Rise to Fall - Inspired by Dark Knight Rises

[Gharun Lacy]

Hello All

My first real post on the forum. I'm blind folded and ready for the firing squad.  

This composition is intended to be cinematic piece inspired by the Dark Knight Rises film. Since I aspire to compose for film and television I figured this was a good place to start. I know the brass is a little thin (i'm still learning the mixing aspect of this game). Let me know what you guys think.

And yes the last two phrases are Zimmer's Dark Knight Theme to tie the piece in. Is that against the rules?

There is a youtube video for this also but I've seen guys get hammered for posting them here so if you want visual stimuli you can go to youtube and search for BlackLightRecordings. 

Thanks in advance for your insight.

[Tombo Rombo]

Hello Gharun

I am below the level of dilettante when it comes to getting a good mix so I can't actually give you any tips, just my impressions.  The wind sound in the beginning seems off somehow, you might want to reconsider that, change it, something.  Once the "music proper" kicks in with the pulsating technoish bassline and lush strings it sounds very "cinematic" to my untrained ears so I'd say you are on the right track stylistically.  Still, I find the chicka chicka sound a bit on the annoying side in that part (so much for technical descriptions), some kind of dub-step percussion or something?  Also, no melody sticks in my head after listening, perhaps something catchy grafted on top would make your piece stand out more.  As far as stealing/borrowing melodies from other composers, it's all good as long as it falls under "fair use", something I should learn more about, but I'm sure you can google it.

Cheers!

[André Colares]

Hi there, Gharun! I liked the overall atmosphere of your piece, as it matches really well the new movie franchise. You nailed the right timbers and conventions that we are now used to hear in a Batman movie. I especially liked the "whispering" voices. But I think that you could fill the piece with more information sometimes, like more instruments, variations on previous prhases and such. To me, it looks like you wrote a lot of really good ideas (really, really good) one after another without going back to them. For example, the rhythmic bangs at the beginning start well and suddenly stop, never to show up again. I mean, at the end there's lots of bangs and shouts, but not that rhythmic cell from the beginning. And I'm saying this because I feel it was a really strong rhythm that you could reuse in context with the new musical elements presented, so the audience has something to relate to. Other than that it's a really well ambiented piece with that darkness and airy quality we all love about Batman.

Good work!

[Chris Alpiar]

Hmm well I dont really think much about it, Im sorry. I am interested in seeing how this works against the video its scored for. But to me there is no theme, no harmony, no rhythmic development, its like a piece for VERY commercial crime scene TV. Its well done what is here, but its like not really music as much as it is inflection for picture. To me that means there is not really a point to publish this kind of thing without its intended picture. Im sorry to not be more positive about it, but when posting just music, to me (my opinion completely) the music needs to stand on its own, and include melodic and harmonic development and not just some cool sounding effects and strings all in one key with a steady pulse. To me it sounds like Mike Post type of work, something we all have to crank out from time to time, but not stuff to be proud of. I couldnt listen to the whole thing, and I scanned sections after listening to the first 30 seconds or so, so maybe I missed stuff. But I come here strong handed as you obviously have musicality in your body and good tools, so I think its worth to push you for a much higher level of existence ;-)

[Gharun Lacy]

All thanks for the comments. 

Chris, I agree completely with your comments. Oddly enough, I thought the same when I heard Zimmer's original score to Batman Begins. Very tough to listen to on its own but matched the gritty visuals perfectly. I can see now that when I come here I've got to really bring the A game. That's great inspiration.  Thanks for the comment.

Gharun