Writing to deal with stuff. Not got my audio system set up so using my new phone. Taylor baritone 8 string guitar.

A Simpler Time Demo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJaEhpOXiME&feature=youtu.be An assignment I did involving a cinematic trailer to the game "The Witcher 2." This involved removing all audio and rescoring the song from scratch. I chose to use an orchestra, though with the lack of one in my bedroom, had to resort to trying to work samples as well as I could. Any criticism is appreciated!

Witcher 2 Fan Remake

This song came into my head a couple of days ago after binging on different film composers. I wanted to carry on working on piano pieces and getting better at composing on a piano. This is what I came up with, a sort of pixarish style, mixing both Thomas and Randy Newman in a way. 

It reminds me of the past, and I've been thinking a lot about the past, this past (haha) few weeks and looking forward to the future. But a specific place that's close to my heart is this giant Georgian house in the south of the UK surrounded by lush fields, and I used to go camping nearby this house with tons of friends and strangers. That used to take up one week of my life for 5 years, and I met some of the most awesome people there. 

Composing is what I want my life to become, and I'm doing my best to learn everything there is to it. I don't quite have an orchestra at my disposal right now, but maybe someday. For now, it's just asking about how instruments work and the limitations. Luckily the piano is a very versatile instrument!

A House on a Hill (Reddit week 13, non-themed)

This is a piece I made with my improvisation group in uni. It's an aleatoric piece, or music by chance. Each person had 7 cards out of a possible 44, each with different commands or ideas. You'd interpret the card in your way, and then you'd mash it with other people. Say for instance you were told to play aggressively, then you would. Or say that you are told to play like you're being chased by a pack of wolves, then how would you interpret it?

There may be a load of major seconds in it, but it's so weird and random and improvised that I don't think it quite fits the theme. But it's up to your interpretation.

Feeling by chance (Live Aleatoric Composition)

Reuploading with a better version of of the piece, with a bit more feel to it. It's an introduction to a documentary I'm working on called "Home" which will be out in May. I'm really excited and glad I've had the opportunity to work.

Intro to "Home" (Student project)

This is my entry to Scorbit's first ever competition! It's a 30 second looping piece that increases in layers based on intensity until finally the full piece is intense.

I decided to make the layers have their own distinct areas, with the first layer being full of fantasy and childlike wonder, with the glockenspiel, and the violin. The second layer is militaristic, like a battle or a march towards the house. The final layer signifies danger or mystery, with bells, and a string quartet that plays discordant chords amongst the other pieces.

Any thoughts or criticisms don't be afraid to leave a message!

At Home In A Cave (Scorbit competition piece)

This is a collaboration piece with an animation student during my final year of my Bachelor's Degree in Popular Music. For the animation was styled in grey scale, I decided to use an older style of music to match it. I chose Ragtime mixed with old cartoons to create a piano piece that would capture the time.

http://youtu.be/NK8XC5GNluo This is the animation along with sound effects that I also made for it!

An Unwanted Thorn (Music by Elliot Dykes)

Spent last night recording the fireworks that were about half a mile to a couple miles away from the house. I haven't changed the levels of the recording though I did eq out the clicks I was making on my mouse (I was playing a game at the game while I listened from the window). Hoping it sounds decent...

Fireworks near home (a recording)

A dark piece of music that stems from my love of D minor and trying out different ways of playing. I decided to go for a dark country feel since country seems to be something I passively listen to most days (cheers dad). It's also the first song I've done where I've used my mandolin playing so that's exciting =D

Feel free to download, but remember to credit me where credit is due!

Elliot Dykes Dust Trodden Roads

A dark but upbeat piece of Cinematic music I composed as a way of practice and to show off repetoir and  composition techniques that I've been studying since finishing university. I'm really happy how it came out too!

Download it, use it, please give credit where credit is due I worked really hard on this!

Elliot Dykes The Hunt Is On

http://www.elliotdykes.com/sheet-music Get the sheet music here!

If I could pick any virtuoso to play with of all time it would have to be Paganini. The 24 Caprices are incredible and number 24 is my all time favourite. So I made a practice based on the second variation of Caprice 24 in A minor. It's mostly in eighth notes so it has a pretty good rhythm. What's great about is the first part involves practicing your scale from C to G and back and the second part involves all the notes in a chromatic scale so it gives your fingers great exercise!

The fastest I could play it without making a huge mistake was about 225bpm. Think you could do better? Record yourself and send it to me!

Paganini-Ish Practice In C Major

Just a little thing I made back in April due to boredom. I don't think chip tune or 8 bit will ever be my forte but I love the sounds, the retro chirps and beeps that bring me back to play Pokemon on the Gameboy or Zelda Links awakening and always thinking Link was Zelda when quite clearly he isn't... Any comments are appreciated, as it will help me improve upon my work :) Thanks!

Chip Butty Demo

A cheerful song with only notes found in the D yo scale, a Japanese pentatonic scale. I thought the main melody sounded like a ship journey so I called it that. It's a more classical style piece I suppose, maybe for someone around grade 2-4 maybe. Just something I made by just experimenting.

Yo ho ships ahoy

BOOM! Thought I was done for today? No I recorded the song I made last week properly after I was asked to by the person it was written for. It's a Valentines song for a lovely Miss Laura Knight whom I love and adore a lot and I feel so lucky and thankful to have her. We've been together a while now but she makes me so happy so I wrote a song for her. It's not the best lyrics nor the greatest singer, but it's something I wanted her to be able to listen to again and again, and if you like it too then maybe you can like it, share it, download it whatever. 

Lyrics: V1 Hey Laura lately my sky is blue
And it must  be all because of you
I see no grey skies no cloudy days my way
Maybe this song will give me a little clue

V2 Remember the day we saw the stars in the sky
Jupiter over our head with a tear in your eye
Remember the day you told me why
You fell for me,  it’s you I’ll stand by

PC Oooh I usually write songs of tragedy
Fables of fear and agony
But for you I felt like something has to change

C I want to be with you daily
To live with you faithfully
With everything I could ever be
Is only there when you’re here
So I have to say
I’m free because since you came my way
Everything’s been so clear

V3 Hey Laura…
I’m sorry but you take my words away
And I know that it would be a mistake
To not let you know you’re loved today

PC Oooh I usually write songs of tragedy
Fables of fear and agony
But for you I felt like something has to change

C I want to be with you daily
To live with you faithfully
With everything I could ever be
Is only there when you’re here
So I have to say
I’m free because since you came my way
Everything’s been so clear

V4 So Laura I want to say thank you
To tell you that I love you so
That day we got together was long ago
Now infinity is not long enough no no no

Chorus a few times to finish.

There you go, a song from heart, sung by the voice of someone who probably shouldn't sing again haha!

Elliot Dykes

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