Music Portfolio
A collection of various music projects that explore the composing of different genres, sound design and an emphasis on teamwork.
Detailed descriptions of skills acquired in the following projects below videos.
University Project:
Blue Umbrella: Original Music & Sound Design
As part of a Recording Technology Course at Bishop's University in my 4th year as a music major (Dec.15th 2023), the project was to compose original music for an existing media of our choice and record original music and all sounds from scratch. I did the mixing and mastering for the whole project. I have chosen "Blue Umbrella" a 2013 short film by Pixar, directed by Saschka Unseld.
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Skills:
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Use microphone techniques to record live piano in concert hall
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Record all sounds from scratch
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Organize session in Pro Tools to synchronize music with scenes
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Exporting tracks from Logic to Pro Tools
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Developing themes of characters
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Exploring various genres to align with emotions of characters
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Composing music directly in DAWs
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Mixing tools like Cross-Fades, Consolidate, Auxiliary Buses etc.
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Mastering & Mixing
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Meeting each week to update professor about our planning
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Composing Inspirations:
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I focused on an orchestral style inspired by Disney and Pixar's short films. Disney Animation is the media that has inspired me to compose music along any visuals. Growing up, finding comfort in listening to the soundtracks of Alan Menken, Michael Giacchino, Hans Zimmer, Dan Romer, who composed the music for Luca, and Henry Jackman for Wreck-It Ralph and Ralph Breaks the Internet, has shaped my interest in orienting my sounds toward a more orchestral approach, blending it with acoustic, raw sounds of instruments. Nostalgic, uplifting sounds that I aim to create.
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For this project, I wanted to capture this essence of realism and romanticize the scenes. Blue umbrella meeting Red umbrella, wanted to develop little personalized motifs to accompany their reactions with each other. I also incorporated cliché references to Alan Menken's melody of "Beauty & The Beast". I hid an easter egg of the melody when Blue Umbrella gets caught in the wind when Red Umbrella looks at him.
I was inspired by piano melodies and wanted to keep it as acoustic as possible. This project allowed me to explore analysing precisely characters and coordinate my ideas to make them match well along the characters.
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University Project:
Bitter Sweet Symphony: Directing Studio Sessions
Recording Technology II (Jan-April 2025)
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Created a score for an arrangement of the piece (MuseScore)
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Organized technical rider, mic setup, and structured session layout (color codes, markers, timestamps)
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Mixed and mastered using automation, effects routing, bus/aux sends
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Adapting score to a different version than draft, making changes
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Recording live instruments with different mic positioning according to context (strings, piano, drums, bass guitar, electric guitar, voice)
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Four months project with 5 studio sessions of six hours
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Session following overdubbing technique
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Led studio sessions and directed musicians with given lead sheets
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Communicated with sound engineer where to start the recording in DAW
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Ensured the artistic and technical vision was communicated and achieved
Musicians Credits:
Piano & Lead Vocal: Raphaelle Pepin
Back Vocal: Malcom Armstrong
Drums: Patrick Medland
Electric Guitar: Sacha Lévesque
Bass Guitar: Mathieu Désy
Violonist: Frederic Gaudette
University Projects:
Compositions with Guidelines (March-April 2025)
Instrumental Writing Course
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Composed two original instrumental works “Reviens Moi” and “Une mélodie avant ton départ”.
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Created full scores, arranged for piano, followed period structure and specific guidelines by professor to simulate client requests.
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Adaptable and attention to details
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Composed many drafts before final score
Sound Designer of Student Production at Bishop’s,
“Popped” Play by Kate Vandermeulen
(Technical Production I, Sept-Oct. 2024)
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Worked with a director and stage manager to align their visions to life
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Editing on Logic Pro sound effects and selected the right music that matched with the play
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Conducted level checks and participated in technical runs to ensure sound quality and accuracy
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Developed a detailed plan listing sound cues and their synchronization with the play’s sequences
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Sharing creative approach of ideas for the selection of music for the play
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Researching existing sound effects and music that best fit to vision for director requests
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Merging sounds on Logic Pro and adding smooth transitions
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Flexible in changing ideas for director’s requests
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Creating an organised google drive for team with titled folders
University Project:
Space Odyssey: Original Music
As part of a Recording Technology Course at Bishop's University in my 4th year as a music major (Dec.15th 2023), the project was to compose original music for this pre- selected media, directed by Stanley Kubrick and sci-fi author by Arthur C. Clarke.
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Skills:
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Use microphone techniques to record live instruments (piano, drums)
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Record all sounds from scratch
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Organize session in Pro Tools and synchronize music
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Exporting tracks from Logic to Pro Tools
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Getting familiar with mixing tools like Cross-Fades, Consolidate, Auxiliary Buses etc.
