/t-jVQiYz0zkv

 

There's a readme in the ZIP file that should have all the info you need to get started. Let me know if you have any questions. Thank you for your help!

[leejacksonaudio]

Here's an MP3 that @stewboy created in Sibelius of the quintet. It doesn't have all of the slurs or articulations in yet, so there's that, but it sounds better than the MIDI file. The link:

 

https://we.tl/t-dDeE11LGbD

 

Please send critiques!

[leejacksonaudio]

This is more of an update and not a request for critiques. In my current obsession to get onto the Texas University Interscholastic League Prescribed Music List (UIL PML), I have completed the primary transcription phase of an arrangement of Beethoven's Piano Sonata #18 in Eb Major, Op.31, No.3, for Woodwind Quartet. (That's Quartet, not Quintet like my other recent works.) If the title looks familiar, well, it should - I did an arrangement of the 3rd movement for Brass Ensemble way back yonder years that got performed by the San Antonio Brass (link coming up at the end of this post). This time around, though, I'm arranging the whole ball of wax - all four damnably difficult movements. I'm not even sure the bassoon part in the 4th movement is going to be playable - some editing might be required.

 

I want to get this piece onto the PML for a couple of reasons:

 

1. it's a good work by Beethoven.

2. There is a lack of works for top grade Woodwind Quartet.

3. There is a *definite* lack of entries in the PML by anyone named Jackson (only 3 out of 23,000+).

 

For any of you who listened to the MIDI files of my Quintets and thought them raw, these are more raw than that. I've done nothing to make them sound like a human performance. I've only taken the notes and put them into the proper order for a Woodwind Quartet, nothing more. Everything else will have to come once I get access to Dorico, and that will be a while from now due to my leg swelling.

 

Now, if you *absolutely* want to hear the arrangement, I won't hold you back. DM me and I'll set up a WeTransfer or something. Remember, though, you have been warned.

 

Here's the brass arrangement of the 3rd movement: https://youtu.be/7ElhsuqXx5I

Here's what the whole thing should sound like on a piano: 

 

[leejacksonaudio]

Oh, if any of you want to browse the current UIL PML, here's a link: https://www.uiltexas.org/pml/

 

This list governs what every band, orchestra, and choir student in the state of Texas (and by common adoption, several other states) can play at music competitions, both for large ensembles and for small Solo & Ensemble contests. In the small ensemble categories, the pieces are graded from 1 (hardest) to 3 (easiest), while in the large ensembles, pieces are graded from 5 (hardest) to 1 (easiest). It's backward for the big ensembles - go figure. Anyway, it's an interesting read. Go have fun.

[leejacksonaudio]

This year, I have taken advantage of my Recording Academy membership and done something I haven't done since 1998: enter a song for consideration for a GRAMMY® Award. The song in question is from the "Lady Tygress' Suite and Other Commissions" album, and I've chosen to enter track 1, "Lady Tygress' Suite - 1. Intro." I filled out all the online forms and submitted the song today.

 

The next step in the process is the song gets reviewed by the Awards Committee to see if it meets eligibility requirements (and to see if I filled out everything correctly). If everything is hunky-dory, the song goes onto the list for First Round Voting along with a whole crapload of other songs. I have to clear First Round Voting in order to become Nominated.

 

The last song I submitted that made the voting list was Lo Wang's Rap, back in 1998. I think it probably got one vote (mine). I'm hoping to get more this time around.

 

In case you haven't listened to the song I'm submitting this time around, here it is: 

 

 

Wish me luck, and watch this space! Thanks!

[Daytime Waitress]

Honestly forgot what a bop this was, Lee. Best of luck with it!

[MrFlibble]

I dunno if it's the cover that somehow primed me, but I'm kind of imagining a video sequence of a car driving on a road filmed from inside the car for this track.

 

I remember you released a Duke-related track somewhat recently that had the visual theme of travelling by train, that was cool too.

[leejacksonaudio]

5 minutes ago, MrFlibble said:

I dunno if it's the cover that somehow primed me, but I'm kind of imagining a video sequence of a car driving on a road filmed from inside the car for this track.

That's certainly one way to interpret it. Minus the noisy kids in the back seat, of course. :)

 

6 minutes ago, MrFlibble said:

I remember you released a Duke-related track somewhat recently that had the visual theme of travelling by train, that was cool too.

Ah, yes - Underground Train is the one of which you speak. The only one for which I've got a music video...

