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
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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.
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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. 

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

Mothers Day
by Gustavo Lopez, Paul Battersby

(New video added May 6. 2022)
A piano piece that Gustavo wrote for Mother’s Day. I had some orchestration ideas as soon as I heard it so thought I’d see what I could do.

Gustavo Lopezoriginal piano composition
Paul Battersbypiccolo, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, 1st violin, 2nd violin, viola, cello, string bass, trumpet, french horn, trombone, tuba, celesta, harp, percussion (all from Virtual Playing Orchestra sample library), mixing, video
YouTube video
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You might also like: Cat Eyes, Red Nose

 

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

Breaths Of Maidens
by Matt Kresling, Paul Battersby

(New video added Aug 29. 2021)
When I first heard this song, I really liked the lyrics. It was just vocals and ukulele originally so I decided to add guitar, bass and drums to finish the song and give it a more standard instrumentation.

Aug 29, 2021 update: I had the idea to use an old story from Greek mythology as the inspiration for the video since the theme of the story seemed to generally fit the music.

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Breaths of Maidens
Lyrics by: Matt Kresling

(Verse 1)
I’ll never grow old. That’s just somethin’ that I chose
and never to participate in

How do I maintain the appearance of youth
While my peer group resembles
a bunker you’d thrown a grenade in

(Chorus 1)
By breathing the vapor distilled from the breaths of maidens
By breathing the vapor distilled from the breaths of maidens

(Verse 2)
I don’t need stuff. Know employment enough
that I’m 30 years going on 80

My unwrinkled brow
be wrecked wondering how many years yet
will I pull the plow ’till I drop a Mercedes

(Chorus 2)
And I’m breathing direct from the mouths of maiden ladies
And I’m breathing direct from the mouths of maiden ladies

(Break)
And you would do well to recall
unless you’d like to age like the rest of them all
It isn’t the medicine, but how it’s administered
so find you a maiden if you’ve got the wherewithal

(Verse 3)
In-spite of the surgery she can’t afford
youthfulness means to escape her

It never was somethin’ that money can buy
in fact it often comes out the inverse of assets on paper

(Chorus 3)
So I’m breathing the young ladie’s distilled exhaled vapours
So I’m breathing the young ladie’s distilled exhaled vapours

Verse 4
Now I can’t pretend to have life figured out
but it pays back about what you paid in

The minute you worry about the amount
when your years will run out is about when you really start fading

(Chorus 4)
And you can’t even sweat about breathing the breaths of maidens
No you can’t even sweat about breathing the breaths of maidens

Most of all you can’t sweat about breathing the breaths of maidens

Matt Kreslingoriginal song writing, vocals, ukulele
Paul Battersbyguitar, bass, drums, mixing
YouTube video
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Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.

Cemetery For The Soul
by Scott Thomson, Paul Battersby

This started out with a couple of electric guitars, a couple of synths and a drum track. In the repeating chord progression of the original music I heard a few things that gave me a lot of ideas for a melody and orchestral accompaniment so I added all those original ideas and more to this instrumental. Except for the above mentioned instruments from the original version, all the orchestra sounds are from my Virtual Playing Orchestra sound library.

Scott Thomsonoriginal composition, guitar1, guitar2, synth, drums
Paul Battersbypiccolo, flute, oboe, clarinet, english horn, bassoon, 1st violin, 2nd violin, viola, cello, synth harp, trumpet, french horn, trombone, tuba, glockenspiel, misc percussion (all from Virtual Playing Orchestra sample library), mixing
YouTube video
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Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

When I Get Over You
by Neal Klassen, Paul Battersby

(New video added Nov 5. 2022)

From Neal:

My dad sang in Barbershop Quartets so, through him, I learned to appreciate the work of Irving Berlin and other great songwriters of that era.

This is my attempt to write that kind of song: simple words, soaring melody, unabashedly sentimental… with lots of open vowels for the singer to play with.

As I was working on the orchestration for this song, I tried to imagine the singer on the stage, singing this as part of a popular Broadway show, with the musicians in the orchestra pit. I saw a few musicals as a kid, so working on this song takes me back in time. It would be a dream come true if I could compose musical accompaniment for something that would appear in a musical.

NOTE: this was originally published on Apr 5, 2015 but reworked to use the new Virtual Playing Orchestra sample library.

show / hide lyrics
When I Get Over You
Lyrics by: Neal Klassen

You’ll see me dance, you’ll hear me laugh
You’ll know that I’ve torn up your photograph
These are the things I’m going to do
When I get over you
When I get over you

I’ll stand up tall, I’ll smile again
I’ll tell myself to stop remembering when
The love we shared was all I knew
When I get over you
When I get over you

So many plans I’ve got to make
So many chances I’ve got to take
I don’t know if I’ll have the time to cry
So much more love I’ve got to give
So much more life I’ve got to live
I don’t know if I can but I will try

You’ll be surprised, I’ll be so strong
I’ll show the world that I can carry on
And then I’ll find somebody new
When I get over you
When I get over you
When I get over you

Neal Klassensongwriting, piano
Barbara Samuel vocals
Paul Battersbyflute, oboe, clarinet, 1st violin, 2nd violin, viola, cello, trumpet, french horn, trombone, tuba, glockenspiel (all from Virtual Playing Orchestra sample library), mixing, video
YouTube video
Audio onlyHear the original version on SoundClick


You might also like: Fly Like A Bird

A Color Of The Sky
by Mantecon, Singh, Noble, Battersby

(New Video Added Mar 4, 2022)
A high energy song with a slight hint of country rock, about never giving up because you never know what’s around the next corner.

The parts I added to this song actually came together very quickly for me. I had a clear idea about the strings and the drums right from the beginning. There were a few adjustments along the way but I was mostly able to take what I heard in my head and directly record it. I didn’t need to spend much time experimenting with this one.

March 4, 2022 update: 6 years after working on this (I did the drums, strings, bass) when I went to publish the video, I discovered to my disappointment that the main theme of the music is identical to the song “Think Brave” by Dixie Station, however according to YouTube, they grant permission to use their music provided I don’t try to make money from it so apparently it’s still O.K. to publish this song and publish the video.

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A Color Of The Sky
Lyrics by: Mike Matecon, Shiv Signh

When I thought all was lost
And I’d never smile again
I found a new beginning
Waiting near the end

When I thought all was gone
And hope had fled my grasp
I found a shiny future
Lurking in the past

What I thought was an end
Turned out to be a middle
And what I thought was a brick wall
Turned out to be a tunnel

(chorus)
What I thought was an injustice
Turned out to be a color
A color of the sky
A color of the sky

When I lost all my faith
And just threw it all away
I found a second chance
To live another day

And when I thought I was doomed
And cursed my life and luck
I found my soul was yet to soar
A diamond in the rough

What I thought was an end
Turned out to be a middle
What I thought was a brick wall
Turned out to be a tunnel

(chorus) x 2

Mike Mateconlyrics
Kim Noble lead vocals, backing vocals
Shiv Signh lyrics, electric guitar (x2), slide guitar, acoustic guitar
Paul Battersbydrums, bass, 1st violin, 2nd violin, viola, 12 string guitar
Bruce Valeriani mixing, mastering
Original Version “Think Brave” by Dixie Station
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