MacJams.com - Song: Canyon Rise by magnatone

Canyon Rise
by magnatone

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Guest views: 1991
Member views: 12
Song comments: 67
Tokens: 0
Plays: 212
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Downloads: 50
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Submitted on: Aug 08, 2008 - 08:41:36 AM
Last Updated: Aug 08 2008 - 08:41:36 AM

Description I recently returned from a weeklong motorcycle trip through 7 western states. It was kind of a whirlwind – just 8 days, but we spent some lovely time in Utah, which offers just spectacular riding country (if the weather doesn’t turn on you that is!)

So on this particular day, we got an early start from lovely Fruita, CO (just BARELY into western CO), and headed out to the interstate (I-70), in order to hook up with a road we’d read about on several motorcycle touring sites – Hwy 128, a “scenic bi-way”, which would drop us into Moab, UT. The turn–off to 128 is completely nondescript, a lonely little ribbon of pavement winding through miles of scrubland. But in the distance we could begin to make out the shapes of mesas and those huge, otherworldly rock formations famous in this part of the world. We knew this would be the setting for the canyon which would soon envelope us.

One of the things we’d read about this 45 or so miles of winding canyonland road, was that many movies and commercials have been filmed along here, and it took us no time at all to start to recognize certain towering formations and vistas (“hey, isn’t that the rock they put that JEEP on the top of??”). This road goes along the Colorado River, and there are many points where you’re in a deep, narrow canyon, with the river just to your right, and high, red cliffs on either side of you.

We wore ourselves out with multiple “oohs” and “aahs”, and in the spectacular morning light, the landscapes just sang out as we moved along. I’d already done lots of work on this song before the trip, and had mixed feelings about having to put it away for a week. I’d loaded the most current iteration onto the iPod, and I listened to it a couple of times a day, hoping for new ideas, and also hoping I wouldn’t forget what I was trying to do with it while my head was into driving a motorcycle. Riding Hwy 128 that morning and listening to the very unfinished version I had with me, I had the thought that this drive WAS the song, so I started conceptualizing it that way after I returned and picked it up again. (All of life is a motorcycle ride!)

This is my first upload since I sprung for a Kawai MP8 keyboard (thanks for the tip Futz!), and for Ivory piano software (thanks for the tip Futz, Drakonis, Paul Page, and a couple of others I’m sure). When I first played in the piano track and listened to it, I almost couldn’t believe my ears, and it’s been quite thrilling to write the orchestration around piano sounds that I’m actually excited about! This song starts small but gets big, so be careful with volume! I tried to avoid throwing in the entire kitchen sink (in terms of orchestration) – with limited success - alas, I need lots more KSA meetings! Very special thanks to kassia for the multi-iteration feedback, and to drakonis who heard it shortly before upload and as always, had some really good ideas to ponder. Hope you enjoy “Canyon Rise”!

Hardware macbook; kawai MP8

Software: GB; Ivory

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	said 153 days ago
	Gorgous Love it. !! Peace Dee.

	Outtaorbit said 153 days ago
	Ahh.... Karen Do you ever compose anything that isn't beautiful?

	caroline said 153 days ago
	this is soooooo beautiful - just what i needed - thank you so much karen xoxoxox

	MarkHolbrook said 153 days ago
	As always Karen This is amazing and great! Your humble fan!

	davisamerica said 153 days ago
	wow karen... another wonderful "ride" .... as always, such a graceful and beautiful composition... thanks Karen .. was a most lovely surprise this morning! :-]

	MarkHolbrook said 153 days ago
	Fourth listen Is even better than the third listen. This is a piece that will keep on growing and growing! Simply amazing!