 

 

[MrFlibble]

Best of luck with the contest!

 

Is voting open for everyone in this, or is there a panel of musical experts?

[leejacksonaudio]

4 minutes ago, MrFlibble said:

Best of luck with the contest!

 

Is voting open for everyone in this, or is there a panel of musical experts?

Voting for the GRAMMY Awards® is only open to members of the Recording Academy, of which I am part (have been since 1997 or 1998, can't remember which). This is the BIG music awards deal, the one that they televise the awards show of every year. I'm afraid the voting is rather exclusive. ;)

[Dimon12321]

I've recently discovered draft soundtrack for Shadow Warrior Alpha (1995-96) where most tracks were composed by Tyler Tullock. How did these samples influence you while composing music for the retail version of the game?
(This playlist doesn't contain all the compositions, but still)

Edited July 19, 2023 by Dimon12321

[leejacksonaudio]

44 minutes ago, Dimon12321 said:

I've recently discovered draft soundtrack for Shadow Warrior Alpha (1995-96) where most tracks were composed by Tyler Tullock. How did these samples influence you while composing music for the retail version of the game?

They didn't. I listened to them, of course, but then I went off and did my own research. I listened to some traditional Japanese music, and most of all, I listened to the KODO drummers of Japan. I built my soundtrack based off of that source material, not the first SW soundtrack.

[leejacksonaudio]

On 7/19/2023 at 3:49 AM, leejacksonaudio said:

Voting for the GRAMMY Awards® is only open to members of the Recording Academy, of which I am part (have been since 1997 or 1998, can't remember which).

Just to clear this up: I logged into my account and found my membership creation date. It was 1997. :)

[leejacksonaudio]

I finally have access to a notation program! Dorico Pro 5 is loaded on my laptop and rockin' and rollin' like you wouldn't believe. All I had to do was force myself to spend a couple of hours upright in the seat at the big Music Computer upgrading things, including upgrading Dorico Pro from v3.5 to v5.0.20, and blammo! I have multi-machine permission now! I can use it with my legs elevated, and use it I have - boy, howdy, have I ever! After stumbling through the initial learning curve, I've managed to pick up some speed on the thing, and I'm now in the process of converting "Theme and Tangents," my second woodwind quintet, from a MIDI file into a full score and parts. I can't wait to get this thing played!

[leejacksonaudio]

Whew! That was a blast! (faints and falls over)

 

Seriously, I've just finished my first major set of marathon sessions with Dorico Pro, and my results? Two completed woodwind quintets in about a week's time! I got both Woodwind Quintet No.1 and "Theme and Tangents" done, full score & parts plus rendered recordings of each. I just finished editing WWQ1 about an hour ago (I did T&T first, since I have an offer by someone to perform it).

 

If you'd like to hear - for the first time anywhere - a fully rendered recording of all three movements of my first woodwind quintet, complete with slurs and articulations (!!!), then here's the WeTransfer link for the MP3:

 

https://we.tl/t-aS9fZkZlAx

 

Please let me know what you think. Thanks!

[leejacksonaudio]

Here's another Dorico Pro rendering for you to check out. I just finished an arrangement of Beethoven's Piano Sonata #18, Opus 31, No. 3 in Eb Major for Woodwind Quartet (not Quintet - the difference is no French Horn). It was a real workout getting it done - four movements, 23 minutes' worth of music, over 110 pages in the full score! The bassoon part is 20 pages long, for crying out loud. Still, I'm hoping someone will play it, and that one or more of you will listen to the MP3 of it. Here's the WeTransfer link of it, good for a limited period of time:

 

https://we.tl/t-3ocNr7egjX

 

Please tell me what you think, and if you got all the way through the recording. Thanks!

[leejacksonaudio]

Here we go again, this time with my biggest project yet! Today I've uploaded a version of Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 6 in A Major, 1st Movement, arranged for concert band / wind ensemble. Bruckner's 6th is an underappreciated masterpiece, and the first movement is a massively powerful work that stirs the emotions or the listener. I've tried to capture the soul of the work with my arrangement by translating the strings to the saxophone choir and by keeping other voices as authentic as possible. Here's the WeTransfer link to it, good for the next 7 days:

 

https://we.tl/t-ik1jOWb53l

 

As always, please let me know what you think. Thanks!

