ChrisAfonso 186 Posted December 11, 2003 Share Posted December 11, 2003 So, finally after much confusion the contest is coming to its end, and it's time to judge and vote for the winner The topic was: "Write a theme for a superhero of your choice".-------Edit-----------------------------For clarification, here the original criteria descriptions by StrongBad:Write a THEME for any of the major superheroes listed below. This theme can be anything from a solo kazoo, to a full orchestra with chorus. Whatever your orchestration, the piece must embody a solid theme for the hero. Some examples of superhero themes are the themes to superman, batman, spiderman; by Williams, Elfman and Elfman. But, be careful not to write a piece for a superhero and have it sound like an already written theme (i.e. superman)(Thanks to Forge for recovering those)-----------------------------------------Seven pieces were entered, here they are:"Batman: A new Theme (for that caped guy wearing the blue stockings)""Introduction & Superman Theme""Superman""The Punisher - Main Titles""The Hulk (Transformation)""Theme from X-Men""X-Men"[Edit3:]One more thing: Please, before voting on a piece with better sound quality over one with lesser sound quality, consider if you really think it's musically better, or if it's just the sound quality. If it's the latter, think about your vote once more... Sadly no equivalence in sound quality is possible, so it would be a bit unfair if a piece gets disregarded only because of it's lower quality samples. If it's the former... move on .[/Edit3] Note: When voting, make sure not to confuse the two Superman or X-Men Themes! The vote will be open until the 24th of December, the piece that gets the most votes by that date will be proclaimed the winner of this contest.The contest will be anonymous in general, like the last one (I have also removed any composer info in the mp3 ID Tags). However, if a composer whishes to claim his piece here, feel free to do so.Many thanks to StrongBad, who started this contest, and to Forge, who recorded the entered Finale files with samples!-----------Edit:One more side note, base your vote for the best piece not solely on how much you like the piece, but on how fitting it is, in your opinion, for the depicted character. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QMM 4 Posted December 11, 2003 Share Posted December 11, 2003 I like that Batman theme the best, very nice alternative Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QMM 4 Posted December 11, 2003 Share Posted December 11, 2003 Also would like to say that the Punisher main titles are awesome as well. Just started listening to it. It's a tie between batman and punisher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QMM 4 Posted December 11, 2003 Share Posted December 11, 2003 Sorry to write in AGAIN, but in that Punisher main titles, it almost sounds like it was a live recording, it most likely isn't but the sound from it is miles ahead of all the other candidates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisAfonso 186 Posted December 11, 2003 Author Share Posted December 11, 2003 You know, you're able to edit your posts on this board Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QMM 4 Posted December 11, 2003 Share Posted December 11, 2003 Slipped my mind, but it does add to my post count Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRFan 0 Posted December 11, 2003 Share Posted December 11, 2003 I think the Punisher main titles is the best. Because it is the best Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forge 0 Posted December 11, 2003 Share Posted December 11, 2003 I think its important to be reminded of what Strongbad posted in his original brief for the competition and people should judge whether the scores meet his initial criteria:Write a THEME for any of the major superheroes listed below. This theme can be anything from a solo kazoo, to a full orchestra with chorus. Whatever your orchestration, the piece must embody a solid theme for the hero. Some examples of superhero themes are the themes to superman, batman, spiderman; by Williams, Elfman and Elfman. But, be careful not to write a piece for a superhero and have it sound like an already written theme (i.e. superman) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forge 0 Posted December 11, 2003 Share Posted December 11, 2003 I think the Punisher main titles is the best. Because it is the bestThree guesses who you are! LOL Subtle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKenLittle 6 Posted December 11, 2003 Share Posted December 11, 2003 I thought all were excellent, and even though, from a musical stanpoint, The Hulk was my favourite i cast my vote for The Punisher. It is professional and polished. I think it would fit in perfectly with the upcoming film... BK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saxman717 22 Posted December 11, 2003 Share Posted December 11, 2003 hmmm.."Write a THEME for any of the major superheroes listed below. "......there was a theme in Batman, Hulk, and the last x-men mp3, but I couldn't pick out any really recognizable theme in the others, even tho they were pretty solid musically.The Hulk piece was my favorite b/c it seemed to represent its character the best.....Hulking, smashing, lumbering about in a rage. Good job to everyone involved, and thanks for submitting them...they were a lot of fun to listen to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin 2 Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 The piece that best fit the character was definatly "The Hulk (Transformation)" "Introduction & Superman Theme" also fit the character pretty good. In a cheesy way. "Theme