Category: Music

My original music and collaborations with various songwriters

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

 

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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

 

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
Audio only


You might also like: Cat Eyes, Red Nose

 

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

Cat Eyes
by Gustavo Lopez, Paul Battersby

Another nice piano instrumental by Gustavo Lopez. I wanted to add subtle orchestra to support the piano and I mostly did that, but I still ended up with a big full orchestra crescendo in the middle.

Gustavo Lopezoriginal composition, piano
Paul Battersbypiccolo, flute, oboe, clarinet, 1st violin, 2nd violin, viola, cello, string bass, trumpet, french horn, trombone, tuba, percussion (all from Virtual Playing Orchestra sample library), mixing


You might also like: Red Nose, Playing With Autumn Leaves

 

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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.

show / hide lyrics
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
Audio only

 

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
Audio only

 

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Cerulean
by Nielson, Baldwin, Emond, Battersby

From Samuel Nielson:

A peaceful, hopefully emotional piece

I started out planning to use a full orchestra but it didn’t take me long to realize this song needed a smaller softer approach so I decided to limit myself to solo instruments : a string quartet, woodwinds and a harp all from my Virtual Playing Orchestra sample library.

show / hide lyrics
Cerulean
Lyrics by: Suzann Baldwin

All the mist on the ground,
grey spreading all around,
is just a lost cloud that has found
a quiet place to sleep.
Leaving the bed unmade.
Waiting for pain to fade.
I always thought the plans we made
were promises that you would keep.

(chorus)
Fear makes my blood run cold
in every shade of blue
I can’t stop my mind from running
back to you.

Saw a doll in a tree.
Sadly she looked at me.
Tattered eyes, hair caught in a breeze.
Misguided fantasy.
Give me the time I spent,
those days that came and went,
I was waiting dumb and silent,
for your rehearsed apology.

(instrumental)

(repeat chorus)

I watch as sorrow comes,
so dark and bittersweet,
while all the things you never said
lay silent at my feet.
Fear makes my blood run cold
in every shade of blue
I can’t stop my mind from running
running forever back to you.

Samuel Nielsonpiano composition, melody
Suzann Baldwinlyrics
Gregg Emondvocals
Paul Battersbyflute, oboe, clarinet, 1st violin, 2nd violin, viola, cello, harp (all from Virtual Playing Orchestra sample library), mixing

 

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 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

Ride Outlaw Ride
by Michael Price, Arlen Graves, Paul Battersby

A song about an outlaw on the run. I liked the fast tempo and rhythm of the vocals so I thought I’d try my hand at adding all the music for this old time country song.

show / hide lyrics
Ride Outlaw Ride
Lyrics by: Mike Price, Susan Graves

(verse 1)
The night is cold your horse is tired, the possie’s on your tail
Better ride outlaw, better ride
You robbed a man in Fordland, left him dying by the trail
Better ride outlaw, better ride

(chorus)
You’d better ride outlaw, better ride
You can run but you can’t hide
Better men than you have tried
Better ride outlaw, better ride

(verse 2)
You left a woman waiting in a house in New Orleans
Better ride outlaw, better ride
A Cajun sworn to kill you and a child you’ve never seen
Better ride outlaw, better ride.

(chorus)
You’d better ride outlaw, better ride
There’s nowhere left to hide
Better men are close behind
Better ride outlaw, better ride

(piano break)

(verse 3)
Your fast and steady gun has left you heavy shoes to fill
Better ride outlaw, better ride
If faster guns don’t get you, you know the hangman will
Better ride outlaw better ride

(chorus)
You’d better ride outlaw, better ride
There’s nowhere you can hide
Better men than you have died
Better ride outlaw better ride
You’d better ride outlaw better ride
Better ride outlaw, better ride

Michael Pricesongwriting, vocals
Arlen Gravessongwriting
Paul Battersby6 string guitar, 12 string guitar, piano, bass, drums, mixing

 

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