Shad Eash, a good friend and very skillful
graphic artist, has been working on this cover for a while now, and
we're reaching the end of the journey. I wanted to share some of the
latest revisions with you all- and I'd love to hear your feedback.
HERO is not my first album, but it will definitely be a much more mature album than my previous stand-alone release (praise God for growth!). The album takes its name from the title of this piece- and that piece should give a good idea for the epic tone that I'm trying to achieve with this album.
I would appreciate any prayers that you feel led to give in the direction of God's blessing upon this endeavor (well, and any other prayers you feel led to give...). I also greatly appreciate it whenever someone shares my music with others- whether that means Tweeting one of my YouTube videos, sharing this blog post (or my blog) on Facebook, or blogging about my website. Anything you can do to get what I do in front of more people's eyes is a tremendous blessing.
Thank you all for your support- not just with my musical endeavors, but with everything that I'm trying to do here. I love the little community of visitors that I've come to know over the years of blogging here. Y'all are a huge blessing to me. :-)
Our culture trains us to always obey orders. Police officers- soldiers- whenever someone objects and tries to explain why you are not protecting justice, what is the response? "Just following orders."
But is there ever a time to disobey orders?
The second (and first, since the last one was really an introduction) episode of The Babylon Effect.
Also, more music from "Act Like Men." One of my biggest takeaways from this project is that melodies are crucial and distinctive- but rhythms can be very unique too. This piece is driven by a morse code distress call rhythm which is very unique. I want to continue finding unique and fitting rhythms- and not just falling back on my old standbys.
This is another film project I'm working on. With the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic approaching very quickly, the question arises- what can we learn from what happened on that "Night to Remember"?
What have we gained? What have we lost?
"Women and children first."
This statement directly violates the evolutionary and egalitarian worldviews of today.
Evolution says that we have no inherent value, and that the death of the weak leads to the development of the species. If we are all simply products of evolution, matter-in-motion, and the strong survive and the weak die, then "women and children first" is nonsense. Rather, "strongest first." Women and children last. For the sake of the species, you know.
Egalitarianism denies any distinctions between men and women. Anything men can do women can do better. I have yet to hear, however, a feminist be truly consistent and say that the men on the Titanic were being chauvinists. After all, they apparently viewed women as weaker vessels. Why didn't they just let the women take care of themselves?
If these worldviews are allowed enough time to eat into the marrow of our culture, we will gradually, eventually, see their ramifications played out before our eyes. We're seeing it now.
There have been plenty of people, from Hitler to Leopold and Loeb, who have tried to play out the evolutionary worldview, but they are despised for their consistency. We tell them that the strong survive and the weak die- that there is no God, no Judge, no standard- and then we punish them when they live like we told them to.
Recently, our military has finally been given permission to put women in the front lines of combat. Egalitarianism marches on. Let it march on long enough and maybe I won't have to wait on the women and children before I get my chance to get off the sinking ocean-liner. Maybe I can feel good about myself as I listen to the screams of the women and children who go down with the ship. She didn't want me to hold the door for her- why should I hold the seat on the lifeboat for her? Can't they take care of themselves?
No. I can't feel good about it. No matter how boldly these poisonous worldviews march forward, I am a Christian, and as such I see it as my duty as a man to lay down my life for women and children. Whether it's taking a bullet or not taking a life vest or carrying an overburdened purse, I rejoice in the calling that is mine as a man- to not struggle for supremacy in a chaotic melee of natural selection, but rather to use the strength that God has given me for the benefit of those who are weaker than I.
Why?
Primarily, because that's what Scripture says (John 15:13, Neh. 4:14, Eph. 5:25) and models (Jas. 1:27, Ps. 82:3).
Another reason is encapsulated in this quote from the Mysterious Islands documentary: "Evolution is survival of the fittest. In Christianity, the most fit of all, Jesus Christ, died for the unfit. That's you and me. That's the way God thinks- that's the way the Creator thinks."
