So do I need to crank up the poetry machine and spew out a couple of poems for yall to play with ?

I would think so!

Yup.



I'm afraid you can't, as the forum doesn't allow audio files to be uploaded. (Believe me, I've tried.)

Which means we need to figure out how to upload/download all the audio files we'll be dealing with. Email can get chaotic... I haven't tried it yet, but my dad uses a thing called Dropbox. It's for file sharing and stuff like that.

I play the violin. I would be happy to help with any instrumental work you all might have!

What about uploading them to youtube? That's what I finally settled on for mine. If we don't want them visible to the world we can do the direct link option they have. Or we could just convince Jay he needs to allow audio file attachments.

You should be able to upload audio files now. If there is a format that you need other than what is there, let me know.

See, we don't even have to ask him. We just have to talk about asking him.

Anyone have anything yet?

Wow, looking at this makes me wish there was something that I could do, but I don't play any instruments, so I wouldn't be of any help.

You can cheer us on!!! And make comments, both useful and pointless.

I LIKE SPAGHETTI!! (Pointless enough? )

Whats the album cover?? what do you want it to look like?? I could come up with a concept.

So what kind of songs would you need? I'm gonna try to come up with something, but I've never written fantasy songs... need some topic ideas...

I think we should probably wait till we have more of an idea of what the album will be like before we jump right into the cover art. I'm thinking of waiting till we have put more pieces together than picking one poem to make an essence map for and asking WR if she'd design the cover art for us based on that essence map.

Well, I typically come up with something that I feel. I try to show the darkness/fear/doubt, and then show the hope/truth/light, if that makes sense. And I try to put a wonder of God's amazing world into it.

Elanhil, I would say that qualifies. (I just ate spaghetti, come to think of it...)

Sorry...it's been a while since I've written poetry. I'll try and get yall some to play with soon.

We can't work on album art until we know what's going on the album. I really like the idea of an essence map, and of course we all love White Raven's avatars made off of essence maps, so I think that's probably the best idea.

Do we have any idea what songs we're doing yet?
'Morgon's Lament' and 'Lullaby' right?

As for subject matter, take any element you associate with fantasy, swords, battles, epicness, princesses, whatever and just use that. We're not being picky. It's more of a fantasy by association rather than by definition. We're going to say it's fantasy music and everyone will expect it to be fantasy sounding, and thus it will sound like Fantasy. Right?

Oh yeah, I already said I'm doing Morgon's Lament over again. That was my first time recording, ever, and I know it's a little rough. I'm not doing the recordings myself, I'm getting them done in a professional studio, so they should come out a little better next time.

Spice it up? Absolutely! I wanted to, but I wasn't sure how you'd feel about that. Seer sent me the music, yes.

It has nothing to do with Riddle Master unless you look really, really close. That's not infringing on anybody, that I know of. Jay? "Inspired" is free to all. I mean, most of what I write is 'inspired' by something. What about all of the LotR rip-offs everyone talks about? No one's suing them!

Yes, you can't copyright inspirations. Those don't count as derivative works.

I agree with Janin. Lullaby wasn't written as a fantasy poem/song, it was actually inspired by a very non-fantasy story combined with the title of a Chris Rice album (Run the earth, Watch the sky) and just grew from there. But Evening's music definitely added a fantasy air to it . So I would say write whatever.

Except spagetti.

You all can use "The Slave's Cry" once Evening has finished it if you like. I don't have a way to make a recording though...

I play trumpet, so if there is any music you guys want me to play, I probably could play it pretty well, given time if it is a harder piece. If I mess it up, I have three uncles that play trumpet, so they could help me if I get stuck. But to make it sound good on recording, I am going to have to find a good enough mic that will stand my trumpet. I do believe that others said they play trumpet, but it took so long to read the four pages that I forgot who they were.
Kenton D. Long

Do you guys have a recording of that yet, if so, I would like to hear it.

I was thinking the money would just go to the site, we're not professionals or anything. It really depends on what everyone wants, I guess, and what Jay's willing to put up with. Sir Emeth, want to pop in a comment again? I've been going on the assumption that he's going to be in charge of distribution so that's more in his department.

Oh, another thought. Are there any other composers or artists about? It would be cool to have songs that are just instrumental too, so it just needs a kind of fantasy feel. Maybe one of you people who play piano out there have something...

Hi there!  I've been following this thread for a while, I just haven't commented yet . . . So please forgive me if I feel obliged to stick my two cents in so late in the thread. 

If you want, I can finish expanding 'Praise to the Creator' (and stick a new name on it), so if you guys want you may include that song.  I can vouch for Evening's musical talent. 



