The Land

Henke

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Description

This piece started out as a remix of "Gimme 5", but ended up as something COMPLETELY different! (No worries!) This one I actually like, and I feel sad that it ends so soon...

The idea is to conjure up some of the beauty of "the Land", the magical place where Thomas Covenant is taken in the chronicles written by Stephen R Donaldson, which I am currently reading (only book 2 as yet).

With some luck there may be more songs in the same direction later, although they should probably be darker than this to fit the mood of at least these first books. We'll see.

The artwork is from a web site about these chronicles, on theland.antgear.com

I'd be very happy if you would tell me how you like it, any suggestions to enhance it further etc. (It's been mixed with headphones on. My computer speakers, though quite good ones, doesn't like some of the notes too well, I'm afraid... Edit: I think I fixed THAT problem as well as the slightly wobbly sound towards the end in my original - too bad you can't just replace the mp3-file :-(

/Henke

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Song Stats

Hits: 951
Comments: 13
Fans: 12
Plays: 68
Downloads: 56
Votes: 7
Uploaded: Aug 24, 2008 - 10:18:31 AM
Last Updated: Aug 26, 2008 - 02:20:27 PM Last Played: Oct 11, 2009 - 06:17:52 PM

Song License

Creative Commons License:
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

Song Actions

Keywords:

Henke (28), ambient (613), The Land (2), Thomas Covenant (1), Stephen R Donaldson (1), new age (128)

Hardware:

PM G5, Casio CTK-611 for some midi input.

Software:

Garageband 4

Comments

Char	Char said 459 days ago (August 24th, 2008)
	When I saw the painting, I said, "OOOH," out loud. Then I heard your music and said, "Ahhh." Thank you. Check out my latest song called Break Away (Mark Holbrook & Awigze)

Henke	Henke said 459 days ago (August 24th, 2008)
	Thanks again! Glad you liked this one. I've run it through and through this weekend while tweaking bits and pieces, but I can still hear it one more time... About the artwork, it's "Kevin's Watch", a quite spectacular item in "the Land". Also thanks for our little chat. /Henke Check out my latest song called Heading for Alpha Centauri (mj space race 2009)

yrp	yrp said 459 days ago (August 24th, 2008)
	It�s good It has a relaxing feel.Kinda new age...I really liked it. Check out my latest song called Light (with onesweetworld)

Henke	Henke said 459 days ago (August 24th, 2008)
	Thank you! That's what I aimed at. And new age, I agree, at least as a secondary genre. Thanks for listening and commenting. Glad you liked it. /Henke Check out my latest song called Heading for Alpha Centauri (mj space race 2009)

Mystified	Mystified said 459 days ago (August 24th, 2008)
	well done! I like the spacious feel to this--as if i were drifting overhead and looking down to a faraway land. I especially enjoy music that is put to a setting--such as soundtracks. It seems more inviting of using one's imagination and visualization, which is something I enjoy doing. Thanks for sharing this :) Check out my latest song called For the Beauty of the Earth

Henke

Henke said 459 days ago (August 24th, 2008)

Thank you very much, Cat!
I appreciate you comment a lot. I haven't been able to do a reasonably good song since our collab last year, so I am rather happy I could make something like this at last. Even if it is still not "perfect".

The song seems to do its work well, though. If you feel like standing up on Kevin's Watch looking down on the Land, maybe even hearing the sea from far away... Makes ME happy, anyway. Let's see now if I can make another.

Thanks again,

Henrik

Check out my latest song called Heading for Alpha Centauri (mj space race 2009)

Feter	Feter said 459 days ago (August 24th, 2008)
	The Land spacey ...so very much reminds me of the classic J M Jars work ..very well done my friend ..very thoughtfull ...thnx alot for sharin !!!! Check out my latest song called A Night With Feter feat'(Roxylee sloparts crissew johnwhitehead and Yamin AL Yamani )

Henke

Henke said 459 days ago (August 24th, 2008)

Thank you, Feter!
Fun you should mention Jarre. I HAVE been listening to him quite a bit last spring and summer. I believe he is even more into the spectacular, but I feel honored to have him mentioned in connection with my music :-) For this song I actually had Peter Baumann a bit in mind. He was an early member of Tangerine Dream and also made a few very nice solo albums in the 70's: Romance '76 and Trans Harmonic Nights are the two I've got...

Thanks again for listening and commenting!

