For Orchestra #18: Owl City ‘Fireflies’
“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.
Preview!
Buy It!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.
Feel free to check out my music, or at least spreading it on Twitter, Facebook, or email.You can suggest songs via Twitter using Hashtag #ForOrchestra
Thanks for the support! Feel free to join the Awesome List!. You all rock (and roll!)
You may also like:
just wanna ask whether it’s hard to do a video? I always like to see orchestra video. hehe.
Yea the videos are fun! Let me see what’s up!
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!
Hi Jess! Email me walt@fororchestra.com Looking forward to hearing from you!
Yesss!!!! i love this, its unreal. i’m stoked to show to this my friends.
Excellent job on this Walt. One of my favorite songs as of recent. They filmed the music video in an apartment here in Pittsburgh.
My orchestra has a consert comming up and I was wondering if I could get the sheet music from you. THX
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
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!
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!
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!
Please email me for sheet music instead of leaving a comment http://www.fororchestra.com/about
Holy Cow Walt! I just recently got into this song so much. Glad you done this already!
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!
Thanks Nesquick! Glad people from the UK dig it!
What orchestra plays in the recording, or is it a very advanced midi?