	Skean said 153 days ago
	Yes It's sure was worth all waiting:D)* lovely as an beautiful composing as always my dear friend Downloaded. BTW Nice trip I wish I had a motorcycle to follow w u. Take care --- Kenta

	EEFliess said 153 days ago
	WOW... damn...WOW you make those keys sing, dance, talk and cry...I am so effin jealous of your piano abilities, dear! this is yet another example of a Magna-ficent piece, I absolutely love this piece

	Relic67 said 153 days ago
	pretty sounds the piano sounds fantastic! particularly like the acoustic guitar sound too. would work well in a movie soundtrack

	ziti said 153 days ago
	greatness how one composes anything on a motorcycle is a mystery to me.... this is a wonderful piece of music...thoughtful, passionate and soothing all together... you are a gem!!! deepest of bows m'lady z

	Roxylee said 153 days ago
	Oh, Karen Such awesome beauty and wealth of feelings in here! Amazing composition. I marvel at your ability to paint such note pictures. Listening to this, I felt I was seeing the majesty landscapes along with you on that ride. Truly magnificent!! I did a double take while reading the song intro- when I read you had bought a Kawai keyboard, my eyes read Kawi.

drakonis said 153 days ago

gentle beauty
This is a little softer and more "loungy" sounding than some of your others, but I enjoy your slow builds and changes in orchestration. I gave you some critiques/ideas before, so I won't repeat them. Overall, this is a very apropos soundtrack to the canyon-lands you saw. I do love the combo of keyboard/software, it captures the dynamics of your playing quite a bit better. The runs and rolls on the keys were great... loved the sparkly bits. Glad you had such a great ride... and you got to meet a state trooper too! :-) Thank you as always, for sharing your music, I love studying your KSA methods.
ttfn,
Drakonis

	dirigent said 153 days ago
	Canyon Rise I dream of spending my holidays again in the US National Parks. I've had this memorable chance in 1994. Your music reminds me of this great time. An outstandingly beautiful track with superb symphonic augmentations in the second half. Peaceful, charming and heartfelt. Thanks for sharing!!!

kassia said 153 days ago

Canyon Rise
Well, you know very well that I love this piece. The Kawai and Ivory really allow your piano performance to shine in this - it's so much more personal, I can hear YOU in the playing. Your creative use of instrumentation and panning make this full and lush, and yet you left plenty of space for the music to breathe. Another gorgeous piece of music which you use to paint a beautiful picture for all of us. Thank you!

	Reinholt56 said 153 days ago
	Hi Karen...... This is another wonderful piece of music. I always love your descriptions and the way your musical ideas come through in your arrangements. Take care. Paul

	tokai said 153 days ago
	motorcycle diairies beautiful once again, well played and composed, another special journey, excellent. Sorry about veghead!

	guygrooves said 153 days ago
	Outstanding as always Magnatone. This is a beautiful piece. All I had to do was close my eyes and let it envelope me. I have put Highway 128 on my list of places to visit, and I am gonna play this when I do. Wonderfully arranged played and produced. Thank you.

	guitapick said 153 days ago
	Yep... ...I definitely enjoy this... Spent quite a few years in the Southwest...Arizona/New Mexico/Utah/Colorado...spectacular landscape and hiking/camping/driving... You've captured it beautifully here, Karen...

	rsorensen said 153 days ago
	ohboy greatness. you sure can play. I love the way this one builds and the orchestration is perfect. really beautiful, karen!

Cameron said 153 days ago

Windham Hill
Karen, this is lovely -- in the style of New Age pianists like Liz Story, Suzanne Chiani, Paul Halley etc.

I like the way the piece starts out minimally and then builds, taking the listener through increasingly beautiful scenery as he/she rides along.

The piano Ivory sound is very realistic. The accompanying sounds were well chosen and tastefully presented. I especially liked the variegated sound colors around 5:30.

Some of the sounds were a bit "synthy", but perhaps you did this intentionally. In general they worked well. It gave the piece a "new age" feel, and in fact, this composition would fit very well in that genre.

This is a very professional piece of work, Karen. Great job!

