Format:

Impulse Tracker 2.14 IT 2.14

Size:

832194 bytes

BPM:

165

Speed:

5

Channels:

56

Song Length:

81

Samples:

55

Instruments:

28

Patterns:

87

Tracks:

4

Track length:

4872

SHA1:

6696a7521dd9c180c59253d843c2612325c818e0

MD5:

64ca5577701c12e30d20fc753d11add3

 Broken Blade  .by Eterman.       9:44          30.1.2001


 It was an ordinary sunday evening at my home when I found this new
 musical idea. I had been released from military service the last friday
 and I felt light, relieved and free. I had somewhat been thinking of this
 lotr-compo and a new project (which thought had actually been lingering
 in my mind for months actually), but this was the first time that I
 really decided to start it, to create something. Various aspects of the
 Tolkien-created world lay in my mind, and of course, the prolong battle
 against the might of Sauron was on top of everything. (Although reading
 Silmarillion at the time occasionally draw my thoughts somewhat towards
 the more ancient events.)
   I found the earlier phases of the war especially fascinating:
 the mission of the Istari, the destruction of many kingdoms, the fall
 of many great cities. So many grievous stories of failures and despair -
 and still this hope survived. 
 Eras, battles, central happenings descended into oblivion due to despair,
 but hope remained amoungst some. There were souls that wouldn't forget. 
 The might of Sauron grew ever stronger, but at the same time the
 opposition united its forces and prepared to what was afore.
 Although the situation, at every angle, appeared desperate, the alliance
 of elves and men succeeded in raising a great army into battle against
 the might of Sauron.

 The battle seemed to be faring well, until in the heart of it, Sauron
 appeared. Sauron's might had no opposition, and the situation appeared
 yet again desperate. Then Isildur, the son of fallen King, took his blade
 and stroke against Sauron. Sauron's might was crushed for centuries, but
 this blade was broken, as well as were many kingdoms before it.

 This broken blade was cherished and kept as a sign. One day the blade
 would be mended, and the long, deep wounds that were made during those
 elder days, could be healed again.

 This broken blade was the symbol of all Sauron's fell acts. It was the
 symbol of the losses and sorrows that once had occured. And there lied
 it's great weight and meaning.

 What I want to portray through this music is the opposition that finally
 succeeded in bringing down Sauron's might. I've tried to picture the
 different races and phases of the prolong struggle instead of certain
 battle-scenes or such (which would have turned out rather trite, as it
 always does). Presented are the moods and feelings cirling this heritage
 - this legacy symbolized by the broken blade.


       I recently discovered that this song bears a lot of resemblance to
 Shelter. The processes have been quite similar, although Shelter's took
 much longer. Harmonies have similarities and the way different themes got
 blended together is particularly distinctive to these two songs. The
 similarities are interesting regarding that the ideas behind these songs
 were totally different. 
 
        Shelter was mostly free experimentation on folk\fantasy including
 some jazz-influences, but this song was written particularly to a music
 compo. I think the purpose has been well carried out.
        I mean, hey: just listen to that beginning! Is this winning
 material or what? Really, isn't it? I mean, you must recognize ART when
 you hear it!

 True, it's mostly basic chording, although I've recently tried more
 expanded progressions. But those chords just came to my head without any
 pains and I didn't want to stall that flow of inspiration. Especially the
 orders 21-22 were inevitable. I just don't know where from that
 progressions emerged, but I'm glad I got it. 
 
 And no, my music is still not supposed to be popular. I simply don't have
 that much respect for the concept of popularity, believe it or not.

 I wonder why it always gets to those arpeggios. It's like I just couldn't
 compose without them. Bad habit - I really should quit. And what about
 that structure? I mean, I thought I was supposed to developing and here
 I am presenting you with exactly the kind of solutions I've used to work
 with. And with little coherency this time. Perhaps I'm too critical, I
 don't know. After all, my problem used to be the lack of self-criticism,
 so it might be only good for me to constantly remaind myself of
 everything that might be out of place. It's not exactly the kind of
 positive thinking that makes the mind work more efficiently, but if
 possible, I'm usually being too positive about my musical production,
 so I guess a slight amount of negative thinking won't do any bad.

 Inspiration credits apart from J.R.R Tolkien's literary production must 
 go to Zbigniew Preisner - whose music is simply outstanding, something so
 much more than just "movie music", deep and yet relatively easy to get
 into - and to late Toru Takemitsu, whose ability for intense expression
 is beyond compare.


 -Harri Kivisto
                                                eterman@writeme.com
 

• http://ftp.modland.com/pub/modules/Impulsetracker/Eterman
• http://ftp.modland.com/pub/modules/Impulsetracker/Eterman/broken blade.it
• https://modarchive.org/index.php?request=view_by_moduleid&query=41785

1. Strings
2. Strings 2
3. Orchestral bckgrnd
4. Background Woodwinds
5. Men's Choir
6. Women's Choir
7. Solo Cello
8. Trombone
9. Trombone
10. Tube
11. Trumpet
12. Melodeon
13. Piccolo
14. Acoustic Guitar
15. Archaic guitar
16. Guitar
17. Bass drum
18. Hall Tom
19. Tuned Bongos
20. Etno drum
21. Percussion
22. Rimshot
23. Snare
24. Snare 2
26. Guitar
27. Women's Choir
28. Strings 2