Score: 10

"Simon!"

submission: Sancta Maria

date: May 3, 2009

I looked up on you as well and I felt so happy for you.
It was a nice surprise to hear that poem arranged into "Once upon a moonlit eve", Edgar Allan Poe is one of my favorite authors and you are one of my favorite composers. Couldn't get any better than that.
Miss Crayton has such a beautiful voice, she did amazing working with you.
It's so nice to hear something really worth of the classical section here in NG. I've been waiting for months to listen to something like this.

Boy, isn't Julliard doing wonders with you.

5/5, 10/10, Fav'd, instant download. Keep up the good fight.

Fuoco

Score: 9

"Soothing"

submission: Requiem with Guitars

date: May 1, 2009

I have always liked acoustic guitars. This piece is a fine example of why I like it, so relaxing and soothing. I could sit back, close my eyes and just listen to the piece whilst deciphering your thoughts.

I really liked 1:06, it is a nice transition. Though, I must admit, I was kind of hoping the piece to suddenly rush in to something more allegro, not just faster but uplifting. Not exactly in that minute, but later, because little before the third minute I felt like I already heard the entire piece and the ending would be similar. It's very good the way it is, but you may lose the attention of the average listener if there's no appearant change within a minute or two.

The following may not be as important for a piece meant to be relaxing, but I enjoy a consistent melody. Something we can hum and whistle. It gets hard for me to remember this song as it is. I love it when I suddenly start humming a melody I can't recognize and then I remember who wrote that, that means that song really left a mark within me. It also gets easier to identify your style.

All in all, really good job. I must check out your other submissions asap.

Fuoco

Score: 10

"Plum!"

submission: -+[Arsenic Plums]+-

date: February 2, 2009

This is so weird... I love it.

It makes me laugh for some reason, but not in a bad way. I find this very impressive, only vocals and it's well arranged. Excellent control of your beautiful voice, it can't be easy to sing those almost imperceptible grace notes on the main melody.

So... yeah.
I don't usually review arrangements, but this one in particular sounds too unique. And funny.

Fuoco

Score: 10

"Beautiful!"

submission: L'angoisse Romantique III.

date: January 9, 2009

Amazingly beautiful. Got me in the mood the very moment it started, I've listened to this 7 times already and I can't get tired of it. I still don't know how you do it, to create such beautiful melodies, but I love it.
You know, sometimes I don't feel like composing anymore, but you always bring me new inspiration. I come here and listen to something like this and I think: "Fuck, I'd like to compose something as grand as this is" and so I continue. Makes me realize how much I still have to learn.

Now I'm inspired once again. Thank you.

Short review, and really not much about the song itself, but I don't know how could I criticize something I'm learning from. All I can say is good job and keep that up.

Fuoco

Score: 10

"Beautiful"

submission: -+[Scarborough Fair]+-

date: September 14, 2008

Amazingly beautiful. Your voice is way better than I remember, or is it the quality? Doesn't matter, it's beautiful no matter what.
I love the melody, it defenitely resembles to the renaissance. I dare to say, this is professional quality work. It must have been hard to clone yourself 4 times only to make this song possible, but it was defenitely worth it.
Beautiful ending too, songs nowadays doesn't have good endings (mine's either). They either are like any other or a fade out (God, I hate when they fade out). This song just inspired me, thank you.

I really couldn't think of anything to improve this piece, I love it the way it is.
You really impressed me, keep that up.

Fuoco

Score: 9

"Like, a week late?"

submission: A Difficult Parting

date: September 6, 2008

Yeah, I'm late. Sorry. But it's hard to review musical skills, especially if you're a way better orchestrator than I am.

The only problem I hear with your songs is that you tend to keep the same chord progression throughout the entire piece. I believe a song should keep the same progression during the first minute or so, and then change it somehow. Change it from major to minor, introduce a new instrument, change the harmony/melody or anything that keeps the listener interested on what's next. In this song in particular I only hear harmony, barely any melody at all. I read you are planning to add woodwinds or strings later, you certainly should. Because right now I couldn't hum the song if somebody asks me to. You know, I could just hear an amazing solo violin playing an amazing melody. It'd be interesting.

But you know what's the great thing? You have no problems with harmonics. That's the difficult part for me, but you seem to be very skilled at it. Adding a solo or changing harmonics would be just like a pocket change.

This is pretty much everything I wanted to say, if something else pops up I'll PM you.

Good luck with your compositions, they are great and don't let the zero bombers ruin your fun. Just make music for the love of music.

Fuoco

P.S. It's my birthday! yay!

Score: 10

"Beautiful piece!"

submission: Starlit

date: July 31, 2008

This is certainly amazing man. The melody kept me listening through the whole piece. Those cymbals really adds power to the sorrowful mood, and the glockenspiel (celesta?) added a great color to the piece. I love this because it's like a sad episode on somebody's life, but filled with greatness. Like regret for an entire life, and finally deciding to take a different path.
I loved instrumentation, that harp at the begining is what really hooks into the piece.

I really have nothing else to say, I'm impressed. I like it the way it is.
Defenitely a great chance of spotting high in the contest. I wish you good luck, and keep them coming because your stuff is the best :D

Fuoco

Score: 10

"High five!"

submission: Dechire par la Distance

date: July 30, 2008

We're in a similar situation. I believe you already know my situation if you read the description for my song.
You have no idea of how lucky you are, she's only away for a month! I know that when you are not used to not see her almost everyday, two weeks means forever. But for me that is nothing, I have not seen her for two years and I know I won't see her for another two or three more years. I think it'd be easier if she didn't loved me back.
But you my friend, I'm sure she does think of you. Just give her a huge compliment, and she won't let you go.

Now, I'm pretty sure you have won the MAC. I've listened to every submission and no song beats this one. And you used woodwinds! :D
Speaking of which, I loved instrumentation. I really can't be specific about what I like on every segment because I love everythig in this song. Pleasing to the ear, romantic, sad, passionate... defenitely a keeper.

Best of luck for you, buddy. I hope things turn out well for both of you.

Fuoco

Score: 10

"Better than the rest"

submission: The Regret

date: July 27, 2008

This is defenitely one of my favorite songs in this contest. I don't understand why many people tend to like cliché music: "Oh! A sad contest, let's make a slow piece for piano and high pitched strings with little to no variation at all". That's why I prefer this song among others.
The begining is intriguing. That cello or bass creates fantastic ambience, as well as the upcoming choir and woodwinds. Harmony is a very strong point in this song, because you are using diferent elements and some people here believe that using complex notes will kill a sad song. Thank you for proving them wrong.

I have nothing to change or to add. I like it the way it is, and it goes to my favorites. Reminds me a bit of caslevania.

Good job! I hope you do well in the contest, because I hear a great compositional value here.

Fuoco

Score: 10

"Amazing string quartet!"

submission: Lyrical Piece for Strings

date: July 26, 2008

I love string quartets. Maybe so much becasue they're so hard for me :(
But this one is defenitely lovely.
I was set in the mood at the very moment it started, but when 0:48 came... God, thats was wonderful. I'm so glad you suddenly paused the strings after after all of that, it was a perfect break and it gave a nostalgic feeling to it. A lovely melody there, I believe that's my favorite part (0:48-1:13).

You know, I think the title would fit more with "Escena Nocturna" instead of "Escena Noche". Escena noche doesn't make much sense :D

Fantastic job! Keep that up!

Fuoco

P.D.
I love your "Pardon? theme" (I liked the previous title better) the way it is. I find it perfect the way it is, without strings. You have no idea how many times I have listened to that song.