The Plowman Composition Practice for Historically Informed Performance
Limited by budget, time, and space, The Plowman was originally recorded with a Tascam US-122 MkII on a Macbook Pro running a version of Reaper. According to the startup banner, there were approximately seven thousand hours of free use. The software for period correct performance is no longer supported by manufacturers at this time. Reasonable substitutions of any physical or virtual materials involved are at the discretion of the performer. DO NOT read internet media for advice unless a truly intensive period correct performance is required in which there is ample time for determining what is and is not accurate. As much as 90% will not be accurate at any given moment. The only verifiable exceptions to this are the Electrical Audio Studio Forum and Reaper’s User Forum
In total, exactly three microphones were used:
Composition is as follows:
Breathe and be aware that a period correct performance will require the application of significant inexperience.
Begin with a metronome in Reaper. Set the BPM comfortably. Andante will be felt in quavers.
Release judgement. This is critical for all future steps.
Create a guide track of The Plowman Theme with the melodic instrument(s) of choice. Use the metronome.
Create and record a guide track of percussion. Use ONLY the SM57. A Yamaha Stage Custom set with birch-ply shells is recommended for accuracy. This will be replaced in step 7.
Use Reaper to automate the tempo of the metronome so that general variations in the percussion performance are accounted for. The target is “feel”, and more specifically, “that which feels natural”. Do not belabor this step.
Use EZDrummer and follow the startup guide to create a guide track of percussion. It will be automated by the metronome. It is important to hear what you intend to create beforehand. Do not rush this stage.
Compose and record a version of The Plowman. Use any method that works. Observe the limits of the process. Ignore any limits that are otherwise self-imposed. 80% completion is sufficient at this stage. Ignore percussion until step 9.
Use EZ Drummer and create a percussion composition for The Plowman. Advised practice is to compose on physical elements and program each individual note using the Midi reel. Consult “Drum Method for Band and Orchestra, Book 1” by Haskel M. Harr for assistance organizing the structure of the performance. Be mindful of any tendencies towards varying performance that are noticeable during the exploratory phase of composition. Include them in the program elements. This will be more time consuming by many orders of magnitude than anything attempted so far. Be detailed and remain focused. The process may inform the rest of the composition. Be open to change while honoring the work that is complete. The Plowman will be complete when it is finished. Be patient and resilient.
Use Reaper and send each individual percussion element to a separate track. Treat them each as a live performance and mix accordingly. Mix this recorded composition of The Plowman as preferred. Period correct performance of this step will require a pair of Rockit 5 monitors and an untreated listening environment. Best practice recommends compulsive review on a variety of playback systems. Trust what can be heard and compare the sound to established recordings using the playback system at hand. Experiment and read operation manuals as well as research established mix engineer practices. Repeat step 10 for mastering.
The final step is to release this version of The Plowman for free in the media format of choice. The Plowman is required to be offered for free, although compensation is at the discretion of the listener. The Void does not approve of a choice that does nothing to honor this step.