from X-Men" I thought was the most unique approach although I couldn't really hear a theme....Special note too "The Punisher - Main Titles" great synthes. Good orchestration the cue too.Justin -Who voted for Hulk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jw2285gd 0 Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 All were very good, but I think you all know that I would vote for a Williams, Superman Theme it was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRFan 0 Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 Three guesses who you are! Subtle I'm just joking around, i'm not the person you think I am Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Barnsbury 8 Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 I like "Superman" the best.Ray Barnsbury Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicpete 1 Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 Wow, I actually liked them all. For various reasons:"Batman" - Whoever came up with this crazy name?!? I'm not going to type it all out. Well, the theme is used all the time and keeps transforming until the climax. But the mixing is terribly,isn't it? Somebody tell the man how to mix properly."Introduction and Superman theme" has a really groovy sound. Reminds me of an organ player going wild! I love that! It also features a beautiful theme, nice orchestrations, great harmonic progressions but I felt it was a tiny bit repetitive just before the end. Perfect fit for that hero! I would love to hear that one recorded."Superman" has an even better theme. Really long and interesting. Very good orchestrations and a totally held-back approach. I liked that but personally I couldnt see how such a tender theme would fit a superhero like Superman. This piece could be an excerpt from a symphony, actually. It's all there: orchestration, an interesting melody and nice working with it."The Punisher" is, of course, the most polished and professional sounding one. It's also the first piece of music form that composer than doesnt' only impress technically or sound-wise. Finally he wrote some real music and stopped throwing orchestral effects at the audience (which can be fun for a while, but since everybody is doing that nowadays, it's becoming cliché very fast). I liked the Elfman-like no-melody approach, just like he did in Hulk and all his newer scores. Instead I found the repeating descending 4-note figure and the 3-chord progressions in the end very good. The best thing: the composer managed to resist the urge to be loud all the time! Very well done."The Hulk" was also very fitting. Great idea to base it on that Goldsmith-like grinding ostinato figure! The theme was very good, although I would have loved more variation in it. The potential is there. Also it gets a little bit repetitive, since the composer decided to leave out Woodwinds. I craved for some crazy Woodwind figures to augment the theme in the repetition or some irregular measures breaking the ostinato, but that's just my personal taste. The ending was great!"Theme from X-Men" suffers from heavy clipping and it's shortness. But I liked the idea of hearing this deep clarinet ostinato with the choir! Brilliant idea, but sadly too undeveloped. This piece has much potential and reminds me more of what the original series did than what the films are like. It also would sound good in a real recording."X-Men" is also a good one, but it also is too short. The small orchestra approach is a good idea and a fresh sound, but this piece (although it has great potential) ends too abrupt. I would love to hear more of it someday. The theme is nice and hummable.My oh my...... which one to choose... I'm desperate.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Breathmask 555 Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 My vote goes to the Batman theme, but that theme for The Punisher is very cool too.- Marc, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisAfonso 186 Posted December 12, 2003 Author Share Posted December 12, 2003 Wow, it's really a close race until now, 4 of the tracks having 3 votes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smaug 0 Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 What a response!!I have to agree with musicpete - there are good things in all of them:BatmanDefinitely one of the top contenders I think. Interesting start, the composer creates and builds an atmosphere to start before introducing the theme. Throughout the piece the theme reappears in different forms and moods echoing, I think, the different aspects of the chosen character. I especially like the way that the earlier quiet reflective form of the theme is drawn together with the more sinister version to create a ?semi-heroic? passage nearer the end. But it is long, very long. I felt there were some passages that nearly lost the plot. This entry has some epic qualities that, if scored for full orchestra, would be outstanding.Introduction and Superman ThemeA very strong drone accompaniment feature at the beginning and the strong bass immediately after caught my attention. The ideas for the theme are also very strong especially with the chosen sound, but I?m not sure about some of the chromatics. It did seem a little too busy in places, the overactive triangle for example, I found very distracting. At a slower tempo and with more sweeping strings and woodwind it could be promising.SupermanThe choice and use of instruments at the beginning gives this an interesting ?mystical? quality. Whilst the theme is strong, the first section did not do it justice. The composer has tried to be so rhythmically clever at the start that it is easy to lose track of the melodic line. I liked the