	Henke said 152 days ago
	What they all said! Lovely build, great dynamics, beautiful sound, flawless mixing... That's what I hear here. So: hear, hear! And thanks for the download! /Henke

EZamor said 152 days ago

Beautiful Piano
incredibly well orchestrated, and the piano at the center is quite lovely. the crescendos are finely executed.

my only gripe, and it's a minor one, lies with the "ensemble" instrument patches (it sounds like you might have used two--strings and brass). the release on the strings is rather hard, and a little distracting. it also seems that the string patch, in particular, is a bit...cluttered with sounds that don't really need to be there. i would just recommend either 1) avoiding the ensemble patches and instead use individual string instruments with slightly different parts or 2) adjust the resonance of the string patch if you can. as it is now, the writing and performance surpass the keyboard instrumentation.

paul f. page said 152 days ago

What a...
...beautifully gentle opening, Karen. It is about the most peaceful thing I've heard in a very very long time. Your oboe/horn duet is so relaxing. Your sense of orchestration is always so thoughtful, and you don't disappoint with this number in any way. I might suggest, though, that the "build" gets a little muddy once you get into it and I lose the pointed articulations you have in the opening and then again at the end. In my own experience, a real orchestra can handle 20 parts; a synthesized one starts to overwhelm after 5 or 6. Just a thought. ... The piano is stellar and your playing perfectly articulated. (Another thought: rubato is a GOOD thing!)... Glad you found the Ivory. Ain't it inspiring?!
(I read the negative comments, too. Following the discussing on such things in the forum posts, I found the stupidity of them to be really appalling...and I am also happy that several people wrote counter replies. YOU are a wonderful composer and it is always a pleasure to hear your work.)
Peace.
Paul

composerclark said 152 days ago

Stunning
This is incredibly beautiful and calming. The piano sound is stunning, and I love your orchestration, particularly when the english horn melody comes in.

You know what happens when you go down this path (the one where you upgrade your keyboard and use premium piano samples (Ivory)), don't you? Now you're going to have to save up for premium orchestral instrument samples too... It never ends!

Anyway, this is just terrific, and I think you are a fantastically musical person who writes stunningly beautiful music.

	Char said 152 days ago
	Karen, You are so generous in sharing your experience and your translation of that into a very beautiful piece of music. You are a wonderful musician and I'm so grateful that I am here to listen to what you create. Thank you. :)

	SmokeyVW said 152 days ago
	Magnificent Magnificent! the emotional sweep and sense of grandeur... wow thanks

	HenriROGERsoloandbands said 152 days ago
	Space For us little country , your country has realy big spaces . I visited the USA for 3 weeks , I will never forget the distances :-) I can see this while listening to your composition . It is very expressive , describing the beauty of nature in a peacefull way .

	Doadars Uncle said 152 days ago
	Yup It takes me there. It's a place I've loved to travel. Beautiful song!

	yrp said 152 days ago
	This is too beautiful for my ears. Your pieces always make me smile... :-)

	TEXASFEEL said 152 days ago
	Your talent amazes me The song has that frontier sound to it... with a little bring me back home sentiment wrapped up with how great this country we live in is. You should have no problem selling this to a major movie or broadway production. What a treat, thanks for sharing.

	peterms said 152 days ago
	helplessly hoping thx so much-your playing lifts me up to the next level..bravo...

	egobandit said 152 days ago
	Thanks For such a lovely composition and such a beautiful description .Listening towards the end I dont mind the build up it kind of grabs you and hold you with a tension and then lets you back down again did i ever tell you . YOu are great! too too much thanks for the download option its a study I must take! thanks!

	Ibstrat said 152 days ago
	Amazing what a beautiful piece of music can be made using almost exclusively the notes of a D major scale.(I think I heard maybe 1 note out of the key)Of course only a very talented person like yourself is capable of this kind of creativity.I sat in a volkswagon when I was 10 driving thru that country with my Dad- this brings back great memories!

	Alannah said 152 days ago
	WOWEE ..... .. what a "truly glorious" song Karen .... makes me wanna pull a "Julie Andrews" and sing on a mountain ! As usual .. another enjoyable listen and ride for me here !