/Henke

Check out my latest song called Heading for Alpha Centauri (mj space race 2009)

Outtaorbit	Outtaorbit said 441 days ago (September 11th, 2008)
	Tangerine Band Dallas band... great tune you have ..almost Mozart in it's intro ... very nice Check out my latest song called Sea Shell Blues and Alannah

Henke	Henke said 439 days ago (September 13th, 2008)
	Hehe, like a drunken Mozart in the Desert perhaps ;-) Thanks a lot for your nice comment! /Henke Check out my latest song called Heading for Alpha Centauri (mj space race 2009)

Skean	Skean said 459 days ago (August 24th, 2008)
	Okay my friend I had not time 2 comment before so I'm back to a second listening. I'm a big fan to ambient music and this is that kind of ambient I really love... Very nice work here I did download it as well. Thanks for sharing it ;) again cool work love it... Cheers Check out my latest song called Let's Go Trippy

Henke

Henke said 459 days ago (August 24th, 2008)

Kenta,
that's very nice of you. Thanks! I love it when people download my songs :-)

At last I was able to take it easy and not get carried away with some absurd synth guitars etc and then the result was not so bad, even if I'm not totally happy with the transition to the "faster" section and more. But still, satisfied and ready for another week at work...

Thanks again! Stay well!

/Henke

Check out my latest song called Heading for Alpha Centauri (mj space race 2009)

Skean	Skean said 457 days ago (August 26th, 2008)
	Why not listen again Im glad you had little time over to do this.. So nice work my dear friend. Be well --- Kenta Check out my latest song called Let's Go Trippy

	said 459 days ago (August 24th, 2008)
	Sparse and spacious. It has a feeling of profundity to it. One minor complaint: I think it would work better without percussion, but that's probably just me. Very nice listening experience!

Henke

Henke said 458 days ago (August 25th, 2008)

Hey, thanks for the comment!
Glad you liked the profundity in it. Thanks also for your suggestion to try it without percussion. I just did a simple test and left that track out, and I can honestly say it did NOT work just like that. But maybe with some other instrument(s) to add a bit of punch and bass. I am no genius with drums and percussion I'm afraid...

Stay well!

/Henke

Check out my latest song called Heading for Alpha Centauri (mj space race 2009)

Ketal said 456 days ago (August 27th, 2008)

Nice journey
I've started reading the Thomas Covenant chronicles at the beginning of this summer, only read half of the first book but I like it very much, really interesting with the hero being... not at all a hero, though not even an anti-hero (those who read it might understand? :p).

And I love the ambiance you created with this song, GREAT synthesizer sounds, definitely reminds Tangerine Dream I agree with this. Some bits may even sound like The Great Blue's theme, with this unique "underwater" feeling. The main feeling remains this impression of spacious, wide open places, at the same time calm & mysterious.

Same "problem" than Roca_Atomica, the percussion seems odd in this magical piece of music, firstly because it sounds so cheap next to the other instruments.

Check out my latest song called Logic Dreams

Henke

Henke said 456 days ago (August 27th, 2008)

Thanks!
Glad you liked this piece. To hear TD mentioned is always flattering in my book, so thank you for that. About the drums, they were not even cheap, they came for free with Garageband! ;-) I know I am not good with drums/percussion, but after listening to this more or less all day the whole week I've got used to it and think it does fairly well as "pacemaker". But sure, some good drum equipment IS on my wishing list...

About Covenant, I am a bit ambivalent. I read the first book some years ago and thought I'd give the next one a try now, but there is not a very strong drive forward (as in, say, Harry Potter), and the font in my copy is very small making my eyes very tired reading, and there's a lot of misprints too. And I get so angry with Covenant for beeing such an a**hole all the time! Well, for some goodish reasons, I now, but anyway. But on the other hand it does have some good qualities too, so I can't very well put it down either...

Well, I'll see you around! I liked your first post very much! A pity it was a bit shorty, though :-)

Take care!

/Henke

Check out my latest song called Heading for Alpha Centauri (mj space race 2009)

	Ketal said 449 days ago (September 3rd, 2008)
	[off topic] books I just wanted to suggest you to read "THE KINGDOMS OF THORN AND BONE" from Greg Keyes, if you manage to like just a bit the first book, the others are totally awesome... See you! Check out my latest song called Logic Dreams

Henke	Henke said 439 days ago (September 13th, 2008)
	Thanks I am not a fast reader but I've put his home page in my bookmark list so that I can come back to it later. Seems rather promising. It seems he writes for StarWars and Babylon 5?! Thanks again for the tip! /H Check out my latest song called Heading for Alpha Centauri (mj space race 2009)

jordan-coffin	jordan-coffin said 454 days ago (August 29th, 2008)
	Well Done This is really interesting. It sounds great, and although I dont often listen to music like this, this song is quite pleasing to the ears. Good Job. Check out my latest song called Terraformers

Henke	Henke said 454 days ago (August 29th, 2008)
	Thanks Jordan! Glad you liked this, I'm rather pleased myself (blush)! I liked your guitar-playing too, some technique you've got there. But like the comments said, I guess you need a band to go with it, or at least some helpful MJer. (Regretfully I don't think that is me, though...) Stay well! /Henke Check out my latest song called Heading for Alpha Centauri (mj space race 2009)

kassia

kassia said 453 days ago (August 30th, 2008)

The Land
Another great soundtrack piece! I love the ambient sounds you have throughout - waves/wind. They really add a lot to the overall feel of this. Reminds me a little of "The Neverending Story" soundtrack. I agree with Mysti - it has sort of an airy, spacey feel - like we slowly circling above a distant land, looking down and moving closer, gradually seeing more and more. Loved when the drums came in - the only suggestion I would make, is as those drums build to that quick beat climax, have the synths build too, make it really big for a moment as we focus in on The Land. Another great piece, Henke. Thanks for sharing these with us!

