The castle theme sounds good.
But yeah, I can't quite place the "Open Seas" music. It definitely sounds "watery", but a little too "light", and not dark enough. I hope I'm making sense with what I'm describing...
Koniption
Something related to the BM Royal Family Faction would be benefit from this Castle track. I like it! It's very nice on the ears. Short clips are always good to create a sort of episodic feel to the development of quests.
Meanwhile, Open Seas is absolutely beautiful! Simple but delightful. I keep playing it over and over.
I'd opt for having that one in our Mages Dimension...the one that we had planned to create a while back and which hopefully will feature a piece of architecture in the Escher style...quite magical anyway.... =)
The Castle Theme sound like it would work very effectively if it was played the very first time the player enters Black Marsh. It portrays grandiosity, so would work for castles, yet it gives me a sense of a vast unexplored landscape at the same time.
Open Seas gave me the image of being underwater, and reminded me of the "Jellyfish" piece on Bill Bailey's Remarkable Guide to the Orchestra.
The "Castle" tune just IS the Royal Court faction's theme song. When I listened to it, the city of Lilmoth just popped into my head...
I'm not sure Royalty would work as a first-time entry song since it begins with horns. Brass expresses nobility more than other instruments, and I'd rather go for something ethnic. If I'd compose an entry fanfare, it'd be a shakuhachi strike (the airy flute in the death song).
If Open Seas will fit in this mage dimension then I'll definitely finish it for this purpose. I'm thinking it could then use some percussive overlays and organic synths to express the whole magical thing.
Now, I've been experimenting with some interior music for Gideon. Primarily, I want to contrast the full and wide orchestral ensembles that dominate the exteriors with something much more small and intimate. So, here's
Ballad of the Mask, which is a short (1:22) piece with only a guitar and a section of basses. The finger sounds and general noises of the guitar have been embellished to give that intimate feel. Letting it play once and then hearing the opening of one of the public exterior pieces is the contrast that I've been looking for.
Brilliant. Dark, brooding and, as you said, intimate.
I'd describe it as solemn and lightly gothic. Fits nicely! :goodjob:
As for the Mages Dimension piece, I wouldn't ditch that little sample entirely. Small pieces that serve to introduce something is a technique I much appreciate. It's got an old-world feel about it.
Sounds very fitting to me, for Gideon interiors. Nice job on that!
KP
Nice work on "Ballad of the Mask". The focus on the 2nds and 4ths puts across a pensive quality. It reminded me of some of the calmer moments in the first "Devil May Cry" game.
Also, thanks for suggesting Schoenberg's Theory of Harmony, it's a thoroughly fascinating book. I particularly like that he has reasons to back up the statements and guidelines he offers, whereas other texts I've read use the usual "it sounds bad" excuses for certain restrictions.
In case we want to set a tribal mood in some huts, here's
A Wary Visit. It's meant to be played quietly, at 30% volume (which is roughly the standard in-game volume). Given that it's a simple loop, I could elongate it, if necessary.