Mummer's Journey is essentially a completely virtual advent calendar/walking simulator experience in which the entirety of Woody Point, Newfoundland is 3D modelled, and the player can exist in this alternate reality Woody Point, which is set at nighttime, in winter, with nobody around besides silhouettes passing by the windows of the buildings. 
Being someone who has spent lots of time walking around Woody Point at night, it was so surreal to suddenly be in this beautifully rendered game-world Woody Point where everything is to scale and almost like the real thing, but not QUITE. There is definitely an eerie sense of calm running through Mummer's Journey and I tried to add to that with slightly chilly synths running through the soundtrack. I also tried to add a familiar warmth to the atmosphere with some staple Newfoundland instruments.
The opening Prelude was just an excuse for me to write a classic video game overture which blooms from simple 8 bit sounds into a big string section. Whereas an ocarina or flute may carry the melody in another popular game series ;), here I used the more Newfoundland-esque tin whistle.
Tracks 2 and 4 are meant to just loop endlessly and provide a calm yet slightly uneasy environment. A favourite colour of mine on track 2 is the large layers of accordion drones that Reg and I recorded at St. Pat's church in Woody Point.
Track 3 plays right down in the main strip of Water Street. It's got a little more rhythm but it's still pretty chilly. It also recontextualizes the Prelude melody if you want to get nerdy.
The final track is a sweet little ditty played on the St. Pat's baby grand and then slowed down slightly to give it a nostalgic feeling. The moment where a wall of accordions enter in this track is probably my favourite moment of the score. This track plays in the end credits of the game as well as at a somewhat hidden campfire in the middle of a field... sort of like a little Easter egg to reward those who explore the game.

All of these tracks loop around and around in the game.

All of the instruments were played by me, some were recorded by me and others (the ones that sound the best) by Reg Kachanoski. All the music was mixed and mastered by Michelle LaCour. Thanks Reg and Michelle!!

2. Mummer's Journey

World premiere played by the Signum Quartet, CBSO Centre, Birmingham

Volans String Quartet No. 12 played by the Signum Quartet

Seven Bass Winds

World premiere of the 11th quartet, played by the Callino Quartet

String Quartet No 11 (Chakra For String Quartet) played by the Callino Quartet

Machine Living

Butterflies ft. Lou

Crying Skies ft. Gavin Fraser

Boundless (Katerina Gimon)

This solo work belongs to a set of 4 pieces setting Whitman’s Calamus poems, for cello and soprano. The work references many musical motifs from the previous songs, which are available from the Canadian Music Centre. The other songs are: Calamus 6, Lacrimosa, Aliment Roots, and No Labour Saving Machine.

Calamus Variations

Composed by Undine Smith Moore
Soprano - Carolyn Quick
Piano - Evan C. Paul

Persisting Sound: Women in Classical Music Showcase Concert
November 17th, 2019
The Old Church Concert Hall,
Portland, Oregon

I am in Doubt (1975)

www.roberthumber.com

Bio:

I am a Canadian composer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist based in Vancouver and Corner Brook, Newfoundland. I primarily write concert music (chamber, orchestral, choral), and I have so far written two award-winning short film scores (I Will Keep Your Light (2018), Reverie (2019)). In May 2019, I graduated with a Master's Degree in Music Composition at University of British Columbia where I studied with Jocelyn Morlock, Stephen Chatman, Dorothy Chang and Keith Hamel. In 2017, I completed a Bachelor's degree in Music Composition, where I studied with Andrew Staniland and Clark Ross.

Since I began studying composition in 2015, I have been lucky enough to write for many incredible musicians including TorQ Percussion Quartet, Friction Quartet, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Musica Intima, Duo Concertante, Victoria Symphony and others. Looking forward, I have many promising projects and ideas for 2019/2020!


Contact me at humber.robert15@gmail.com if you are interested in any of my scores, film collaborations, or are interested in recordings/info regarding:

-wreckhouse (2018) - for symphony orchestra

-floating wingless bloated (2019) - for symphony orchestra

-breath shapes (2019) - for violin and piano

-riverspeak (2019) - for piano trio

-lifted up (2019) - for piano, 2 percussionists, violin and double bass (working on version for percussion quartet)

-the ground beneath us (2019) - for trombone and double bass

-shucks (2018) - for cello and marimba (with kick drum and brake drum)(revising and working on versions for cello and two percussionists, viola and two percussionists)

2. Mummer's Journey

Robert Humber

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