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Dragon's Hymn's itch.io pageResults
| Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
| Creativity | #26 | 3.625 | 3.625 |
| Correlation to theme | #80 | 3.125 | 3.125 |
| Composition | #81 | 3.000 | 3.000 |
| Overall | #83 | 3.075 | 3.075 |
| Impression | #89 | 2.875 | 2.875 |
| Quality | #105 | 2.750 | 2.750 |
Ranked from 24 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Description
Orchestral, Ambient.
I used garageband for the entire production, though the first track includes one of my dearest friends playing the main theme on her flute.
Message from the artist
Definitely was a crunch!
The thing with this project was that almost everything was made on the last day, because of schedule problems. You can see from the picture I used that I was really making things (kind of hastily), though I ended up liking how silly it is.
I was really afraid that I wouldn't be able to make everything I wanted, but I ended up being able to use almost all of my ideas, and I think they blend nicely together.
The first track is the main theme - "The White Dragon's Melody" - it includes my friend's flute playing and a bit of my humming/singing. That main motif goes through a lot of scales - specifically, modes. It starts Dorian, goes to Ionian (major) and switches between Aeolian (minor), Dorian and Phrygian.
The second track depicts a chase : someone really upsets the Dragon and suffers the consequences. The music is in 7/8 (to be just a little of-putting), and uses the main motif throughout.
The last track is very different from the other 2. It goes in a much more ambient, kind of Lofi direction, and not orchestral like the rest of the soundtrack. It uses some jazzier chords (mostly Major 6 chords), and the main melody is also inspired by the main motif. The track depicts the serene springs where the dragon lives, which is why it is also much more chill than the others - this is a place of rest.
The only thing I didn't get to do that I regret is using the harmony I originally wrote for the main theme. When recording the humming for the first track, I decided to go for something simpler and ended up not being able to use that original harmony.
Overall, I'm happy with this submission, and that I decided to participate in this Jam. It was a lot of fun (for a very limited time haha).
Theme
How does it fit the theme?
The idea behind the ost - while abstract - is heavily inspired by the theme, especially the picture. The melody on the main theme is " The White Dragon's Melody", and the seriousness and the amount of detail in the picture made me choose to go in a more orchestral, "movie soundtrack" direction for (most) of the ost.
Link(s) of the submission on streaming services
https://soundcloud.com/ilaytsa/sets/dragons-hymn
Soundtrack use permission
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Comments
Nice selection of tracks ! I liked the first track a lot (especially the live interpretation on flute) and the other ones are pretty nice too (they have different styles too, which is always welcomed). Good work !
Thank you! I tried to keep the tracks feeling connected, even though they're differing in style and feeling. The last track I think feels a little disconnected, but I also had the least time to make it, so I think it's ok overall.
there's something oddly catchy about #3 lol. good work!
Haha thanks lol. Catchy is probably a good quality imo.
I enjoyed the live flute!
Thanks!
Unique sound! I enjoyed it a lot, specially the Dragon's Hymn, which i found mesmerizing. Congratulations!! Very nice job
Thank you! The use of live instruments there seems to have worked out well :D
"The Springs" is my favorite. Very nice!
Thanks! When I was trying to find ideas for the jam, I "found" the chord progression, and I was really eager to use it in the jam, and I'm glad I did :))
I love your trucks.The use of instruments so nice ,throughout the songs is natural and warm.
Thank you! Choosing instruments I feel like is such an underrated part of music-making. I always have so much fun finding different instrumentizitionts for new and existing stuff.
Nice work on these! The live flute in the first track was a great addition.
Thank you! Since my first music jam i've been trying to use real recordings, and this was the first time I actually got to do it :)
Dragon's Hymn: really like the modal interchange in here. That flute/vocals combo is really nice.
Lost Hope: Menacing ostinato! Love that melody that comes in on the metallophone. Fits a battle/chase really well.
The Springs: wasn't expecting that jazzy vibe! Very chill track, fitting of an outro.
Great work!
Thanks! I'm glad that the vibes I was going for came through.
Heh! I almost called mine "Hymn of the White Dragon."
I went with song because it wasn't totally hymn-like, even though it has a lot of elements of sacred music since I was going for a vibe of the dragon being a demigod. Flute is actually one instrument I'd consider adding to mine, though I would want to opt for a wooden flute with a more rustic timbre.
Anyways... I like that your voice actually sounds like a chant. The first track being real voice + instruments is great. I genuinely thought "oh, he found a nice VST for Byzantine chanting," then I read that you did your own voice.
Well done! :)
Thank you! Yeah I think the thing I'm the happiest about with this jam is the way the first track came out, and the fact that I used real instruments for it. I was kind of afraid that it wouldn't sound good enough, so I'm really happy to see that people enjoy it like I do.
I can always appreciate a live instrument being used for these submissions so that was quite nice. I liked that you could hear the breathing to make it feel even more authentic because it is!
I do think the first song ended too abruptly though, I wish it were longer.
Thank you! Yeah I really like keeping breaths in when I use real recordings, It really creates a nice authentic feeling, like you said.
And I actually didn't really think about making that track longer, and I think I agree with you : It could've been nicer.
Awesome work! The mixture of themes and instruments is very creative. I think it’s just the right amount of ‘bright’ for the jam theme in terms of sound and composition, which is more than I can say for my entry haha
Thank you! I really tried to stretch my creativity for this, so I'm really happy it worked out :)
And I'm definitely gonna check out your submission to see if i agree with you haha
Flute was really nice! And yes I definitely feel that too with how stressful the short deadline is.
My friend will be happy to hear that, thank you!
And I'm happy I'm not alone with feeling the pressure, 'though I'm sure a lot of people did too.
I really liked the humming/flute combo. Kind of wished you incorporated it into more of the tracks.
I really wanted to make a lot of the soundtrack using actual recordings (for example playing on an actual piano and Trumpet instead of the DAW instruments) but just like everything else with this jam, I just didn't have enough time haha.
But just incorporating more humming into the ost actually could've worked. I'm kinda disappointed I didn't think of that too.
Anyway, thanks!