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What Are You Doing When Not Saving The World

Zelda Dubstep

Since everyone loves this track, I felt it was only proper to give it a spitshine and touch up using the new skills and tools I've gathered since making it two months ago.  It sounds a lot crispier with touched up bass, stronger/tighter sub bass, a sexy kick/snare upgrade and an overall better-balanced mix.  Plus 1,000 new chances to download it again ;)

DOWNLOAD: http://www.mediafire.com/?zv7dgqbsrcnd822

Legend of Zelda - Song of Storms Dubstep Remix (VIP Version)

-------------New Zelda Remix:--------------
http://soundcloud.com/joeyverbeke/ganons-lament

---------------Free Download:----------------
Zeldubstep Album: http://joeyverbeke.bandcamp.com/album/zeldubstep

----------------Other Pages:-------------------
Bandcamp: http://joeyverbeke.bandcamp.com
YouTube: http://youtube.com/joeyverbeke
Facebook: http://facebook.com/joeyverbeke
Google+: http://gplus.to/joeyverbeke

Songs Used: Kaepora Gaebora's Theme (owl), Bolero of Fire, Nocturne of Shadow, and Battle Theme (the music that plays whenever an enemy is by you).

Zelda Dubstep: Ocarina of Time Ultra Deluxe Remix Edition +1

All Or Nothing by Brand X Music

* I do NOT own any copyrights to this song.

All Or Nothing -  Brand X Music

Two Steps from Hell - Heart of Courage

Two Steps from Hell - Protectors of the Earth

Reading session of The Machine Awakes, by the University of North Carolina Greensboro Symphonic Band and Kevin Geraldi. Oct. 9th, 2012.

The Machine Awakes is a work for band and electronics designed for beginning and community musicians.

Download a free PDF perusal score here: http://stevenbryant.com/the-machine-awakes.php

The Machine Awakes (UNCG Symphonic Band reading)

Preview premiere performance of my work for wind ensemble + electronics. UNCG Wind Ensemble, Kevin Geraldi, conductor. Oct. 9th, 2012, Aycock Auditorium, Greensboro, NC.

PDF Perusal score: http://stevenbryant.com/solace.php

Solace (UNCG 2012-10-09)

This kid I used to look after always demanded that we play this fucking song in the car so I thought it would be funny if I covered it to see if he would notice a difference. How come no one believes this is me singing? Listen to the original, it does sound different. The original version is longer and more boring. Also the sound effects aren't as well placed and obviously the singing is a lot worse in the original version.

He Lives In You (Lion King 2 Soundtrack)

Luminescence: An Overture of Light is exactly what it sounds like. The idea of light and brightness was the inspiration behind this piece. It is apparent will all of the metallic and keyboard percussion present. It opens with a regal fanfare presented in the trumpets. It is later developed into some what of a round, or call and response. While this is happening the percussion and woodwinds are playing at their own accord flourishes or sounds written into their parts. After the beginning it transitions into the 3/4 section with a melody that acts to bridge the gap from the fanfare to the slow melodic section. It was written in 4/4 but then shifts to three four with the major third motif being played underneath it. The slow section is a reflection on how light comes in many forms and even many colors and that in times we may only have a small flicker of light and we must keep hope alive. As the slow section climaxes it transitions straight into the ending with a heavy groove in 7/8. Trumpet and bass guitar solos are featured here to signify the return of the bright light. We then slow down and transition into a recap of the beginning fanfare of light and end the piece very brightly.

Luminescence: An Overture of Light

Immediate Music   An Epic Age

The Journey

Grade 4.

Vary rarely do I come across a situation where my instincts know exactly what a piece is about, but my conscience does not pick up on it until the piece is complete. So was the case with Always United, Forever Strong. I went into the compositional process knowing only that I wanted to write some type of fanfare. After spending a significant amount of time brainstorming and jotting down ideas, I came across a few motives that began to develop. It immediately became clear to me that the spirit of this piece was drawn from several pieces that I have experienced in my career as a performer and conductor. The first is the Vienna Philharmonic Fanfare by Richard Strauss. Some of my most enjoyable musical experiences are with brass ensembles, and I first performed this piece with the Skyline Brass, a group of incredible musicians who came together once a year to perform. The second inspiration is Verdi’s Requiem, particularly the Tuba mirum. I first experienced its sheer power as a student performer at James Madison University. The third inspiration, something completely different than the first two, is Alfred Reed’s Festival Prelude. This is one of the first pieces I conducted as an honor band clinician; for that very reason it holds a special place in my heart. Interestingly, the composition of Always United, Forever Strong, drew from elements of all three works.

The entire structure of the piece was very clear to me (I actually sketched the entire piece out by hand prior to doing any orchestration); however, I did not figure out the title until I finished orchestrating the work. Then, while looking at the structure and orchestration together, it hit me like a ton of bricks. While I in no way specifically intended to do so, I wound up writing a piece about the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Rather ironic, since the piece was commissioned by the Nassau Music Educators Association on Long Island in New York. Upon completion of the piece (November 30, 2012, nearly a month after Hurricane Sandy hit), many in the area, including band directors and student musicians, were still attempting to get back to normal. Once I figured out the title of the piece, I emailed Paul Caputo, the Vice President of NMEA District 4 in Nassau County. He emailed me the following response:
￼￼￼￼
“What’s funny in all of this... I was helping a friend on the south shore gut his house a couple of weeks ago, after the storm had sent 7 feet of water through his place. On the way home that day, I was thinking it would be cool if the title of your piece had something to do with the victims of the storm. I was going to email you my thoughts, but I thought ‘Who am I to tell someone what his piece should be about???’ I’m glad we ended up on the same page!!!”

In thinking about the work, it is not quite about victims. Rather, it is about community. The music follows a single person coming outside the morning after such a catastrophic event. This person is portrayed by a single note, which opens the piece. Shortly thereafter, additional people begin to come out, one by one (portrayed in the music). The cumulative effect becomes apparent rather quickly. While the single original note continues to sound, the power and combination of all the notes around it lift it up and make it glorious – clearly resulting in something that is greater than the sum of its parts.

It is in this spirit that I offer Always United, Forever Strong. This piece is for all those who have come together in the past and continue to do so to this day; for communities which support one another; and, most importantly, for people who help pick each other up, lean on each other, and find a way to come out even stronger than ever.

Always United, Forever Strong (Fanfare for Winds and Percussion)

A mosaic is a piece of art created using different color material. In this case I have utilized sound as the framework for the image.

This high energy piece focuses on different combinations of sound. Beginning with no Key center, the piece roars to life with ascending woodwind lines and brass hits. It is almost as if the sections are fighting back and forth. All the chaos converges into a resolution soon after and drives us into a new color of sound. Still no direct key center we modulate fairly often between keys through out. The rhythms in the piece are what propel it forward. The percussion section laying down grooves with the winds on top communicating back and forth. It all builds to a climactic ending with recaps of the different sounds and color ideas presented.