Sketch for Qi Gong exercise

[Guest]

I have been working on this piece for my Tai Chi teacher - it is to accompany a set of 18 Qi Gong movements called Shi Ba Si. This is not really finished as far as the mix goes - and if my teacher does not like it (for a video of the exercises) then I will rework it into more of a listening rather than a movement oriented piece. Still, I have enjoyed composing this as I almost never work with strings and harmonies like this so for me this was quite exploratory.

https://soundcloud.com/greghooper/sketch-for-shi-ba-si

[GaryG]

Nice work, particularly what you've done with the strings, sounds... natural.

[Guest]

Nice work, particularly what you've done with the strings, sounds... natural.

Thanks garyG the string arrangement comes from imagining what I want and then implementing it in the piano roll or trying some options within the midi editor, but even then I have a strong notion of what I am looking for. I pretty much never noodle around on an instrument looking for inspiration anymore. I only play guitar anyway and that hardly ever so not much use for midi. Anyway I think much better musically to imagine then implement rather than play along until something seems to fit. Better for personal musical development too. ( based on my personal journey in music, ymmv etc etc)

[GaryG]

That's interesting as I'm generally the other way around.

I can't really play keyboards at all but do tend to come up with stuff I'm pleased with more often when noodling than entering notes on a piano roll. Tend to find myself making graphical patterns just to see what they sound like... Though having said that, I have come up with some interesting pieces using that method.

But I guess that's down to my methods too, I don't ever think of a melody or chord sequence beforehand (certainly not a trad 'songwriter' at all), it's all just improvised and developed.

[Guest]

That's interesting as I'm generally the other way around.

I can't really play keyboards at all but do tend to come up with stuff I'm pleased with more often when noodling than entering notes on a piano roll. Tend to find myself making graphical patterns just to see what they sound like... Though having said that, I have come up with some interesting pieces using that method.

But I guess that's down to my methods too, I don't ever think of a melody or chord sequence beforehand (certainly not a trad 'songwriter' at all), it's all just improvised and developed.

Yeah that is pretty much what I did for years, improvised, but for some reason I stopped. Probably because I don't play guitar anymore ( arthritis). The arthritis is much better now but I guess I am out of the habit, and when I look at my guitar and the floyd rose the thought of restringing and tuning gets my lazy bones a-shuddering 😀

[Guest]

updated with a much improved mix - although I have not listened back on soundcloud which sometimes compresses and it is all okay and other times compresses and it is awful

[Seva Randeep]

I enjoyed it :-)

[Guest]

I enjoyed it :-)

thanks, I am glad you did

[aoVI]

Soundcloud hasn't mashed it much that is apparent to my old ears.

You mention the possibility of reworking this into a more complex piece for listening rather than moving. Not sure this needs that at all (but don't let me dissuade you!).

A beautifully flowing piece that I am sure suits Tai Chi, but is just as suited to being a sedentary lump in this chair.