	12parsecs said 152 days ago
	beautiful playing you are right, in your preamble, the piano sounds amazing! and very well played. there's so much going on (without being overcomplicated) that i didn't even realize it was all in one key, until ibstrat mentioned it. thanks for sharing!

	jiguma said 152 days ago
	A lovely spacious piece Karen .. .. my, but you do attract some oddball(s?) to your songs though. Another lovely cinematic, emotive meisterwerk Karen. Good stuff. Neil

	dlb said 152 days ago
	oohh! Simply beautiful! love it!

	wurzel said 152 days ago
	Nice, love it. If it was a movie score, the picture would have to be filmed from an aircraft :-)

	Feter said 152 days ago
	Canyon Rise no suprise ..a true heartfelt ..as I m in love with mountain and nature scenary ..this gives me alot of longling to so many I love to be at ..very wonderful gentle and delicate by all mean ...this flow so sweetl ..I can see too many wonderfull scenaries .. thnx alot for sharin !!!

	lavalamp said 152 days ago
	Lovely piece You created a lovely picture here. Quite uplifting and peaceful. I hope that's what you were going for. Keep up the fine work. Dave

	evolvweb said 151 days ago
	Build up Mags! The build up to the climax of this song is well worth the listen. As always you know your stuff when it comes to song writing and performing. I feel very lucky that I got to hear this and that you shared this one with us MJ'ers. Can't wait to see what you come up with next! Tobin

	apb said 151 days ago
	Before I read .. .. the description, I was amazed by the sense of travelling through breath-taking scenery you've captured here .. the build is especially sweetly done. Top notch .. I think you might do well to place this in Cinematic-soundtrack .. as the imagery to sound really comes across .. and something of this calibre could easily be used in a film sequence. Gorgeous.

	BossHook said 151 days ago
	Thanks for your wonderful description and "lay of the land" as I listened. The keyboard sounds wonderful and so does the software - of course in your hands that is academic!

	Morning Light said 151 days ago
	This song RADIATES... THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE LANDSCAPES.... IT IS SO PERFECTLY ORCHESTRATED! THANKS FOR SHARING THIS!

	michael2 said 151 days ago
	Karen this is really nice. i love the duality of the biker chick who composes pretty piano music when she's not tearing up the blacktop. the ivory software sounds great, and i think your choices in instrumentation are perfect. really pretty song, great job (you play so well).

	mowguy3 said 151 days ago
	Canyon Rise Wow!!! Speechless. Thank you and be well, Russ I was listening and my wife came in from the other room and turned the volume up. That has never happend.

Ejh said 151 days ago

Well composed and played, Karen...
Here's a quote about Wordsworth that may apply here...maybe...from 'Our Greatest Writers':

"He famously wrote of poetry both as "the spontaneous overflow of powerful feeling" and as "emotion recollected in tranquility". The lines have often been misunderstood. There is no contradiction. He meant that poetry is a reflective activity, not an off-the-cuff affair. The "powerful feelings" are not the original ones, but those that arise from the act of remembering intense experiences from the past."

This, it seems to me, is similar to the way that you approach composition, reflecting on moments of presence that seem to occur while on a motorcycle, and allowing that reflection and emotion to find its way into music.

I think Clark's right: you are now afflicted with what the DSM-IV-mj calls Paul Page Disorder, which is when one's Ivory-inflected piano bits are so all-fired perfect that one's orchestral bits begin to sound synthy in comparison. Ah well, at least there's a really expensive cure...

When I was younger I really disliked and was scornful of the New Age piano sort of realm, perhaps because I was around too much endless arpegiation that was perfectly recorded. You seem to have a good feel for crafting a habitable melody, so that one can imagine someone singing this, and phrasing it like a song, with some intelligent and heartfelt STOPPING... There ends up being a sense of motion and a sense of breath...

Neatly done...

Ed

	Ejh said 151 days ago
	John Carrington... ...wrote that book...copyrighted work, you know...

	said 151 days ago
	Me again ! hi Karen I would love to see a pic of you on your moterbike In all your gear Please put one up just for me Would look really cool to go along with the story also. What do you think ? Peace Dee.

HipHopMoses said 151 days ago

Great feel...
I can smell the summer breeze here. I see you are enjoying and putting you keyboard to great use. I feel like taking my shoes off like I'm in a place or presence of greatness
:D
Moses
P.s.
And to the coward attacking the song I would love to hear an actually critique of the song instead of the BS you trying to pull. Oh and what a surprise none of your names have songs up... Coward!!!

