“Still Dream” for Flute; Reappearance

If you haven’t already noticed on the RotG page, “Still Dream” is now available in flute + piano cover!

Thanks to working full-time this summer, I still haven’t found the time to record the (secret) Mulan arrangement after more than two months. Pardon the delay, I’ll try to put it up before September – but even that’s a big try there! Although work doesn’t leave me with much desire for piano at the end of the day, it’s really nice to finally have some real income – did you know that I’ve sold enough sheet music to buy myself a meagre, student-budget meal?

So what’s up next otherwise? Well, now that the teaser for HtTYD 2 is out, I really should be cleaning up the last bits and crumbs of the project: instrumental covers, piano four-hands and duos, plus revised solos. New scores will mostly go directly to sales, but there’ll be more on that when I get a better picture. I’m also a few ideas away from finishing an immense, epic arrangement that is also time-dependent, but let’s keep that a secret between us for now!

In other news, I returned to the school pep band after a year-long self-exile from ensemble music. Apart from supplying the only French horn in the 20-strong group, I’ve also been writing new arrangements for people to fiddle around with. It’s been a long trial-and-error process working with a dozen or so instruments at the same time. With five awkwardly-sounding arrangements already down, I think it’ll take a few more before I come up with something decent.

After all, piano is still my forte. (Ba-dum-tsch!)

“Still Dream” Vocal Score

A new milestone on this site: first non-piano-solo score to be published! I realized there’s still a need for the vocal score out there after reviewing popular search engine results.

Arranged for solo soprano and piano accompaniment in the original key of D. The piano portion is mostly based on the solo version, but the melody is given to the soprano (i.e. I didn’t just copy and paste everything). You can check out the rest in the first-page preview above.

As before, the score can be purchased on Tintinpiano.com. Please read through the instructions carefully if you’re purchasing my arrangements for the first time. I hope to supply a recording some time this spring/summer.

Again, thanks for your support!

Easter Egg!

Whether or not you follow Easter, here’s a bonus present from the RotG project! Recorded this yesterday with a talented friend of mine. A million thanks to E for making the music come to life on the flute!

First time recording with a fellow musician, and it sounds so much more wonderful than just plain piano playing.

Stay tuned – another cover of “Still Dream” to come next!

Purchasing “Still Dream”

Thanks for your patience. The sheet music for “Still Dream” has been officially approved and is now available for online purchase on Tintinpiano.com. Please access the download links via the RotG score page. You can preview the score on the download pages and check out my recordings.

As with most online purchases, you need to be registered on the site and have a valid credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, etc.) However, as the site design is not very intuitive, I strongly urge you to read the instructions below if you’re considering purchasing an arrangement.

Tintinpiano.com

Tintinpiano is a network site hosted in Taiwan that allows arrangers to upload their own arrangements for sale. The site holds legal agreement with respective copyright-administering associations, which licenses it to commercially distribute sheet music derived from works that are registered under most music right holders around the world. The English interface on the site is unfortunately a bit choppy at the moment, but rest assured that it is legitimate and legal.

Price

Most scores are priced at $50 TWD (New Taiwan Dollar), which is roughly equivalent to $1.70 USD. Tintinpiano uses a point system where users purchase points via PayPal or credit card. These points are then used to download scores, with one point being equivalent to $1 TWD.

The site places a minimum of 100 points per transfer, plus a small transaction fee, so you would need to pay $116 TWD ($3.87 USD) if you’re using Tintinpiano.com the first time. To compensate for this little inconvenience, most of my sheet music are marked at 50 points/TWD. This way, you get a double-deal to start. (Transfer limit no longer in place as of Feb. 2014)

Tintinpiano also awards arrangers points per score published. So, if you’re an arranger like me and are searching for legal publishing outlets, feel free to e-mail me for more details.

If you’ve managed to read through the above descriptions, allow me to thank you first for being one very determined supporter.

Purchase/Download Instructions

“Still Dream” & Official Publishing

Surprise! Here’s the most wanted arrangement of the whole RotG soundtrack. Many of you probably guessed at this already. I love the song just as much as all RotG fans and couldn’t stand not having it arranged. Sorry to all who e-mailed me with the request for this song – I’ve been keeping it a secret since Christmas!

The second big, BIG news: this is soon to be legally published! After months of searching, I’ve finally found a website that allows me to publish arrangements and earn profit in accordance with industry laws and policies. Right now the score is still awaiting review and approval, but it will likely be marked for sale at $1-2 USD. All the information will be provided here when everything is good to go.

If you’re already getting disappointed that this sheet music won’t be uploaded for free, I urge you to read on.

