https://provsmusicsite.com/blog/ EN Sun, 07 Jun 2026 16:47:00 +0200 Incomedia WebSite X5 Pro imblog

I've made some changes to my website. I added a Score Videos page. These are videos that follow the score as the piece plays back. I'm choosing works that I though might be interesting to those that like following a score while listening to the piece. I added a new sample of my Symphony No. 11 on my What's New page. I'm still working on that piece, and it's coming along.

As usual, the piece will tell me when it's finished, then I'll stop work on it as publish it on my 2026 Page 2 page. I still firmly believe that a piece's duration is determined by a conversation I have with the piece that tells me it's done. I ignore the conventional form, like Sonata, even though I sometimes include Sonata in the pieces title. It's more like..."Say what you came to say, then shut the hell up!" If you keeps adding more to the piece because you think it's not long enough, you'll often make it worse. Less is often more, when it comes to music.

]]> Sun, 07 Jun 2026 14:47:00 GMT https://provsmusicsite.com/blog/?sunday-thoughts https://provsmusicsite.com/blog/rss/00000000E imblog

I started work on Symphony No. 11 and posted a new sample on my What's New page. This will be an ongoing project, along with some other projects I've been thinking about for a while. The Symphony is for a full orchestra and choir, and is Atonal and Serial in its construction. The other projects involve Ambient sounds and narration. I've already done a few pieces like that, featuring various poems and other writings. I download the spoken versions from Librivox.org. All of the recordings on that site are in the public domain, so there's no worries about copyright infringement.

I believe there's a lot more I could do with Ambient sounds, so I want to explore it. Using Ambient sounds is, in many ways, different from instruments and music notation. The approach is different and it lends itself more to a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), but I often use both for the same project. The primary use of the DAW is for mixing and mastering of the final recording. Sibelius makes it easy to export the entire score as an audio file or midi file. It also lets you export each instrument as its own audio file. That works best for mixing and mastering. I'm using Fender's Studio Pro 8, which is the replacement for Personus Studio Pro 7.

I tried Cubase, which is used a lot for developing ambient sounds in a cinematic score. But the learning curve was a bit too steep for me. I would have to un-learn Studio Pro, and didn't feel the trade-off was worth it. I applied the same thinking when I was considering Dorico Pro as a substitute for Sibelius. And now that the latest version of Sibelius finally supports VST3 instruments and plugins, most of my reasons in considering Dorico are no longer valid. I may change my mind at some point but, for now, I'm okay with Sibelius and Fender Studio Pro 8.

]]> Fri, 29 May 2026 14:49:00 GMT https://provsmusicsite.com/blog/?symphony-no--11 https://provsmusicsite.com/blog/rss/00000000D imblog

I've created quite a few Ambient pieces lately. Many started out as a learning experience, as I explore the world of sound design and cinematic style music. So far, I've learned quite a bit, but I've also discovered that I haven't been creating enough variety. I realise I need to pay more attention to how I construct my soundscapes.

Adding variety goes a long way to help the listener connect with an ambient piece. I need to figure out how to do that without compromising the overall aesthetics of the piece. That means more exploration of the myriad of software VST instruments available. There are so many presets that usually come with these instruments. For the ambitious of us, creating your own presets by tweaking the different elements is a possibility. I chose not to do that. There's enough presets included with each instrument. I hope to find what I'm looking for from those.

At this point, I'm ready to return to atonality and serialism as the medium I want to use to compose more orchestral and ensemble pieces. I'm planning to compose a full symphony with multiple movements. By it's nature and scope, this should be a long and intense process. I'm going to take advantage of my Note Performer library and Sibelius plugins and reset the orchestral tuning to A = 432 Hz. from the usual A = 440 Hz. This is said to have a relaxing and even healing effect on the music. Sounds intriguing enough to give it a try. I'm always ready to try something new.

]]> Mon, 18 May 2026 14:09:00 GMT https://provsmusicsite.com/blog/?what-s-next https://provsmusicsite.com/blog/rss/00000000C imblog

Recently I've been focused on creating Soundscapes. I interpret a Soundscape to be a collage of sounds from various sources. Some are from music written for actual musical instruments, some are from sounds from various synthesizers and other VST instruments, and some are real sounds from natural sources. These Soundscapes can be a standalone that's the composition itself, or they can be a background for narration of any kind, like poetry.

I like the fact that they are in real time, not necessarily in musical time. For narration background, duration is dependent on how long it takes to read the poem or libretto. As a standalone piece, duration is dependent on the piece itself. I'm a believer in "Less is More" as a general guide to a work's duration. I think you should say what you want to say, but no more than that. Everybody's attention span isn't very long, so if your piece is too long, in their opinion, they'll stop listening.

Then again, sometimes I disregard that rule of thumb and let the duration of a piece last until I'm done saying what I want to say. The piece may be longer than the average listener can handle, but I like to challenge them now and then and get them out of their comfort zone. All it costs you to do that is your time, and not that much of it. The reward may be well worth the effort.

]]> Sat, 16 May 2026 15:39:00 GMT https://provsmusicsite.com/blog/?soundscapes https://provsmusicsite.com/blog/rss/00000000B imblog

I decided to start blogging again. I took a hiatus from it because there was so much happening in my life, I didn't have the energy to keep going. Most of the situations that kept me from blooging are pretty much resolved, so I'm starting over.

I've expanded my musical palette by adding ambient sound elements to my usual approach to music. I still use Sibelius for notation, but I also use Fender Studio Pro for mixing and mastering. I'm using more digital libraries and instruments, including many from Kontakt, Steinberg, East-West and those included in Fender Studio Pro.

Besides that, Sibelius have updated to version 2026.5, which is now compatible with VST3 instruments and plugins. This opens up more possibilities for creating with some fabulous digital instruments I couldn't use before. So far, it's working out very well for me. I'm still committed to my music and love sharing it on my website for all who may be interested. There's never a charge for downloading, so I would encourage you explore my catalogue of work. You're always welcome to visit my website.

]]> Wed, 13 May 2026 16:26:00 GMT https://provsmusicsite.com/blog/?prov-s-blog https://provsmusicsite.com/blog/rss/000000009