 

Full transparency - this recording was generated in Dorico Pro 5.0.20 using NotePerformer 4. No actual bands were harmed during this recording. :)

Edited September 10, 2023 by leejacksonaudio

[MrFlibble]

I'm unable to listen to your upload ATM, but Bruckner is very epic indeed, as I recently discovered. 

[leejacksonaudio]

I've released a revision of the Bruckner 6th, 1st Movement, Band arrangement. This version has been gone through with a Fine-Toothed Comb<tm>, looking for the tiniest errors and wrong notes. Several were found and squashed without mercy. For your easier listening pleasure, I've uploaded the track to Soundcloud. Here's the link:

 

https://on.soundcloud.com/HqXeb

 

Please let me know what you think, especially if you listened to the first version - is this version any cleaner? Thanks!

[leejacksonaudio]

More combing. :)  The file on Soundcloud has been updated. I've streamlined the orchestration in parts, tweaked it in others, and just generally made it better (I hope). I need your feedback, folks, please. Here's the link:

 

https://soundcloud.com/lee-jackson-12/symphony-no-6-in-a-major-1st-mvt-wind-band-arrangement

 

Drop comments here, in PMs, or on Soundcloud, please. Thank you for your help.

[leejacksonaudio]

I've finally gone and done it: I've submitted my two woodwind quintets, "Woodwind Quintet No.1" and "Theme and Tangents," to a publishing house for publication. The company is called ECS Publishing, which is short for E.C. Schirmer. I had to send a résumé along with the pieces at their request, since these were my first submissions with the company. Go figure. Anyway, I've got to give them *four months* of time to consider my works, so it could be February before I find out if they'll publish them or not. Fingers and other appendages crossed!

[leejacksonaudio]

Here we go again! I've got a file up on SoundCloud for your listening pleasure of another one of my arrangements for band. This one is of Johann Sebastian Bach's "Prelude No. 7 in Eb Major" from "The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1." Just like with the Bruckner 6th Symphony, it's been rendered using Dorico Pro 5 and NotePerformer 4.

 

I'm hoping to get this polished and published on Sheet Music Plus soon, by way of the ArrangeMe.com service, so if you're in a band, be it high school or above, and you'd like to play this, keep your eyes on this thread - you'll probably get the chance if you can talk your band director into it! :)

 

If you've got any questions or comments, drop them here or on SoundCloud. Thanks for listening!

 

Here's the link: https://soundcloud.com/lee-jackson-12/prelude-no-7-in-eb-major

 

[leejacksonaudio]

I've updated the recording at the above link. Changes:

 

1. There's now a Piccolo Trumpet part playing the high notes of the intro and of a section toward the end.

2. Several other editorial changes in spots.

3. The levels of the recording have been mastered to be louder.

 

No feedback so far here on Doomworld. I got one bit of feedback on SoundCloud about adding a Piccolo Trumpet, and you can see/hear the results. I respond to my feedback, eh? ;) Please, speak up, folks! Thanks for listening.

[jmpt16]

Feel like this is the best place to post this:

 

Edited October 13, 2023 by jmpt16

[leejacksonaudio]

13 hours ago, jmpt16 said:

Feel like this is the best place to post this:

Creative. Thanks.

[jmpt16]

1 hour ago, leejacksonaudio said:

Creative. Thanks.

Not mine, but you're welcome!

[leejacksonaudio]

New website post: https://dleejackson.lbjackson.com/2023/10/bach-to-the-classics/

[MrFlibble]

Now this is a true musical offering!

[leejacksonaudio]

Only valid under the purview of the Margrave of Brandenburg.

[leejacksonaudio]

Doomworld Denizens, I am in need of your assistance once again. I've found a composition competition that I'm going to participate in, and I would appreciate it if I could get a select few of you to help me in my endeavor. Here's how it's going to go.

 

I need volunteers who would agree to provide feedback to me on the music I'm writing for the competition. You'd need to be fast and attentive, and you'd need to be able to keep a secret as well. Contact me via DM, please, and I'll send you the style guide to which I need you to agree.

 

Once you've agreed to the Style Guide, I'll send you a web link to a private section on SoundCloud where you can find the Work-in-Progress of the music I'm writing. Listen to the piece, write up your review, and wait for the next revision to go up so you can write the next review. Continue until done. That's it! In exchange, I'll include your name on a dedication section of the info page for the song once it's printed up.

 

Is anyone interested? If so, please send me a DM and we'll get the ball rolling. Thanks in advance!