There it is. Why would I, being bigger and stronger, give up the place that I could secure by right of force on the lifeboat to a smaller and weaker person?
Because that's what Jesus did for me.
Here's a taste of the score for "Act Like Men." Watch the trailer and keep up with the film's progress on the website.
This piece is from the soundtrack to Ponder Pictures' "Brothers Arise."
This screenshot actually comes from the scene for which this piece was written. Many thanks to the director for this excellent image, and for being an all-around really nice guy. He really has a heart for The LORD, and I look forward to watching God use him in the future!
The finished score in the film is slightly different than this piece (and I like it better!), but this is almost the finished product. Enjoy! If you want to hear a version closer to the final one, check out the YouTube upload. Slight differences, but they are indeed there.
Here's a suite of Christmas carols woven together into an epic-film-music-style whole. This is my Christmas gift to y'all, on the same terms as my last one. Just send me an e-mail at gabriel AT resoundingmusic.com and I'll send you an mp3 of this piece. I probably won't get to sending 'em out until after the weekend, though- need to be with the family. If you feel led to share this, it's greatly appreciated. :-)
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end..."
Yes, this is a day late- I was writing it on Thanksgiving Day and then I stopped to go be with the family. :-D
We have much to be thankful for, do we not? What are some of the things that you are thankful for? I'm thankful for... hmm...
(not necessarily in order)
Godly parents
The Word of God
The Election of God
The Love and Grace of God
The Sovereignty of God
Great siblings
A Thanksgiving Day feast
My grandparents
An excellent computer with professional software
Music
God's provision
Our next house (we're planning on moving at the beginning of next year)
The Law and Justice of God
The people that support my entrepreneurial endeavors
...and many more things.
But as a gift of appreciation to those in category 14, if you are a Facebook user you can get a free mp3 of my music.
If you aren't a Facebook user... well, you follow my blog, so I might just send you one anyway.
;-)
Just comment below with the title of the piece you'd like and then send me an e-mail at gabriel@resoundingmusic.com.
To all of my readers, if The LORD leads you to pass on my music, I would greatly appreciate it. Whether you share my blog, tweet a link to my website, embed a video from my YouTube channel in a blog post, "like" my Facebook page (as linked above), or follow my Twitter account, this young entrepreneur will be very grateful.
Back to my Thanksgiving gift to y'all, here are the pieces to choose from:
Psychological thriller with a touch of action. Let me know what y'all think! I have a story for this piece- what's yours?
I'm imagining someone fleeing. Her name isn't Alice, and she's certainly not in Wonderland, but there is a sense of the fantastical in her quest. The landscape is foreign and barren and cold. It's dark and she's lost- but not lost in the sense of making a wrong turn- lost in the sense of being alone in the world, or even being thrust into a world that is not your own.
Why do they want to capture her? Maybe because she found something she wasn't supposed to. Maybe because she wasn't supposed to be here.
At any rate, she finds a house. Like a dream- maybe it is a dream- the gate opens for her. The door opens, too, and she steps inside quickly, gasping for breath. Maybe- maybe somehow this house holds the key to her return home. She keeps onward- down halls and up stairs. And then something catches her eye- it's a door. In this cold and dark house such a bright and clean door seems out of place. There's a clock atop the door, and it says 11:59.
Suddenly, with a great crash, the door downstairs crumbles into the house. Shouts and footsteps. Down the halls, up the stairs. She steps nearer to the door. The clock turns. The door clicks and begins to slide open. Just as her pursuers step into the hallway behind her, she runs, through the door, to the other side of midnight.
This piece was actually begun as underscore for Ponder Pictures' "Brothers II" (working title), but we didn't keep it and so I took it and turned it into a stand-alone piece.
The story in my head:
Prologue- defeat and death, a wasted battleground covered in the slain.