Some of you probably know that I’ve been working to get myself published for a while now. When this site first started with the HtTYD project, my only goal was to share the brilliant music with everyone. Thanks to the unfailing support from all of you over the years, I discovered that I actually have the ability to produce decent-quality arrangements.

Personally, I believe that all arrangers have the right to freely distribute sheet music. But, after dealing with various parties, I want to bring to people’s attention how difficult it is for amateur arrangers like us to find desirable legal publishing outlets. Due to discouraging practices by big sheet music companies, so many arrangers resort to uploading arrangements for free that it’s almost considered the norm. Even though this is great for music lovers like you, we all suffer to some degree by not being able to earn money for our hard work: countless hours spent at the piano and the computer just to produce a neat, smooth arrangement that you can play to your enjoyment. By publishing a score that is in relatively high-demand instead of offering it for free, I hope that more people will learn about our struggle and support us to change things for the better.

Of course, I can’t convince you to pay for my work (though a price of $1-2 USD seems a fairly good incentive). But speaking as an arranger, I ask you to please let me do this right for once.

Alex

“Oath of the Guardians” Recording

Music from the film’s ending scenes. The last minute counts among the most enjoyable passages I’ve ever arranged.

Four days until DVD release! (*Hint: this is not the last recording. Shh…)

“Oath of the Guardians”, Wrapping up the Holidays

Here it is – the sixth and last Rise of the Guardians arrangement, from the ending scene. (I would’ve used the word “touching” there, but which scene from the film isn’t?) Either Desplat’s instrumentation is easier to grasp than HtTYD, or I’ve gotten better at replicating epic passages. Still, the constant changes in time signature drove me nuts, so I simplified things a bit.

This concludes the holiday-special goodies. Making these arrangements gave me lots of fun over the otherwise-bland holiday season locked up at home. And I hope it gave you something to enjoy as well, whether or not you’ve seen RotG. Nonetheless, stay tuned for more upcoming video recordings!

For those of you returning to school next week, wish you all the best and don’t get too glued to the Internet. If you’re absolutely, hopelessly bored, then I suggest you check out my new blog, where I’ve been writing short stories.

Cheers,
Alex

“Jack’s Memories”, New Year’s Greetings

Hello 2013!

I half promised myself that I would stay away from music for New Year’s Day to work on my new story, but broke it as soon as it was made. (Well, it was a half-promise anyway.) After reading a message from a fellow RotG fan, I decided to include this track as an excuse to arrange the epic guardians theme.

You may better recognize the melody from “Calling the Guardians”, which I skipped over for its lower arrangement potential. Only yesterday did I discover that the theme is also featured at the end of “Jack’s Memories”, which is more or less a reprise of “Alone in the World”. So, there it is!

This main theme (not shown on the page) is considerably harder to arrange without losing the original magnitude of the orchestra. A popular piano cover on YouTube features the melody and bass only, while I was keen on keeping the flying violins as well. That being said, this pianist is much more talented at than me at my very best. Do check out the channel at your leisure.

Now, back to writing my super epic story!

Cheers,
Alex

P.S. Come back in a few days for the wrap-up!

“Wind Take Me Home!”, Resolutions & New Blog

Music from the scene where Jack Frost roams about the streets of Saint Petersburg (did you know that?). I take my hat off to Desplat for the distinctly-Russian passage at bars 12-13 (0:23 into the track). The festive air is really fitting this time of the year.

As tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, I’m making an early upload so not to rob you from good company. We can all be music- and film-lovers, but let’s get away from the Internet for a day or so to spend some time with the dear ones around us, eh? (That is, if you’re addicted to anything as hopelessly as I’m to the piano.)

New Year resolutions for the blog:

• Finish recording all five RotG arrangements
• Resume regular piano practices
• Work on my new blog – did you know that I also write stories?

Wish you peace and joy in 2013!
Alex

Christmas Present: “Jamie Believes”

Christmas Day has arrived! Looks like Jack Frost has been kind enough to the GTA this year (while saving the best for Boxing Day, apparently. But oh well.)

Whether or not you’ve unwrapped Santa’s presents, here’s mine to all RotG fans out there: the wonderful theme from the pivotal and moving scene between Jack and Jamie. I won’t give out any spoiler here, but wouldn’t you agree it stands for the whole film? Even as a twenty-something, I have to admit working on the piano with wet eyes at a few points…

On a more cheerful note, working on the RotG this holiday season gave me the unprecedented joy of having some music other than Christmas carols to fill my head with. Trust me, it comes really handy after getting bombarded with one crappy cover after another at the shopping mall.

Uploads will continue through the New Year. But until then, wish you a joyful yuletide with good company and music!

Cheers,
Alex