Category: Music

My original music and collaborations with various songwriters

Pirate Chase
by Paul Battersby

A short digital cutout style animation of two pirate ships chasing each other around the world featuring an original composition made specifically for the video.

Sea shanties are apparently popular at the moment so that gave me the idea to make a pirate inspired video, although the music is more along the lines of Pirates of the Caribbean than a sea shanty.

This is the first time I started with the video. Usually I make the music first. This time, the entire video was complete before there was any music. I wanted to try to “score to picture” as would be done with a T.V show, cartoon or movie. I wanted to treat the video as if it were locked – unable to be changed, and the music was forced to adapt as needed. It was challenging but I was eventually able to make it work.

YouTube video

Knights Fight
by Paul Battersby

I wanted to try something with an epic sound, using taiko drums. I originally planned to use the music for a sports themed video or a pirate or viking fight, but upon completion it felt more like music for knights fighting so I made a cutout animation of 2 knights fighting who learn that in the end, sometimes the way to win is to recognize the futility of the fight.

YouTube video
Audio only

All By Myself
by Tom Tognaci, Paul Battersby

A sad, heartfelt song about being alone after a breakup. I liked this song so much that I took a chance and completed my tracks, before Tom even knew I was working on it. Fortunately he liked what I did and granted permission for this new version to be shared.

show / hide lyrics
All By Myself
Lyrics by: Tom Tognaci

(Verse 1)
I deal with the loneliness
Like combing fresh cut hair
I convince myself that I’m alright
I can deal with the solitude
And the echo from upstairs
Now that the ghost is gone, I’m alright

(Chorus)
I’d rather be alone and by myself
Than to be alone, while being with someone else
All by myself
Stowed way up high on some dusty shelf
All by myself
Just me, an island, unto itself

(Verse 2)
Some nights I reminisce
Back and forth in this old chair
Is it worth the lament? Is it really fair?
Black and blue is the emptiness
With a woman who can’t care
One thing that stands out, now, completely clear

(Repeat Chorus)

(Solo)

(Verse 3)
Some nights I reminisce
Back and forth in this old chair
Is it worth the lament? Is it really fair?
All I need is my poetry
And the music that I play
To stretch these untamed wings and fly away

(Repeat Chorus)

Tom Tognaci original composition, lyrics, vocals, guitars
Paul Battersby 1st violin, 2nd violin, viola, cello, string bass, percussion (all from Virtual Playing Orchestra sample library), bass
Visit Tom Tognaci at SoundClick

Fall Back Into You
by Barry Onyett, Paul Battersby

After discussing this song and how Barry hates the mixing process, I agreed to do the mixing and replace his temporary drum track but he also gave me permission to add anything else I felt might enhance the song so I made a few changes, made a few cuts and added a few things.

Barry Onyett original composition, lyrics, vocals, lead guitar, rhythm, guitars, bass, video
Paul Battersby flute, 1st violin, 2nd violin, viola, cello (all from Virtual Playing Orchestra sample library), drums, producing/mixing
YouTube video
Audio only

Morning of the Battle
by Paul Battersby

Apr 7, 2024 update: New version with narration and A.I images is available here:

*** Morning of the Battle – revised ***

A short story I created in parallel with working on the music. For some reason I began to wonder what it might be like for an ancient family waking up on the morning a battle is to be fought. It occurred to me, that story could fit the music I was writing so I put the two together.