Now, a small, battered group of men trudges through the forest- constant fighting, cold, misty weather, incessant marching- they are worn out. But still they march on. Soon enough, they begin hearing things- seeing shadows in the fog. Their leader stops them and looks around. The enemy closes in and we realize how close to defeat they really are. The leader, in the midst of the struggle, has his own reverie- remembering something, I don't know what, but something important. Maybe you can tell me what it was. At any rate, it invigorates him, and he encourages his men to stand fast for just a little longer. The battle presses in around them, and everything appears to be nearing an end.
Yet it's not over, for now we see someone else. He's running, looks like for help. Or is it to rescue? Ah, a few others are behind, rushing forward. One by one, they burst through the fog onto the battlefield, without hesitation, without regret, without even a moment's thought, one by one shouting a battle cry and throwing themselves into the fray. This gives a much-needed surge of strength to the drowning remnant. The battle's final end is now just as clear in view as before, but clearly different, and with but a few moments' struggle the battle is ended- the enemy scatters- and our men are left to count their dead and to prepare themselves to fight another day.
How's that for another excellent image by my sister and Genesis Effects?
Love it.
Yes, this piece-of-the-week is a love theme. I really enjoy this kind of music. The scene I'm envisioning in my head is obviously romantic. I believe that romance is a good and Godly thing to portray in films if done properly. (For example: having married couples play the romantic parts, having the romance that's written into the film follow God's Law, and not defiling the viewer with scenes that are unnecessary and inappropriate.)
I'd love to see more God-honoring romances in modern films!
So I'm thinking maybe a wedding, or the reception of a letter, or even just an reunion of husband and wife after a long absence- they're finally together again. I think I like this last one best. They're finally able to see each other after months or years apart. And the embrace/kiss/reunion, that would happen at right about 2:42. What does this piece make you picture?
Was this piece inspired by the Bourne films? Not exactly, though the piece has some similarities. Inspired by a trailer scoring group notorious for their epic music, I wanted to write a piece that was consistently intense yet satisfying- and didn't go much beyond 2 minutes in length. Did I succeed? Well, you tell me!
So why the picture? Well, I think it fits the genre, and the title. I'm envisioning a few, beaten and battered faithful, tenaciously defending their last stronghold as it falls around them. Do they win? Well, you can tell me that too. :-D
Enjoy. :-)
(Check out the nice job my sister did, helping me with the text, on the YouTube version of this piece.)
This release is remarkably timed in light of the recent death of Mr. Steve Jobs, a man who, though I know very little about him, nevertheless unquestionably changed many things about the world we live in, and who I respect as an entrepreneur.
This one is the composer's cut of the credits music from Ponder Pictures' upcoming short, working title "Brothers II". Please pray for Spencer Weaver and crew as they continue to work on this film!
A bit of trivia for my much appreciated blog visitors. Can anyone identify:
1. The wind instrument at 1:37 and another score in which it features prominently? 2. The piece of music that the director gave me to style the opening "Brothers' March" after?
:-)
Seriously, you all are much appreciated. I thank people in the comments all the time, but I am just now thinking about how much I enjoy getting y'alls responses.
This piece of the week is a bit different. Rather than being composed for its own sake, this is actually from a film score in progress. Today's Piece-of-the-Week is my initial title concept which I wrote for Ponder Pictures' next film, working title being "Brothers 2".
Don't the EWQL bagpipes (which will probably not be used in the actual film) sound excellent?
My piece of the week comes this time equipped with a 3D globe render from Genesis Effects, the family effects division. I pulled out good ol' EWQL Symphonic Choirs on this one.
This piece I wrote as a kind of audition for a potential client (sans-harmonica and with a few differences :-), and if you feel led you could pray that God would grant me favor in the client's sight.
However, it is also a stylistic stretch which was good for me- and it's my POTW. I'm envisioning a man- not quite a hobo, but having long been lost, tired, and wandering, very weathered, coated in dust and sweat, finally making his way down the last long stretch of dirt road, through the cornfields that he knows, and coming home.
What do you think? Does the piece sound good? Does it tell the story well? Is it interesting? How could it be better?