	Lightman- said 151 days ago
	Wow What a warm sound.... Gives peace, while listening.... It's totally a great song.... I really love it.... Good instruments.... Thanks for sharing...

	said 150 days ago
	Oh My What a gorges song/tune, simply magic to my tired ears, you always leave me such encouraging comments Karen, and I rarely get the opportunity to return the comments, so I want you to know your music is a blessing for me every time I listen to it, it always lifts my spirits and give me a deep sense of joy, this piece is magnificent in every way...Bless you... Shadow

said 150 days ago

Fantastic!
I really enjoyed listening to this. Your piano playing skills are something I really admire!

If you'll allow me to nit-pick a little on the mix:
The two volume swells seemed a little much for me. I was scrambling to turn down the monitors for fear of waking the kids :) This style of music isn't something I listen to consistently, so it may very well be appropriate and you can tell me to jump off a cliff, haha!

During the first volume swell, I was struggling to hear the piano and thought it should stay out front in the mix. Again, personal preference I think.

Hearing piano pieces this complex really makes me kick myself for starting to learn how to play so late in life.
In fact, I've had to put lessons on hold for a few months due to work, ect. :(

Thanks for sharing this with us Karen- it's a wonderful track!

	haribo said 149 days ago
	lush and soothing thank you for sharing this piece, this filled my current low mood with lights!

springclock said 149 days ago

MOVIES!!!!
I swear you should be composing for films.... like big hollywood types.... I am not sure why you are here at MacJams.... if you aren't pushing for a career of some kind in music you really need to rethink that decision.... this is another beautiful and very majestic piece of music.... we are lucky to have your skills here at MacJams.... I love the hope I hear in your work.... it's the kind of hope this world needs....

the recording is also nice and clean and very elegant.... love those climbing trills by the way....very nice spice....and we all know
"the spice must flow"

peace and future my friend....Ian

	mr.turtle said 148 days ago
	The new piano and software has a nice organic sound to it....You totally rule.

thetiler said 148 days ago

Staggering
list of fans and I can see and hear why.

Great laid back piece. A piece that is very inspiring indeed.

Terrific, very well orchestrated. Love the orchestral western feel on this. Such incredible blend of musicianship and composition. It seems to just get better and more emotional as the tune gets on. Love how you add layer and layer and keep it so interesting!
Wow!

Way To Go Indeed.

A Magna gem! Very pleasant o hear.

We are so lucky to have you onboard at MJ! Really.

You really have some very fine musician ship on them thar hands of yours. The brain part sure isn't bad either:)

urbnite said 148 days ago

majestic.
this is Beautiful!

and our D connection is a good one...

i wish i knew how to orchestrate and develop something like this. honestly doesn't make me think of motorcycles... lol but definitely maybe some beautiful western country. i used to live in colorado and this makes me want to visit the garden of the gods again...

this builds in a great majestic way... i'd only love to hear this all with real instruments. love the bells. they make me want to hear timpani in that big build!

thanks for sharing!

	NomadicMind said 148 days ago
	beautiful song/highway Love this piece, and love the Utah highway that inspired it. I've been on this highway, and it's certainly beautiful country. And your song poetically captured the feeling of seeing the majesty of the countryside there.

	FourCircles said 148 days ago
	Canyon Lovely majestic keys. Well arranged too -Magnus

	screamalexz said 147 days ago
	... a pretty compisition as always :) i'm going to try and get back into playing some piano. i'm very close to making a switch to full time musician :) i've saved several months rent for just that. your songs always remind me of peaceful drives and summer days through the mountains/

	gail60 said 147 days ago
	My My My Sweet Girl Karen!!! This is absolutely beautiful. You are so dang talented and your music always just blows me away. This is very uplifting and so peaceful. Thanks for sharing this with all of us, it is a perfect gift!

	Enrique Gil said 147 days ago
	Beautiful music This is the first piece of ours I listen to. I am glad you enjoy Ivory. it is a great piece of software although it needs a lot of power and storage.

