Tutankhamuns Tomb

 Where it all started (Tutankhamun's Tomb)

Composition Background

This was my first venture into an Arabic music fusion a few years ago. The song came about as part of a challenge on the UK Songwriter forum for a song with a "dark" theme.

I developed the song as a story about a workman who had been trapped in the tomb of Tutankhamun when it was originally built in 1323 BC.

Strangely, since then I didn't really revisit any songs with Arabic themes until this summer when I was considering ideas for projects to work on at University this year.

Composition Structure

The song does not follow a conventional structure; rather, it follows :-

• Introduction
• Verse 1
• Interlude 
• Verse 2
• Interlude
• Bridge / Breakdown
• Outro

Composition Development

The song consists of some Arabic samples from the Musicradar Arabian Nights Soundpack, Drums programmed in EZ Drummer, Bass Guitar, Guitar processed via a number of effects, mainly using Guitar Rig, and 9 midi tracks consisting of :-

• Dune Synth
• DSK Darkness Theory
• Arabic World Strings
• DSK Asian Dream
• Eastern One
• DSK Electric Keys
• Crystal Green Synth

2 of the VST instruments that contribute greatly to the Arabic feel of this composition are Arabic strings, which provide a rich string sound and, with a slow attack is able to produce swells of sound.

The Eastern One VSTi is interesting for Arabic composition as it allows the user to manipulate notes in the scale and flatten notes to a quarter tone below the MIDI value using the "Arabic Scale" parameters.

The song was composed in sections over a number of days, starting off with the drum track followed by a rhythm guitar track, which was eventually removed once the other parts were in place. I often deploy this method when writing songs so that I have a chord sequence that I can easily follow when I am composing MIDI parts.

I layered the song with MIDI tracks and a tremolo guitar part together with some lead guitar, some of which had been reversed. 

Reflection

As this track was written and recorded a long time before I started this module it is perhaps unfair to include it in my portfolio. However, I wanted to use it as a reference point as to what I wanted to achieve during this module.

It also gave me an opportunity to revisit an remix this track using some of the production knowledge that I have gained during the course.

Lyrics

No one can hear your screams
When they left you there, Tuthankhamun's Tomb
Anubis on your shoulder
The cackle from the jackal fills the room
Thousands of scarabs cover your body
Ready to devour your mortal remains
Onset of crazy fever
Slowly driving you insane

Powerful Khepri
Can you save me ?

Alone with the Pharaoh king
Waiting for the barge to the underworld
Gold and diamonds, all possessions
Fall to the floor as the shroud unfurls
Trapped in the tomb, you gasp for air
And pray to Ra for your release
Whole body slowly failing
As you sit and wait for the final feast

Only your soul
For eternity