I think I'm in love. 9.5/10.

To me, this is similar to some image sketches I have seen. They're just sketches, but they're so expertly drawn with a balance of subtlety that they are better than many finished, polished works of art. You did well. Very well.

This is a NGADM Round 2 Review.

First, here's a breakdown of my score:

Production: 24/30 (Above Average)
Composition: 26.5/30 (Great)
Instrumentation: 12/15 (Above Average)
Originality: 7.5/10 (Above Average)
Interest/Emotion: 12/15 (Above Average)

Total: 82/100 or 8.2/10 or 4 stars. (Above Average)
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I won't bother saying anything about the piece, because that is not what is important here.

There comes a time in a composer's life; several times, in fact; when they, like a mountaineer reaching a precipice, have slowly climbed their way up the abilities of their method of music, raising the bar with each new work, slowly demanding more and more of themselves until this time comes. It happens that the amount of energy and time it takes to meet the bar they have set for themselves is so extreme that they cannot bring themselves to reach it.

When this time comes, it is time to cease thinking vertically, to cease trying to climb above the precipice where nothing but air and birds fly. It is time to think horizontally, to reach out, to find new influences and new directions. Whether those are brought back and blended into the original method of music to create something new, or whether those are pursued in replacement of those original methods, this is a valuable experience.

Not a lot of people put thought into what the words "Above Average" really mean. Above Average might mean "below my criteria" to you, but to me, it means above and beyond my expectations. It means you surpassed the requirements with flying colors. If what you can do in a half-assed, off-day, "lack of effort" time is "Above Average" then you are a darn good composer and you had better be proud of what you can do. There are people out there who spend weeks on a piece that is merely "Average".

In truth, all of our views as judges is tainted because we know what you are like when you stand on the very highest point of that precipice. You have shown us how high to the heavens you can stretch your fingers, grasping at clouds and spinning music so incredible it brings anyone it touches to tears.

This music is rare, it is special, and it only happens once, maybe twice in one certain branch of one's artistic musings. It is your "master thesis" on "epic Bosaian", that thing you have been working on for the past x years of your life. It is your Theory of Relativity, your Noah Webster's Dictionary, your Ring Cycle, your Bible. Yet like those things, it is not a feat that one person can redo over and over again. It is not time to "move on", but rather time to "spread out". To explore how far your musical vocabulary can bring you and what new places and tricks you can add. You can always teach an old dog new tricks, you just have to figure out the tricks first. ;)

Keep compos(ed/ing)!
-Sam

This is an NGADM Round 2 Review.

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You really are too harsh on yourself sometimes Bosa. Even though you and I both know this is leagues away from what you're truly capable of doing, it has a surprisingly large amount of redeeming factors that make this still a perfectly enjoyable submission which was certainly worth submitting. I'm going to reiterate what has been said below since I agree strongly with it - your knack to weave different instruments and melodies together is undisputed. I loved hearing all of the different instruments playing together in such a fantastic arrangement, and how they complemented each other with potent synergy.

I think my favourite aspect of this track would be the atmosphere. The instant the track kicks in we have a wonderfully warm and lush atmosphere that remains fairly subdued and with tons of lovely embellishments from different instruments before opening up beautifully at 0:39. I mean, I know you could do a more pronounced buildup there but I totally get the idea you were going for and I know that with a bit of polish it'll really sound fantastic. I also loved the contrast between the majestic sections that make heavy use of sustained brass notes, and the delicate sections that shift more towards detached/plucked instruments.

I feel like there isn't much of a reason to list what is wrong with this submission but for the sake of completing the review I will list what I think are the issues that are worth mentioning. The most glaring one is that this is short. It's the kind of track whose natural environment is in a long, developed and dynamic musical setting which needs more than under 2 minutes (especially with an unsatisfying ending like that). The mixing isn't the best you've done. It isn't particularly bad and you still let the high quality of your samples shine (seriously, great samples - the legato intervals on the brass are very tasty), but it can get somewhat cluttered and muddy. Lastly, the melodies, while not bad, felt a little artificial. To be honest I think it's because they're - for the most part - made out of the same note lengths, particularly 0:42's brass melody.

You have a nice blend of emotional and majestic, with a wonderful instrument arrangement and atmosphere. Some more polish which I know you're capable of can easily turn this into another King Bosa epic.

SCORE: 7.8/10

This is a NGADM "Round of 16" Review!
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I can see the difference between this and something you'd usually make. It doesn't have lots of the subtle details you usually throw in that make it polished and realistic. It's a shame because I think it's a good piece. I had to remove half a point because it's short - also a consequence of not having time to finish. To add to that, the fade-out ending is disappointing too.
I was sorry to hear you weren't able to finish, Bosa, I know you're a very capable composer and orchestrator.

What you did do well, though, is making lush, beautiful melodies right from the start. The whole thing flows overwhelmingly well, weaving a heart-warming image of peace at the beginning to something more powerful as the music progresses. I love how you weave the different instruments together at the start, you're such a pro. I'm envious of people who can do that, I'm a much more straight-forward kind of composer and those details and techniques elude me.

Please send me a PM when this is done (I mean it), I want to hear the final version (and to download a copy!). If you upload it as a separate piece I'll review that one too.

Heh, if this is something that "sucks" then I'd love to hear what you think DOESN'T suck :)

Keep it up man.