jamesgilbertmusic

Guilty Until Proven Innocent?

jamesgilbertmusic — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:51:09 +0000

Is the Internet becoming a Fascist Regime?

I’m beginning to feel like we live in a fascist regime, at least when it comes to the internet and copyrights. What ever happened to “innocent until proven guilty?” Try posting a video to YouTube that contains an arrangement of a public domain tune. One thing to know about YouTube videos that I post is that I’m able to earn pennies from each view thanks to the little ads they put at the bottom. No ads, no income, and I desperately need income.

My work claimed by someone else

Both my What Wondrous Love and The Entertainer video were flagged by companies claiming rights.

Here’s the first video:

The Entertainer

The Entertainer was flagged by two, including the infamous Warner-Chappell music conglomerate that is known for filing bogus claims even against songs they don’t own the rights to. I then have to take time to file a counter claim and wait for a response. I’m not notified of their repsonse, I have to go online to find out if my right to either show the video or have ads on it have been restored. All the while the process is going on, no ad revenue. After more then 48 hours, Warner-Chappell withdrew its complaint on The Entertainer. I then have to go through the process of filling out another form to re-enable ads. Here’s the Entertainer video (if it’s still available):

YouTube demands proof

Now YouTube is demanding proof that I have the rights to The Entertainer video I posted, even though there are no longer any objections from any potential rights owners. Looks like it will be nearly a week without ads and who knows if I get flagged as a potential ‘criminal’ by YouTube’s (which is Google) internal systems causing all future videos to be scrutinized more so than they should. Or worse yet, YouTube bans the video and enough problems with videos means you get kicked off of YouTube.

Burden of Proof

It should not be the burden of a content creator to prove that their content is legal. It should be the burden of a rights holder to prove, or at least present more than just a ‘I think that’s mine’ type of proof that their rights are being violated. I am both a content creator and rights owner.

Thoughts

Maybe this type of stuff is normal in the world of the internet, and YouTube specifically. Maybe people are willing to put up with this nonsense. We shouldn’t have to. If it’s the fault of the DMCA, then that should be repealed or amended. If it’s a corporate policy of Google (YouTube), then they need to change their policy, regardless of what the mega-corporate entertainment industry says.

Ragtime Music

jamesgilbertmusic — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 15:05:48 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

We’re happy to announce that we have a healthy sized collection of ragtime sheet music available at the website. Specifically, the favorites of the king of Ragtime, Scott Joplin. These are the original versions. The titles are:

The Entertainer (Joplin)
The Easy Winners (Joplin)
Rag-Time Dance (Joplin)
Peacherine Rag (Joplin)
Palm Leaf Rag (Joplin)
Maple Leaf Rag (Joplin)
Eugenia (Joplin)
Elite Syncopations (Joplin)
A Breeze From Alabama (Joplin)
Something Doing (Joplin)
Sun Flower-Slow Drag (Joplin)
Swipsey (Joplin and Marshall)
The Cascades (Joplin)
The Chrysanthemum (Joplin)
The Favorite (Joplin)
The Sycamore (Joplin)
Weeping Willow (Joplin)

Each of these is available for download in the PDF format and at a reasonable price — below what most music publishers charge.

The music has been recently typeset to meet modern typesetting and layout conventions. In other words, it’s easier to read than the original printed version.

What Wondrous Love Is This

jamesgilbertmusic — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:47:22 +0000

I’ve uploaded a new video to YouTube. This is a recording of the piece What Wondrous Love Is This that I arranged for orchestra. The hymn tune is from the early 1800′s in Appalachia and is found in Southern Harmony, 1835. It is still used today in many churches and instrumental versions, like this, are also used in secular schools for its historical aspect.

This recording is done via software instruments (although most of you would have thought they were real if I hadn’t said anything). I used instruments from the Native Instruments Kontakt 5 factory library as well as Session Strings Pro. I layered the string sounds so each instrument in the string section had 3 to 5 different instruments. They were mixed together to get the final sound. For the reverb I used two instances of Guitar Rig 5, one for the strings and their reverb and all other instruments.

The orchestra sheet music is available for purchase at my website. The instrumentation is for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Triangle, Violins, Violas, Cellos, Double Bass and Guitar (or Harp). See the catalog description for details about substitute instruments and keyboard reductions.

If you have any questions or comments, you can leave them on the YouTube page or here.

Reaper, MIDI, VST YouTube video

jamesgilbertmusic — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:24:11 +0000

This video is now available on YouTube. In it we look at how to use the Reaper DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) along with VST software instruments and MIDI to record and produce a song.

This features VST instruments Plex2, FM8 and Massive. The piece is entirely done in MIDI. The video also looks at automation of both the VST parameters via MIDI controllers (CC) as well as Reaper’s built in automation.

A full tutorial on all of this would take several hours, but this is hopefully a good introduction to the subject. If you are interested in seeing more detailed videos on specific topics covered, comment on the video at YouTube or leave a comment here.

