SAMPLE #1: Caravan
Live Instrumental Performance
For my first live drum performance, I've chosen Duke Ellington's Caravan, specifically the arrangement featured in the film Whiplash with Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons. I was drawn to this piece and arrangement because I deeply admire the film and resonate with the character of Andrew Neiman, a struggling college jazz drummer. As a high school jazz drummer, I've faced my own challenges, though not as extreme as those portrayed in the film.
What makes Caravan particularly special to me is Andrew Neiman's unwavering pursuit of his dream, despite the obstacles he encounters. His dedication to practice, regardless of the circumstances, is truly inspiring. I'm also captivated by the film's climactic performance of Caravan, where Neiman, as the drummer, initiates the piece.
The fusion of Caravan's Middle Eastern influence and double-time swing jazz is another aspect that resonates with me. This challenging combination, arguably the most difficult hurdle for the main character, aligns with my own musical aspirations.
Ultimately, Caravan is a perfect choice for my portfolio. It reflects my passion for jazz drumming and my admiration for the film Whiplash. It's a piece that speaks to me personally while showcasing my musical abilities.
SAMPLE #2: Bloqué
Music Production Sample
Background
On October 3rd, 2024, a missile crisis delayed my trip home from the AMIS Honor Jazz Festival in Düsseldorf, Germany. This unexpected turn inspired me to write a song.
My high school jazz band had been selected to participate in the festival, which included a jazz workshop, a big band performance, and individual combo performances. However, our flight home from Düsseldorf to Dubai was repeatedly delayed and eventually canceled due to fueling issues.
Stranded in Germany, we bonded over late-night card games and unexpected downtime. When we finally boarded a rescheduled flight, we encountered another obstacle: a fuel shortage caused by the need to avoid missiles in Israeli airspace. We were forced to refuel in Budapest, Hungary, causing further delays and anxiety among the passengers.
After a long and eventful journey, we arrived in Dubai. Despite exhaustion, a band member's relative offered to take us on a private tour of the city. We explored Dubai's stunning architecture and dined at a local restaurant, where I heard the music that would later inspire my song.
Back home in Taiwan, I channeled my experiences into a song titled "Arabic Spiderman." The harmonic minor scale, commonly used in Arabic music, reflects the cultural influence of the region. Sound effects, such as shuffling cards, explosions, and a hurricane, capture the chaos and excitement of the trip. The lyrics reference the iconic Spider-Man quote "Alright let's do this one last time," symbolizing the overwhelming emotions and an Odysseus-like determination to overcome challenges and return home.
Mechanics
In the piece, to start off, I’ve used string sounds that pan around the listener. Playing a 5-6-7-1 progression in the C minor scale, this was meant to create suspense and the feeling of being lost in a desert, just as we were lost in transit. This apprehensive feeling is ultimately interrupted by a loud overdriven sounding bass, adding tension to lead into the main part of the song. In the chorus, to replicate what someone would experience when listening to rap music, I added the “Yeat” bell, 808s, and explosion sound effects. Seeing the city of Dubai at night time, I was reminded of an epic fight scene between two rivals, which inspired all of the hip hop add ons. Moving to the middle part of the song, listeners can hear a busy street and local music samples, as well as upbeat bongos. I’ve used these three to replicate what would feel like a chase or escape. In the middle of the bridge, I brought the tune back to hip hop, whilst still keeping the street and local music samples to better transition into the last chorus. In the final chorus, there is an addition of a Jacob Collier Choir. I’ve achieved this through the Kontakt instrument. The piece resolves with a finger bell sound, and the dominant triad of the C minor scale: G B D. This last chord sung by the choir is major, signifying an end or resolution to a long unanticipated journey.
SAMPLE #3: Winchester
Music Production Sample
Background / Mechanics
Winchester is based around a four chord progression (dm - FM - am - GM) that gradually builds, providing emotions of hope, grind and motivation. In that chord progression, the top note always bends down a few semitones, which I did after being inspired by the one note project that my teacher assigned us. During this project, we were restricted to a single note and had to explore as many different methods of varying the music to create a composition with a single note. As the song builds, two nylon guitar tracks, stacked on top of each other, gradually increase in volume, repeating varied melodic patterns that utilize the C pentatonic scale.
Expanding the texture of the piece, the piano plays the same progression as the beginning synth but in a different rhythm to add more diversity. I also added two tracks that use Ableton's Flute Synth virtual instrument. Taking inspiration from Justin Bieber’s hit song, Where are You Now, one of those two tracks is reminiscent of his pitched up vocals. The other one contains 32nd note runs, which symbolizes randomness and disarray to contrast, and yet also compliment the main feeling of the song.
As Winchester is inspired by my relocation from America to Taiwan, so when moving to the shout chorus, I’ve added an eagle screeching sound effect, accompanied by loud and echoey percussive elements. The main melody of the shout chorus has a chord progression reminiscent of East Asian culture. I’ve included the two aspects to represent a contrast in my personality as a third culture kid. Lastly, nearing the end chorus of the song, listeners notice a piano track playing a somewhat bittersweet melody. This verse is meant to bring the listeners attention away from the more chaotic and random chorus and invoke more serene feelings. At the end, this same part serves as somewhat of a cadenza, leaving the listener with more pensive thoughts.