Aftershok Composes: Cruel Angel’s Thesis for Four Saxophones

It’s been a while, but I’d like to present to you a quartet arrangement I’ve had hidden away in the cupboard for a few months now: “Cruel Angel’s Thesis.”

This is one where I’m pretty happy with the arrangement itself; it was fun to write and good to play through. What kept me from releasing it on here is the horrible recording quality. Perhaps it was just because I didn’t realize it with my other two arrangement/recordings, but the fidelity of my recording nears Tiger Woods territory. My tone, which I can assure  you (with just a hint of hubris) is considered quite good by many standards, comes of as closed and tinny in the recording. The bari, in particular, sounds rather hollow and brash. Just a notice.

In other production notes, this arrangement required a good deal more virtuosity on my part than my other ones. It also put less emphasis on the main melody line and uses your knowledge of the source material to try and offer some different ideas. In many instances I voiced the chords so that a harmonized line was the highest and most noticeable phrase,which I think sounds good only given that you know what the original sounds like. All in all, fairly content with this, but given the chance, I’d rerecord it in a heartbeat with better equipment.

Cruel Angel’s Thesis for Saxophone Quartet

[audio:https://blog.animeinstrumentality.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Cruel-Angels-Thesis-FINAL-FOR-REAL.mp3]

Also, please take this time to listen to my previous two arrangements if you haven’t already: “Bouken Desho Desho?” and “Hare Hare Yukai”.

Thanks! I’d love to hear any and all comments and criticisms.

Aftershok

A huge jazz nerd and unabashed fan of alternative rock, I joined Anime Instrumentality in December 2010. I tend to get very passionate when it comes to music and try my best to understand how it works. An enormous fan of The Pillows, among my favorite anime composers include Ko Otani and Yoko Kanno. My tastes in anime vary wildly, but I try to be as thoughtful about my viewing as I am about my listening. I play the saxophone.

9 thoughts on “Aftershok Composes: Cruel Angel’s Thesis for Four Saxophones

  • August 31, 2011 at 11:33 pm
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    Nice work. Man, I really need to watch this again. Last time I rewatched it was almost 10 years ago! Classics never get old~~

    Reply
  • August 31, 2011 at 11:38 pm
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    BTW if you want, I can lend you a hand for any future recordings with the most awesome instrument ever.

    Reply
  • September 1, 2011 at 3:17 pm
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    This is awesome. Keep up the great work.

    Just curious, what are you using as recording equipment?

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  • September 8, 2011 at 11:28 pm
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    @Shin
    It’s funny you say that, because there are already 4 of the best instruments ever in the recording already.

    @Aero
    Thanks! I’m using really hi-fi equipment, mmhm, namely the pinhole microphone built into my laptop. Now that’s audiophile hardware right there!

    @mask
    Thank you! If you want more, feel free to buy me a new sound card! They’re only $200, haha! Pocket change for you, I’m sure.

    @Chuck
    Many thanks! It gives all that toiling I do on Sibelius worth it knowing someone out there likes my work!

    Reply
  • September 11, 2011 at 3:27 am
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    I’m shocked (pun intended) at how nice that sounded……. makes me want to try a piano one on my own! =)

    Reply
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