Abbey Roads 70′s Drummer

jamesgilbertmusic — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:05:38 +0000

Native instruments released a big update, almost like a new version, of their entire Abbey Roads Drums series. The names now add the word Drummer to them. The new versions add the mixer and grove parts of their Studio Drummer product. The entire series update includes the 60′s, 70′s, 80′s and Modern drums.

I put together a quick video showcasing some of the features of the 70′s version.

The main changes are the mixer, along with all the effects and multi-channel routing, and the thousands of midi grooves available.

Enjoy

Skanner instrument demo

jamesgilbertmusic — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:58:11 +0000

Not too long ago, Native Instruments released a free instrument based on their Reaktor platform. It is called Skanner.

I put together a quick demo of the instrument. The recording uses only instruments from Skanner.

The recording is available for free at
Google Music

Cutting down a pine tree

jamesgilbertmusic — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:45:14 +0000

Back in December, 2011 I took some photos and some video (not so great video) of a 130 foot (or so) pine tree being cut down. I put the photos and videos together. I added some original music I sell at my website and posted a video on YouTube:

The pine tree was cut down because earlier in the year it had been hit by lightning and was dead.

The background music is from the music catalog at the website. It is titled Scene: The Wonder Of The Jungle

New music

jamesgilbertmusic — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:14:24 +0000

New music added to the catalog

Some new titles have been added to the music catalog at the website:

Details about the new titles.

Image via Wikipedia

BUNESSAN (Morning Has Broken)

An instrumental descant to the hymn tune BUNESSAN. This hymn is known under the following titles: Morning Has Broken; Always And Ever; Child In The Manger; Contains the melody and descant. Parts provided for C Bb Eb F and Alto Clef Treble Clef instruments. Usage: Hymn Accompanying. Arranger: Martin L. Flanders

LYONS (O Worship The King)

An instrumental descant to the hymn tune LYONS. This hymn is known under the following titles: O Worship The King; How Wondrous And Great; Ye Servants Of God; Ye Thirsty For God. Contains the melody and descant. Parts provided for C Bb Eb F and Alto Clef treble clef instruments. Usage: Hymn Accompanying. Arranger Martin L. Flanders

PICARDY (Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence)

An instrumental descant to the hymn tunes PICARD. This hymn is known under all of the following titles: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence – Sing My Tongue The Glorious Battle – Transform Us As You Transfigured – God Of Freedom God Of Justice – Judge Eternal Throned In Splendor – You Lord are both Lamb and Shepherd – As The Sun With Longer Journey – Blessed Are The Poor And Needy – Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit; Blessed Father Great Creator – For The Night Weeping May Tarry – Savior Like A Shepherd Lead Us – Sing Ye Faithful Sing With Gladness – Though The Night Of Weeping May Linger – With The Body That Was Broken. Contains the melody and descant. Parts provided fro C Bb Eb F and Alto clef treble clef instruments. Usage: Hymn Accompanying. Arranger: Martin L. Flanders

What Wondrous Love Is This

A new setting of this popular hymn. Other settings are available in the catalog for Piano, Organ or Choir. Instrumentation: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone (optional), Tenor Saxophone (optional), French Horn, 2 Trumpets, Trombone, Triangle, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, String Reduction, Guitar, Electric Bass (optional). Usage: Lent Holy Week General Prelude Offertory Communion Postlude Educational. Arranger: Sterling J. Roberts

You can always find the newest additions to the catalog by searching for “New Listing” in the search page. New Listing search page. Searching for just the word New will find new titles as well as a few titles with that word in the title or description.

We are always interested in hearing back from you as to what type of new sheet music or recordings you’d like to see in our catalog.

Today’s additions represent the works of two different artists that are part of JamesGilbertMusic. If you’d like to have your sheet music or your recordings published on the website, visit our Submission Page for details

New Album on Google Music

jamesgilbertmusic — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 01:14:14 +0000

New Album

Another album is available on Google Music.

Visit the new album

The new album is entitled Selections from JamesGilbertMusic, Volume 2

There is one free track and a couple that are only available at Google Music. The remainder of the tracks are all available in single form at our regular website. (Link to the website). The CD is a mix of various styles, including Classical, Novelty, Dance/Trance, Jazz and popular music.

Contents:

All Glory Laud And Honor
James Gilbert Music Theme (free track, used in many YouTube videos)
Leoni In Africa
Brass & Percussion Piece (Google Music exclusive)
Short Tease At The Fountain
Blessed Assurance
Tidings
Soft And Hard
Suspense Chase
Sweet Feel
Through The Forest Mist
What Are Those Sounds In The Dark (Google Music exclusive)
Shake The Duck’s Jaw

As always, we welcome your comments and suggestions. And please spread the word.

Modes and Scales

jamesgilbertmusic — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:26:22 +0000

Modes and Scales

A video introducing scales and modes is now available on YouTube.

Hope you and enjoy and as always, your comments & suggestions are welcome.