	Bowman said 146 days ago
	I love the grace you bring to this. Music seems to come out of you so effortlessly. Don't know how true that it but the flow you bring and have in this radiates joy. I really enjoyed this. Take Care, Charlie

	Norman Goodman said 146 days ago
	Awe inspiring This is an astoundingly beautiful piece.....if such extraordinary music comes from the heart I am grateful to have crossed paths with such an exceptional individual. Playing blew my mind...excellent phrasing and impeccable arrangement!

	Heightened said 146 days ago
	Canyon Rise Super cool! No - Supremely cool!!! A wonderful mix of piano and wind instruments. You might say you are not prolific but the sheer beauty and wonder of you music says it all. In fact, I come out with a tune once a week but I would be more than happy to give up a years worth to have this piece or any single one of your incredible compositions!!!

	shavingronaldscar said 144 days ago
	wowzers! as usual, freakin' brilliant composition. If I were you, I would soften up those strings a little, just to make them sound more real. as usual, your builds are fantastic. great progression, beautiful arrangement of harmonic layers. top notch!

	LunaTrick said 138 days ago
	Got a rise out of it (heh heh!) Seriously - lush to plush - ride with a silent motorcycle - with a bit of forte for tension. Good stuff...

	Rebsie said 136 days ago
	Wow, blimey Karen, you are an inspiration and a delight. What more is there to say?

	lengold said 117 days ago
	Sorry I'm so late to this party Karen - it's all been said above. A truly enchantingly beautiful piece of music that appeals to all. Cheers Len

	ic42 said 117 days ago
	it breathes full of air and sky it feels as if beauty is unfolded slowly. the earth glides below. the sky opens above slowly. it is a breathtaking piece, but it needs many breaths. there is so much to hear. it fills the mind with places i have never seen. however, they are there. i wish to see them now. thank you for such excitement. 0x0

	Bob6stringer said 112 days ago
	Serenity Outtaorbit said it best... I'm constantly baffled by those who truly understand concept of the beautiful and the serene. The scenery and all those "oohs" and "ahhs" of course must have been inspirational. Your music continually brings light to any listener's day, even that of an aging "rocker." 'Thanks, K.

	richardhowardjones said 79 days ago
	KAREN A really gentle reminder of what music is about. Loved the horns and woodwind. In fact I loved it all.

	particledots said 79 days ago
	Very nice Karen I only just discovered this because drakonis linked it in the chat room...it looks like you 'released it' while I was away for my month vacation in the UK Extremely talented lady, extremely lush arrangement and careful orchestration Wonderful

	TG said 59 days ago
	Mind numbing Enjoyed your music since your 1st song at MJ, no exceptions here Karen Smoothness in the mood and a subtle longing will always catch my ears _Tom

J.A.Stewart said 43 days ago

Always...
a wonderful adventure.

This was lovely... and moving, beautifully conceived and performed.

Karen, you have a marvelous talent for capturing the exhilaration of your experiences and setting them to music, so that the listener can share them.

I've been very busy these past few months and missed this. I'm so glad I found it now. It won't happen again... I've faved you, so I can monitor your compositions. ;)

--- Joe

	Confounded said 40 days ago
	So Peaceful and emotive, I enjoyed listening to this dreamy piece. Very well done. Bests.

	Acherus said 33 days ago
	Beautiful Really sleepy and gorgeous.

	crazykeyman said 32 days ago
	Very Visual Your music really takes us to wonderful places.

	DeathArrow said 2 days ago
	lalala hej another great tune i think it takes you long time to record this...everything is just perfect !! i would never do this so good !! maybe there's the reason that i cannot play piano...well i know some chords but haha i played keyboard long time ago but now i cannot play anything.... so very great song !!! keep em coming !! cheers, luke

	E-Frame Wrecker said 149 days ago
	I agree She is composing, executing and mixing at a professional. Thats probably why she turned voting off. I really enjoyed the description too. I feels very natural and well within you musical capability. I'd give it a perfect 10 a la Nadia Comaneci.

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