Alex Ball

This is "A Canadian in Mayfair" by Angela Morley (1924 - 2009) created from scratch using virtual instruments. I have a copy of the full score (no way I'd be able to work this out by ear!) Sounds used: Strings: Spitfire Audio - Chamber Strings Harp: Orchestral Tools - Symphonic Sphere Woodwinds: Spitfire Audio - BML Woodwinds & Albion Brass: Cinesamples - Cinebrass Core Drums: Native Instruments - Abbey Road Vintage Drums Orchestral Percussion: Native Instruments - Kontakt Library FX - Izotope Vinyl, U-he Satin, Waves CLA-2A, T-racks (various), Cubase reverb / eq / stereo imaging. Composition © Angela Morley Recording © Alex Ball

The Predator score by Alan Silvestri is one of my favourites. One thing that's always bugged me was that I couldn't figure out the phrasing of the main theme. It felt like it was in a weird time signature when it wasn't. I found an entire thread of other people discussing the same thing: http://www.filmscoremonthly.com/board... With a bit of detective work (watching live performances videos where the conductor is visible) and also dropping the original recording in my DAW, I was able to work it out. It was actually really simple. I'd just been hearing 16th when it was triplets. Anyone else find they were hearing it this way?

A complete re-recording of Robert Farnon's "Portrait of a Flirt" from 1955, realised with virtual instruments. A follow up to "My Computer is a 1950s Orchestra" which featured "A Canadian in Mayfair" by Angela Morley. Funnily enough, Morley's piece was based on Farnon's and was a tribute to him. Sounds used: Strings: Spitfire Audio Chamber Strings & Orchestral Tools OSR Brass: Cinesamples Cinebrass Core and Cinebrass PRO Woodwinds: Spitfire Audio Symphonic Woodwinds Percussion: Spitfire Audio Joby Burgess Percussion Harp: Orchestral Tools Symphonic Sphere Sequencer: Cubase 6 FX: Mixed in mono using Izotope Vinyl, U-he Satin, Waves, T-racks Score: Hired from the Light Music Society Composition © Robert Farnon Recording © Alex Ball alexballmusic.com

The third piece in the "My Computer is a 1950s orchestra" series. A complete re-make of Edward White's famous composition "Puffin' Billy" (1952), realised with virtual instruments.

A complete remake of "Busybody" by Billy Mayerl using entirely virtual instruments.

Good heavens, my computer's at it yet again! This time performing a piece I analysed in my recent "Utterly Spiffing Guide" series; "High Heels" by Trevor Duncan, from 1955. I borrowed the original full score to understand the orchestration and harmony, this wasn't worked out by ear.