"El Tryst"

This was an experimentation with loop-based music writing software. Based upon this initial experience, it is not a songwriting solution but rather a musical tool which is best used to spark new ideas. Because the user selects from short bits of pre-recorded musical patterns, the primary responsibility is in selecting those patterns and arranging them so that it sounds good, has structure, and a compelling direction.

In this regard, one is riffing off bits that someone else has written. So the ingredients themselves are not original. But like with cooking, it's in how those same ingredients are combined and nurtured; making one peppercorn steak dog scraps, and the other a masterpiece of fine dining.

Using loop-based software is not a purist's approach. It does have limitations. The sounds do not have the truth of acoustic instruments; one cannot play dynamic or interpretation into them. However, it's a fun way to generate ideas that can be translated into a more organic composition. And that's the way I used it on "El Tryst". It's a starting point from which I might rewrite notes and musical passages, change sound levels, and edit as if a short story's rough draft. Here, then, is the "first draft". Should I complete it in the future, I may post the final version for comparison.