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Morning of the Battle
Lyrics by: Paul Battersby
Not lyrics but here is the text of the story as it appears in the video: Centuries ago … A small village awakens to the rising sun on the morning a battle is to be fought Lost in silent thought, families share a somber meal. The unspoken truth is that not everyone returns from battle. The time has come. A father bids farewell to his children. A husband shares a final embrace with his wife. The same ritual plays out at the threshold of many homes as each family fears they may have shared their last moment together. A sad reality sets in when each warrior must turn his back to his home and face toward the upcoming battle. Huddled in doorways, families are unable to turn away. Fathers/husbands glance over their shoulders for one last glimpse of those they must leave behind. Gathered at the edge of the village, men check their weapons, greet their fellow soldiers and focus their attention on the fighting that awaits them. With great anticipation, the assembled army begins the long march toward the battle field, cresting a hill and receding from the view of those left behind. Now alone, worried families are left with the final sight of an empty field wondering who will return.
YouTube video
Audio only

Aftermath
by Paul Battersby

(New video added Mar 30, 2021)
A throwback to the late 80’s this composition makes me think of a post apocalypse, the aftermath of a nuclear war or alien invasion, something like that so I called it “Aftermath”.

I composed the original, all synth based version of this in a couple of hours one evening back in the late 1980’s using my Yamaha DX7II and Korg M1. I decided to re-work this and blend some of the original synth sounds with a virtual orchestra. This is the result.

Mar 30, 2021 update: Although the original idea for the music was the aftermath of an apocalypse, that only led to dreary depressing video ideas until I came up with the idea to use the music as the background of a tour of the solar system through the view screen of a space ship. 

YouTube video
Audio only

 

Pachelbel-ish
by Paul Battersby

(New video added May 6. 2022)
When I used virtual orchestra samples for the first time, (back in 2011) I wanted to see if I could create something even close to sounding realistic.

During a late night/early morning recording session, I thought I was having some good inspiration only to realize some time later I’d created something derived from Pachelbel’s Cannon in D Major. Ooops. Still, I enjoyed creating this even though it’s not as original or inspired as I initially thought in my sleep deprived state of mind.

My original version of this (in 2011) was strings, flute and percussion and was much shorter. Recently, I thought I’d revisit this composition and see if I could improve on it to kick start some inspiration to work on something new.

Johann Pachelbel original composition
Paul Battersby something unintentionally sounding like Pachelbel’s Cannon in D major
YouTube video
Audio only

Better Days
by Bill Hennessy, Paul Battersby

(New video added Oct 4, 2020)
The original track by Bill Hennessy was intended as a backing track for a vocalist who never did anything with it. I found the track, liked it and added an orchestra.

The original track only had the generic name of “Piano Ballad3”. Prompted by Bill to come up with a new name, I tried to think about what words might describe the feeling in the music. To me the song feels a little sad and wistful at times while also conveying a sense of hope. I came up with the name “Better Days”. The title could mean, longing for better days from the past and/or looking forward to better days in the future. For the video, I made it about childhood memories.

Bill Hennessy original composition, piano, bass guitar, drums
Paul Battersby orchestral arrangement, piccolo, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, 1st violin, 2nd violin, viola, cello, string bass, trumpet, french horn, trombone, tuba (all from Virtual Playing Orchestra sample library), mixing
YouTube video
Audio only

 

Creative Commons Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license.

Oh Holy Night
by Donovan Farrell, Paul Battersby

A cover of Oh Holy Night written by Adolphe Adam in 1847, arranged by Donovan Farrell, Paul Battersby

Although I’m not a fan of Xmas music anymore (I’ve heard the songs far too many times) and I’m not into religious or gospel music, I thought the singing in this was so good that when asked by Donovan, I had to work on it. Unfortunately my orchestration was not used in the official video and I discovered that fact too late for me to release this before Xmas.

Donovan Farrell guitar arrangement, guitar, vocals
Robbie Boothe vocals
Phillip Michael Parsons vocals
Donald Quade vocals
Wes Ryce vocals
LaKeisha Smith vocals
Brandi Lynne Wightman vocals
Paul Battersby orchestral arrangement, piccolo, flute, oboe, clarinet, 1st violin, 2nd violin, viola, cello, string bass, trumpet, french horn, trombone, tuba, harp (all from Virtual Playing Orchestra sample library), percussion, mixing
Hear the original version on YouTube