Category: Music

My original music and collaborations with various songwriters

Evolution
by Paul Battersby

This is a cartoony story of evolution from the cooling of the earth to modern times that is loosely based on the science but skips MANY details. This is not meant to be particularly serious.

This was originally supposed to be a video to accompany some already existing music of mine, but the music really wasn’t going to fit so instead I composed some new music as required by each individual scene.

YouTube video

 

Images used that require attribution:

Stars
https://esahubble.org/news/heic1909/
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Acheloma
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Acheloma_12DB.jpg
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en

Barylambda
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Barylambda_BW.jpg
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

Cave
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shelter_below_the_Thief%27s_Cave_-_geograph.org.uk_-_170687.jpg
license: https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/licensing-considerations/compatible-licenses

Herpetotherium
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Herpetotherium_NT.jpg
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en

Taeniolabis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Taeniolabis_NT_small.jpg
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

Purgatorius
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Purgatorius_BW.jpg
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

Branchiosaurus
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Branchiosaurus_BW.jpg
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

Eryops
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eryops1DB.jpg
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en

Mouse Chases Tail
by Paul Battersby

This is about a mouse I saw while biking. I noticed from a distance that it was running in circles. I went back to capture some video for YouTube. It occurred to me that I should compose some original music to go with it so I did.

As I was watching, a couple approached me and said they had tried to help the mouse (they called it a vole and were probably correct) back into the nearby bushes but it ended up on the road again. Another woman walking her dog gave me a peanut to put in the path of the mouse (vole) and although it’s circular path eventually brought it to the peanut, the mouse (vole) seemed uninterested in eating it. I watched for about 20 minutes before I left. I have no idea what happened to it.

YouTube video

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 images is available here:
*** NEW 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.

show / hide lyrics
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