Check out my latest song called Deep Majesty

Henke

Henke said 452 days ago (August 31st, 2008)

Thanks Shay!
Really glad you liked this one. I have made a couple of improvements in the GB file since I uploaded this, but your suggestion is very good. And I'm not surprised, since you are very good with "builds" yourself! (Listening to "Doubt" right now :-) I'll see what I can do with this one.

Today at last I finished that second book in the Chronicles. Hm, I think I'll need to go on to the next after all...

Thanks again for you nice comment!

/Henke

Check out my latest song called Heading for Alpha Centauri (mj space race 2009)

ic42	ic42 said 452 days ago (August 31st, 2008)
	a soft fantasy it is a place to escape. the music creates images and thoughts of a journey. it is a good journey. perhaps to add some decay on some notes to create more soft passages between them? it is a very full sound, without much open space in the music. however it is very beautiful music. 0x0 Check out my latest song called futatsu 0x01

Henke

Henke said 450 days ago (September 2nd, 2008)

Thank you
for the nice comment and tip of the day. I'm not sure I(!) can do what you ask in GB for individual notes. In my GB-file I have altered some of the velocities to make those higher notes in the early middle part sound a bit softer and the lower that follow a bit "harder". Still, there's probably more that could be done if I only knew how :-|

Again thanks, I've seen your comments around lately and they always seem very insightful, if that's a word... I need to go listen to your music now!

/Henke

Check out my latest song called Heading for Alpha Centauri (mj space race 2009)

VicDiesel	VicDiesel said 451 days ago (September 1st, 2008)
	Two halves Ok, the first half is pretty nice ambient music. The sounds are fairly standard but you set a good mood with them. But those drums sound really thin, which detracts from the piece. Turn them up a bit, and don't cut as much low frequencies? Check out my latest song called Desert Stars

Henke

Henke said 450 days ago (September 2nd, 2008)

Thanks
for your honest opinion. The sounds ARE very standard. But so in a way are guitars, bass, drums, saxophones, recorders... At the end of the day it's the achieved musical effect that should be "judged". If a common sound does put you off, then I've failed, at least with you. But as long as the mood is good, I'm pretty happy. I do not have higher aspirations than that, really :-)

And the drums ARE very thin. I've tried to crank them but I don't get a better song, only red in the meter :-( And I have not wilfully cut any low frequencies and can't see any settings that could take it away. (So you see it's not only the frequencies that are limited here ;-) But I understand what you mean. I think the only remedy here is a "real" (virtual) drum. These GB sets don't work well for me, anyway. That said, I personally think that they are not THAT bad in this piece. They blend rather nicely with the rest without taking over totally. But that's me...

Thanks again! Really enjoyed your latest recorder(ing)!

/Henke

Check out my latest song called Heading for Alpha Centauri (mj space race 2009)

Rebsie	Rebsie said 447 days ago (September 5th, 2008)
	Nice work Very evocative, just as an ambient piece should be. I enjoyed the journey. Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

Henke

Henke said 447 days ago (September 5th, 2008)

Thank you, Rebsie!
It is a very simple little thing, musically, only three chords played in the same order throughout and a couple of "solo" tracks with those same chord notes, but yes, thanks to the intruments/sounds they are played with, it IS quite ecocative.

I am so happy and honoured you came to listen and comment on this!

BTW, I really liked your take on Slumbering's piece. She's one of my favs here and you did it great justice!

/Henke

Check out my latest song called Heading for Alpha Centauri (mj space race 2009)

Rebsie	Rebsie said 446 days ago (September 6th, 2008)
	Thank you! You've been very supportive to me for a long time and I really appreciate it. Check out my latest song called Amongst The Colours (w/ Luna Trick)

thetiler	thetiler said 440 days ago (September 12th, 2008)
	Enjoyed the sounds, music. Cool pic as well! Thanks much for sharing!!! Check out my latest song called I't Been A While

Henke	Henke said 411 days ago (October 11th, 2008)
	Thanks you! Glad you liked this. I have a slightly better mix at home, but this works OK I guess. Nice of you to stop by to listen and comment. Much appreciated (even if this answer is a bit late ;-) ! /Henke Check out my latest song called Heading for Alpha Centauri (mj space race 2009)

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Artist Info

Name: Henrik Dunér

I went to music class at a fairly early age but I guess I was never really that interested. I played the recorder for starters and then the flute and then for some reason the trombone! I also played in a renaissance ensamble, in long brown ve... [see more]

Check out some of my other songs:

Genre Info

Ambient music is a loosely defined musical genre that incorporates elements of a number of different styles - including jazz, electronic music, new age, rock and roll, modern classical music, reggae, traditional, world and even noise.

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