Maiden with orchestra

mckindog

mckindog

Living for Sanctuary from the law
Staff member
I know the whole rock band with orchestra is something many people loathe as pompous, pretentious and overdone. I think I might have even heard comments from Iron Maiden to that effect.

But I like the orchestration peppered in modern Maiden albums and the YouTube videos of people playing maiden on classical piano. I would love for the band to stage a live show where they re-interpret their songs with a top orchestra and produce a concert DVD. It might be the only way we ever see Empire live, and the thought of what that could be gives me chills.

What do you think of the idea and what songs would you want to see included in the set?
 
Not that I don't like Empire, I do, but that was a huge missed opportunity when it came to the orchestration. I've said it before in some other thread but if you decide to have trumpets and cellos and lots of effects done at least do it properly with some professional classical players. Perhaps that is pompous and pretensions - but better that than cheap :p - Empire is pretty "overdone" anyways - at least go all out.
 
SixesAlltheway said:
that was a huge missed opportunity when it came to the orchestration. I've said it before in some other thread but if you decide to have trumpets and cellos and lots of effects done at least do it properly with some professional classical players. Perhaps that is pompous and pretensions - but better that than cheap :p
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True. The sad thing is that it's most probably because they wanted to do it very quick and with the least effort possible... That's a trait I would like Maiden to lose in future. It's quite unlikely, though, with them getting older.
 
Srogyy said:
True. The sad thing is that it's most probably because they wanted to do it very quick and with the least effort possible...
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Quite possibly this. I mean, just look at some of the b-sides they've released...Paschendale Orchestral Mix, It sounds fancy but it's just some guy playing a keyboard in the office....

But yeah, Empire of The Clouds with a real orchestra would have been amazing I think. The song is already over the top!
 
Srogyy said:
True. The sad thing is that it's most probably because they wanted to do it very quick and with the least effort possible... That's a trait I would like Maiden to lose in future. It's quite unlikely, though, with them getting older.
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Why does this keep coming up?
I'm not suggesting they were fastidious perfectionists, but they were in Paris for 4-6 weeks.
Albums get recorded in that many days.
 
As to the setlist:
Empire, Thousand Suns, Paschendale, Greater Good, Blood Brothers, Sign of the Cross, Revelations...
Educated Fool would be a cool dark horse...
 
I ALWAYS thought it should have been Maiden to do the "S&M" record , not Metallica.

Their Songs would fit so much better.

The Nomad (Epic Intrumental Section) would be amazing !
 
mckindog said:
Why does this keep coming up?
I'm not suggesting they were fastidious perfectionists, but they were in Paris for 4-6 weeks.
Albums get recorded in that many days.
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Yeah, recorded. But this time it was also writing, as far as I know. It's little time for the two processes combined.
 
Srogyy said:
Yeah, recorded. But this time it was also writing, as far as I know. It's little time for the two processes combined.
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Yeah. It's everything. Band shows up in Paris with their ideas and then starts throwing stuff together. Listen/watch some of the interviews about Empire...It was structured pretty much in the studio.
 
It is a pretty quick process and it shows. But I think it's a good thing for the most part. Closing the gap between the initial spark of a song and recording it helps preserve the initial energy. A song could lose something after being rehearsed to death.
 
Mosh said:
for the most part
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....Being the keyword here. Of course it's awesome just to record stuff that you think is amazing in the moment. And that definitely also comes through in the recording. But there's also songs that perhaps never reaches full potential or isn't "cut down" into the perfect track.
 
I struggle to find any positive side of not having a gap between initial rehearsing and rehearsing directly before the recording session. It gives such a perspective to forget about a song for a while. It's all the same for writing texts, for example. It's highly advisable to put it away for some time and then return to find mistakes not seen before. And after all with a song you can always return to its initial form.
 
mckindog said:
But I like the orchestration peppered in modern Maiden albums and the YouTube videos of people playing maiden on classical piano. I would love for the band to stage a live show where they re-interpret their songs with a top orchestra and produce a concert DVD. It might be the only way we ever see Empire live, and the thought of what that could be gives me chills.
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Assuming Maiden didn't want to participate (a common assumption I'm guessing), would you be happy with just the orchestra on its own? This certainly isn't pie in the sky.
 
SinisterMinisterX said:
The real question is, who would do the orchestration? This would make or break it.
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I genuinely meant if a huge international orchestra asked Maiden if they could perform a suit of tracks, they'd surely agree. I know that's unlikely, but it would be the scenario I'd imagine without their direct involvement.
 
Right, but an orchestra doesn't just sit down and perform. Someone has to write the parts first. That's far more important than which orchestra plays the parts.
 
Orchestras can be hired. In fact, most of them are dying for it. Orchestras around the world are going out of business because classical etc music isn't popular enough anymore. Iron Maiden would have no problem hiring all but the world's top orchestras. Maiden can't get the Berlin Phil, but they can hire the BBC Orchestra easily.

Talking about the orchestra before the orchestrator is like worrying about the guitar before the guitarist. :cool:
 
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