Home > Songs > For Orchestra #18: Owl City ‘Fireflies’

For Orchestra #18: Owl City ‘Fireflies’

November 3rd, 2009 Leave a comment Go to comments

owl-city-fireflies_cover


“It’s hard to say that I’d rather stay awake when I’m asleep”

Those words mean a lot to me because they’re almost everything I always think about. I’m a dreamer. I think about how to make things better, how to make things different, how to make things more fun, and how things came to be. I think about what makes us all work, and what makes us who we are. I’m always asleep, even when I’m awake. To dream is to believe, imagine, and express our creativity.



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In Owl City’s song ‘Fireflies’, it struck me as being very pleasant and soft, like something I’d hear from an Apple commercial. Soft like a dream, yet powerful like the impression it leaves. As a result, I wanted the arrangement to both powerful, yet soft. I had the Xylaphones play throughout which added to the softness, but still structuring the Trumpets and French Horns to take charge in the melody and drive it forward. As any arrangement would go, I changed the melody in the last chorus to play the high ‘C’, which resulted in a majestic sound. This, while added over the anvils and crescendos, created the dream-like effect I was looking for.

I don’t sleep simply because it allows me to dream. Rather, I tackle my dreams while I’m awake.



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  1. November 4th, 2009 at 07:23 | #1

    just wanna ask whether it’s hard to do a video? I always like to see orchestra video. hehe.

  2. November 4th, 2009 at 07:29 | #2

    Yea the videos are fun! Let me see what’s up!

  3. Jess
    November 8th, 2009 at 14:27 | #3

    I have a concert band the performs at school and I am the head. Is there anyway we would be able to get sheet music from you so we could perform your amazing arrangements?! I love all the work you’ve done!

  4. November 8th, 2009 at 16:13 | #4

    Hi Jess! Email me walt@fororchestra.com Looking forward to hearing from you!

  5. Curtis Windover
    November 10th, 2009 at 16:33 | #5

    Yesss!!!! i love this, its unreal. i’m stoked to show to this my friends.

  6. November 29th, 2009 at 15:10 | #6

    Excellent job on this Walt. One of my favorite songs as of recent. They filmed the music video in an apartment here in Pittsburgh.

  7. Gunnar Ballard
    November 29th, 2009 at 20:31 | #7

    My orchestra has a consert comming up and I was wondering if I could get the sheet music from you. THX

  8. jovana quintana
    December 7th, 2009 at 18:21 | #8

    omg i cant stop hearing this song im really proud of u and i play the violin and ive been lookin everywere to look for a sheet of music were can i find it

  9. December 8th, 2009 at 12:12 | #9

    Thanks Chad! Really? I knew I liked something about that PIttsburgh :)

    Gunnar – sheet music coming super fast. Still working on talking with Book Publishers!

    Jovana – so glad you like my orchestral arrangements!

  10. Michael Moos
    December 12th, 2009 at 09:56 | #10

    This is the coolest thing ever! My orchestra would love to play this! haha but Gunnar already beat me to it. He is in my orchestra. SO COOL!

  11. kita
    December 22nd, 2009 at 09:38 | #11

    Hey – how can I get sheet music for this? We start a new concert term super early in january and it’d be nice if we could have it by then..

    thanks!

  12. December 25th, 2009 at 15:03 | #12

    Please email me for sheet music instead of leaving a comment http://www.fororchestra.com/about

  13. GatoGirl12345
    December 31st, 2009 at 17:55 | #13

    Holy Cow Walt! I just recently got into this song so much. Glad you done this already!

  14. nesquick
    February 19th, 2010 at 15:13 | #14

    Wow I loved this Orchestral arrangement, Great job! Adam aka ‘Owl City’ is currently touring in the UK and I had the please to see him in concert, I love his dreamscape, ethereal sounds he composes. I think you matched it with this organic arrangement. Thanks!

  15. February 19th, 2010 at 16:45 | #15

    Thanks Nesquick! Glad people from the UK dig it!

  16. Annie
    April 11th, 2010 at 07:52 | #16

    What orchestra plays in the recording, or is it a very advanced midi?

  1. April 13th, 2010 at 04:24 | #1
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