driving ostinato patterns and the interesting use of the flute, but the string passages felt ponderous instead of sweeping. A real effort has been made to use the theme in different ways, but for me it doesn?t quite hang together.The PunisherThis had an atmospheric beginning. Excellent orchestration and use of effects. The two full orchestra sections (near the beginning and the end) are stunning, although very short. I hear recognisable motifs, but am struggling to call any a ?theme?. I felt there were too many changes and not enough development. It would be well suited to the title sequence of a film, following a character?s actions, but does not establish a theme to associate with the chosen character.The HulkMy other main contender. Another an atmospheric start, interesting, and effective, choice of piano. The subtle use of tremelo and ?growls? from the low strings add to the brooding feel. I like the way it builds up to, I imagine, the character?s transformation in to the Hulk, and the use of a 3 beat ostinato against the 4 beat time signature. The full orchestral sections, especially with the addition of the choir, are very effective, but the lack of woodwind at times makes it a little ponderous in the middle. An interesting ending - the music leaving the impression that although the character has transformed back, the monster is still a part of him.Theme from X-MenInteresting choice of instruments and pitch at the beginning, very atmospheric. The repeating pattern in the clarinet is recognisable and would serve well as incidental music during a film, but cannot really be called a theme.X-MenAtmospheric at the start and a strong memorable theme (too memorable!!). An interesting combination of ostinati on bassoon and snare creating drive and I liked the prominence of the strings towards the end. It was, however, very short. I thought this had great potential and would benefit from using a much wider range of the orchestra.OK, I know there?s a lot to read here, but I?m entitled to justify my choice. For me it was a two horse race - Batman and the Hulk. My vote goes to the Hulk. It is not necessarily a ?nice? piece to listen to, but it invokes the character most effectively and shows development of a main theme. Above all, the music creates as unsettling a feeling as the character does - nice one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 Look Morn there's another girl here. You'd better propose pretty quick before she disappears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QMM 4 Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 Look Morn there's another girl here. You'd better propose pretty quick before she disappears. What the? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saxman717 22 Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 Quote: Look Morn there's another girl here. You'd better propose pretty quick before she disappears. What the? He's back!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QMM 4 Posted December 15, 2003 Share Posted December 15, 2003 She is a he? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 15, 2003 Share Posted December 15, 2003 Smaug is the girl. Silly old bear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YingHao 0 Posted December 15, 2003 Share Posted December 15, 2003 I like the "Introduction & Superman" the most, the sound quality is not comparible with for example The punisher.But after the first "wow" for the really realistic hearing music program i realized that what really matters with this contest is the composer that gives input to the program.So the midi quality can be bad, the composition of the "Introductio & theme of superman" is really the best of all.also nice to listen:Batman from 2:14. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leigh_Gulick 0 Posted December 15, 2003 Share Posted December 15, 2003 I am the composer of the "Superman" theme. To clear up some confusion on my composition here are a few things...It is really "Love theme/Main theme" and the beginning is supposed to be a lot slower...the Main theme is supposed to be faster, thus the sweeping string part shouldn't be ponderous, but sweeping and the main theme should fit Superman more. I hope this clears things up for those yet to vote, if the read this before they vote.Thanks,Leigh Gulick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QMM 4 Posted December 15, 2003 Share Posted December 15, 2003 Thanks for the awesome piece Leigh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisAfonso 186 Posted December 26, 2003 Author Share Posted December 26, 2003 So, the contest is over, and we have not one, but two winners Congratulations to Chris Hesketh for "The Hulk (Transformation)" and Simon Ravn for "The Punisher - Main Titles"! Applause! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicpete 1 Posted December 26, 2003 Share Posted December 26, 2003 I would like to thank everybody for listening to my piece (the theme for the caped guy) and send special thanks to those who commented positively on it.Congratulations to the winners! But I also applaud all the others for creating such great music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QMM 4 Posted December 27, 2003 Share Posted December 27, 2003 Woo Pete, I voted for you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSM 126 Posted December 28, 2003 Share Posted December 28, 2003 I as well like to congratulate the winners and want to thank everybody who voted for my submission: "Introduction & Superman Theme". Next time I hope to participate again...with better sound quality Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 30, 2003 Share Posted December 30, 2003 We can only but hope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSM 126 Posted December 30, 2003 Share Posted December 30, 2003 I'll regard that as a compliment... BTW is that you in your atavar...!