There is now progress in small steps, mostly behind the scenes, since last time we spoke.
First Things First
- Will the release date of December 24th be kept? – Yes!
- Will there be a physical release? In which format? – Yes, and we’ll know the details very soon.
- Will the physical release be ready by 12-24? – Maybe…
- King or Queen of Instruments for SapSal? – King, although there may be a surprise later…
- What’s happening right now? – Mix, then into premaster. And visual design.
The Sapientia Salomonis Question
I already mentioned last time that SapSal was considered a „risk item“, so I did things in parallel:
- prepare for the organ recording (scheduled for 9-15),
- commission a piano recording (scheduled for 9-18),
- and do a virtual piano recording myself (in September).
Unfortunately, the wind chest was faulty for the 9-15 organ date, and the hastily established alternate date at 9-28 was a no-show by the performer. Which means we have theoretically another opportunity, but only as late as 11-27. Which is kind of an issue…
I also worked with a pianist, but they got cold feet just before the recording date because of the intellectual challenge of SapSal’s Ku section. Well, to quote Daryl Shawn on Erat Lausbub: „I don’t know if you are aware of this, but this is extremely challenging to perform, both technically and mentally“. So it seems the problem is the composer (i.e. me), after all.
And finally, my own recording – which, as of October, was the only thing I had available.
So, by October 19th, I finally made a decision:
- The virtual piano recording will be what’s on the album,
- I may or may not do the organ recording scheduled for 11-27. What will happen with that? Let’s see.
- And with that out of the way, integration started with October 20th.
The Format Question
I had postponed that far too long, and had considered lots of options.
Right now we’re done to the following:
- CD (a beautifully packaged one),
- Double Vinyl LP (gatefold cover),
- CD and a 12“ 45 (then fittingly called „Die Maxi-Single“), potentially later.
So which will it be? Considering typical lead times, anything vinyl won’t be ready for Christmas. A CD, on the other hand, will.
What would the Maxi Single contain? Well, maybe it turns out that the organ recording happens after all…
But the important thing is:
A decision will be made by November 2nd (i.e. next Sunday at the time of writing).
What’s happening right now?
Mixing had started by handover to the Tonmeister on 10-20. And for next Tuesday (11-4), a session is scheduled in his studio, after which the mix shall be complete by end of cw45.
I had agreed with the mastering guy to start no later than cw47, and with that, we’re positive to have that completed by the First of Advent (November 30th).
Incidentally, this is what we agreed on for visual design as well for preprint delivery. Following the physical format decision next Sunday, this shall complete within November.
Which means: we’ll have a complete data package for online and physical before December.
And the potential Maxi-Single is considered outside of this release schedule.
With that, I feel comfortable that risks are contained reasonably.
That Personal Perspective
I am in a somewhat good mood right now.
The fact that SapSal didn’t work out as planned, at that I had to actually play something myself is not nice, no two ways about it. And with that, I violated one of the ground rules of this album „the composer doesn’t play anything“. I can hower somehow justify that next to inevitability by stating that this is a very personal album, and SapSal is the most personal composition on it.
Unfortunately, I had spent way too much time tying decisions to things that weren’t related (like physical format and SapSal). I had all the data available for some time, so right now, it’s decision time. It might not be the best one, but next Sunday finally shall see a decision. Which is good.
Having listened to roughmixes provided by the Tonmeister reminded me how stellar those performances are. This will be a fantastic album (this is the artist in me speaking).
And we now have sensible, low-risk schedule leading up to release date. Which is fantastic (this is the programme manager in me speaking).
All in all: I’m looking forward to moving onto that home stretch. That will be fun!