That's a brilliant idea, Janin.  It definitely has my vote. And it might end up being easier on everyone then the hassle of distributing the profit. 
But like I said, I'm still technically a newcomer on this thread, so my opinion doesn't count yet.

I third that idea, if I count.

Of course your opinion counts, Ciela!!! Newcomers ideas are very important because they often time offer a fresh perspective.

So.... it looks like the writing talent will be great a varied, most of the composing will come from Evening, and we're still not sure about the recording. Evening, do you have any instrumental stuff you've written? (since no other composers are leaping to the forefront.) I'd like to get some instrumental stuff going here. Piano solos would be great, and we have a flute player around here somewhere... Of course, getting quality recording done is going to be an issue still.

I play trumpet and I can record things, though I am not sure how professional they sound. \
Kenton D. Long

Sound like you guys have thing underway. The only musical talent the Lord gave me is my voice, and while I’ve been told to get vocal lessons they are really expensive, so my voice is raw. I could try my hand at writing some lyrics if you guys still need additions to work with. Let me know, I’m open to the idea of trying to write something.

I also think you turned the whole thing upside down by answering the newer threads first and then moving onto the older threads, so now the old threads are at the top and the new ones are at the bottom... hehe. This is funny.

I had some leisure time yesterday (not normal for me), so I just decided to peruse through the forum. You should not see that many posts with your name on them ! Oh well. I didn’t think about the fact that the order in which I answered the posts would affect their placement… *shrugs shoulders* oh well. You’ll still love me, won’t you? *puppy dog eyes*

Of course! I'm just being amused by it. And flipping them back right side up by replying myself...

this is an age of massive amounts of free stuff online... look up "vocal exercises" on youtube and you'll find some good ones. Don't be afraid to use them... they make you look and sound ridiculous (try doing them at a red light with your car windows rolled down... people will think you're a crazy person) but they work. You have to tune and care for your voice just like any musical instrument. The only difference is it's built in. Man! Isn't God awesome?!?

He is, isn’t He. I have a friend whose training to be an Opera singer and her vocal exercises are hilarious! However, they work. I can’t tell you how much volume I’ve acquired by trying some of them.

Umm, sure, let me know the process. I'd be willing; I'm just not sure how to make it work with the distance factor.

My younger sister was trained in opera from a young age... I have a couple songs with my band that I've been trying to get her to lend her voice to. I need a ghostly background female voice in a couple parts.... getting her to do it however is like pulling teeth! I hate to brag... knowing she IS my sister (so it's seems like I'm being a bit untruthful) but she has a voice that brings tears to eyes. I get choked up when I hear her sing myself... and I've seen others do the same. If ever God has blessed someone with song, it's her. And yes... as hilarious as vocal exercises are.... and embarrassing... they truly do work.

Wow, I don't think I make people cry, but I've had that feeling before listening to someone sing. Some people's voices sound more like instruments.

I second Evening's request.

I took voice lessons for a few months but I didn't feel like I learned anything. My teacher couldn't communicate... I think we just didn't have compatible personalities. I have learned quite a bit about the theory... I did pick up some of that. What you're supposed to do... and I learn more by trial and error anyway.

You know I wish I did, but she has nothing online. And since getting married she seems to have completely given up on singing altogether, which really makes no sense to me what-so-ever. I actually find it quite irritating because to me she's letting a remarkable... perhaps even miraculous talent given her by God, go to waste. I'm hoping, if I can talk her into lending her vocals to one of my songs it will reawaken that desire she had to sing from the time she was five years old until it just seems to have died just a few years ago.

Well that's not cool! I was in the mood for a good cry, and I don't watch sappy movies, so that's out of the picture.

I wish I could help you with the wish for a good cry but all my tragically tragic sources have suddenly vanished out of my head. How about laughing instead?

I love laughing!

The money is something The Council has been thinking about. For now it will probably go to the site, but what that means is hard to define. :P

As for distribution... I think downloads is probably the way to go, honestly. Doing it mainly via iTunes and other sources, or whatever. Burning them onto CDs with cover art is something that I think would be cool to do, still. But I think that would be done piecemeal, by individual members to sell at their churches or wherever they want to. (Cover art would be designed here and given to them to use, of course.) That make sense?

The Council? *raises eyebrows*
I love this place. Where else in the world do things get discussed by 'The Council'?

We could do physical CDs through Lulu, or something similar. Since it's print-on-demand it would fit all criteria. People who wanted to buy a physical copy rather than just downloads would buy it through Lulu. Participants who want copies to sell at churches or to their family or whatnot don't have to place a minimum order.