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morlock 11 Posted December 30, 2003 Share Posted December 30, 2003 I was wondering that myself..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSM 126 Posted December 30, 2003 Share Posted December 30, 2003 I was wondering that myself..... At least I have the guts to ask it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 1, 2004 Share Posted January 1, 2004 I'll regard that as a compliment... BTW is that you in your atavar...!?Umm. :oops: Is there something you would like to do to me, brave man? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSM 126 Posted January 2, 2004 Share Posted January 2, 2004 Umm. :oops: Is there something you would like to do to me, brave man?Let me think... No, just would like to compliment your nice atavar :spiny: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QMM 4 Posted January 3, 2004 Share Posted January 3, 2004 Never answered the question Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDesigner 0 Posted January 19, 2004 Share Posted January 19, 2004 This might be a stupid question and I know it's a bit late, but... what happened to my entry? I know it was received, and I got a few emails about it. Not that it would've stood a chance against the winners! Congrats Chris & Simon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisAfonso 186 Posted January 20, 2004 Author Share Posted January 20, 2004 Really? If it got lost, that's a pity :/I received some of the files Strongbad still had on his computer, and we asked for resubmission of everything else for some time, before the contest closed (finally).Hopefully next time we get everything organized better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QMM 4 Posted January 20, 2004 Share Posted January 20, 2004 So when will this next time be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSM 126 Posted January 23, 2004 Share Posted January 23, 2004 Hey Chris! Everything alright with you?Idea for the next competition: write a theme for any Harry Potter character! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Barnsbury 8 Posted January 23, 2004 Share Posted January 23, 2004 I really like that idea!Ray Barnsbury Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QMM 4 Posted January 23, 2004 Share Posted January 23, 2004 I want a Sirius theme! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSM 126 Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 Ok then we could start our third composition contest. The description will be:"Write a theme for any Harry Potter related character, already having appeared in one the movies or just inspired by the books. Your choise of style and orchestration is up to you, as long as the theme fits the character. You may take Williams' music as inspiration but your theme must be original."I don't know if Chris Afonso and Forge have time to do another contest? I myself will probably compete as well and don't have any equipement for recording with samples and so. Chris? Forge? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QMM 4 Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 Come on guys, we need something to keep us over until POA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon R. 10 Posted January 26, 2004 Share Posted January 26, 2004 Harry Potter sounds like a fun assignment! I'd prefer if the assignment was to write a theme for a character which isn't already done by Williams. I don't know the Potter books at all, but I guess there are some new characters in books 3, 4 and hmm 5? to choose from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forge 0 Posted January 26, 2004 Share Posted January 26, 2004 Idea for the next competition: write a theme for any Harry Potter character!Hmm, interesting, I am not sure whether I could work up any enthusiasm for writing a Potter theme myself. But if we get a broad consensus of interest in doing a theme for Harry Potter, then I don?t mind helping out like last time. Me and Chris were debating whether the next competition should be to write a love theme for an Adventure/Action film e.g. Indiana Jones. Chris suggested that to even the playing field all the scores should be a piano piece.On a side note I?d like to thank everyone who voted for my Hulk piece in the last competition (HULK SMASH). He is not my favourite comic book character, but I felt that unlike some of the other choices in the list, no composer has yet written a definitive Hulk theme.All the pieces submitted to the competition were excellent , its just a shame that more people didn?t vote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisAfonso 186 Posted January 26, 2004 Author Share Posted January 26, 2004 That's an idea worth considering I'll think about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSM 126 Posted January 28, 2004 Share Posted January 28, 2004 Harry Potter sounds like a fun assignment! I'd prefer if the assignment was to write a theme for a character which isn't already done by Williams. I don't know the Potter books at all, but I guess there are some new characters in books 3, 4 and hmm 5? to choose from.But if we let people choose maybe there will be some nice Harry's Themes!Piano submissions this time maybe are a good consideration. I think it's a fair way. Or maybe people could submit a piano version as well as an orchestrated version, but the piece will be judged from the piano reduction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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