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Mastering & Mixing all tracks
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Update each week our planning to professor
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Composing Inspirations:
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I oriented my musical ideas towards space thematic and was inspired of the slow moving visuals after the travelling of light. I went for a calmer ambiance towards the end to capture this essence of relief and creating this effect of floating around space. Therapeutic/spa music and the Wii Sports Theme inspired me for this section. The repeated piano riff at the beginning was inspired of Thunderstruck by AC/DC. I also did the mixing and mastering for the whole project. I recorded all tracks on Logic Pro and mixed/mastered on Pro Tools.
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Live Drummer Feature: Alexis Paquin
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University Project:
Auguste & Percival: Original Music & Sound Design
As part of a Recording Technology Course at Bishop's University in my 4th year as a music major (Dec.15th 2023), we had to do a group project for a pre-selected media by our professor, built from scratch with sound design and composition (December 2023). For our version, we added voice acting for Auguste & Percival.
Originally animated by Béatrice Cantin and scored by Gabrielle Martin, we composed an original music as a group, we had to keep the original credits scene in, but this version is not the score of Gabrielle.
Raph Pepin's contribution to this project:
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Pianist
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Performed piano recordings (live on Steinway)
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Put markers throughout the project for organisation
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Recorded live instruments with microphone techniques (overhead for drums, spaced pairs for piano)
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Applied editing skills in DAW, including crossfades, bus usage, Pro Tools file organization​
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Composed strings, arranged orchestral writing & played all strings (plug ins)
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Sound design (Book closing/opening, door opening, door nob, walking , clothing movement, sword)
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Cross-fading tracks, selecting the right takes
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Adding effects to tracks (reverb, ambiance), controlling EQ, sending tracks to buses & overall mixing process
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Voice acting of Auguste
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Skills:
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Effectively communicate with peers to understand the vision of the project
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Determining who does what
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Review what has been submitted
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Ensure its quality
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Use of DAWs: Familiar with Logic Pro since 2017 and Pro Tools since 2023. -Plug-ins: Logic’s default library, Drum Loops, Sine Player, Native Instruments, Kontakt 7, Strings Ensemble.
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Applied editing skills in DAW, including crossfades, bus usage
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Express preferences and feedback regarding sound design
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Clearly articulate goals, expectations, and tasks to group members
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Actively listen to understand perspectives, concerns, and feedback.
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Applying compression and spatial effects to enhance clarity, depth, and emotional impact.
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Encourage open communication channels for collaboration and problem-solving.
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Critical Listening: Perfectionist, attentive listening skills to discern subtle differences in microphone placement, orientation, and settings, and assess the sound quality and fidelity of recorded sounds.
Adaptability:
Being flexible and open to incorporating different ideas in the sound design process
Conflict Resolution:
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Address conflicts and disagreements within the group quickly and constructively
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Facilitate open dialogue and finding solutions
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Encourage constructive feedback and learn from challenges to strengthen team dynamics
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Pro Tools file organization, and setting deadlines for final submission
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Microphones Placement Techniques:
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Learning microphone placement techniques to capture different sound sources (dialogue, Foley effects, ambient noise) with clarity and balance)
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Recording Environments:
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Understanding how the acoustic properties of different recording environments (concert hall, outdoors)
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Understanding the influence of microphone selection and placement decisions
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Implementing strategies to remove unwanted noise and interference.
Handling and Maintenance:
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Practicing proper microphone handling techniques to prevent damage and ensure consistent performance
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Credits to my team:
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Willa Bateman
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Soprano vocalist
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Sound Design (layers of "Ahhh" when door opens, Auguste landing/jumps on book, key, footsteps at the end)
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Voice of Percival (Mouse squeak)
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Composed main theme / melody
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Mastering
Patrick Medland
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Sound Design (Chimes, mouse in frame running subtly)
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Drummer
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Co wrote the main themes
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Blowin' In The Wind (December 2024)
Arrangement by Raph Pepin
Twitch Gaming Channel (September 2024)
Opening Music by Raph Pepin
Personal Project:
"Shattered Mirror"(Cut Scene)
Heartfelt Music by Raph Pepin
"Shattered Mirror" a short film made by students for Bishop's University Film Festival 2024 (April 2024).
It was written and directed by Camille Bonnet, Lilianne Dénomme and Vimean Vong.
Actress: Daniella Al Barran
Actor: Kasimir MacDougall.
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Music was composed on Logic Pro.
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Recorded and performed all tracks
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This scene was cut in reason of time limit, heartfelt music was made to make the audience feel a sense of comfort for a short moment before the climax. ​​​
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This scene was not yet mastered at this stage
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Personal Project:
BUFF Official Logo Music by Raph Pepin
Composed music for the BUFF (Bishop's University Film Festival) Logo (December 2024)
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BUFF Ads 2024:
Charlie Chaplin Inspired Music
by Raph Pepin
BUFF Ads: Ad #1 Bishop's Film Festival 2024
The music thematic was based on the year chosen. For this one, the director was going for reference of Charlie Chaplin for the beginning of promoting the annual event.
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Skills:
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Responsible to compose the music only and not sound design
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Listening to the team's request for music
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Regardless of the low budget ads, these projects helped in creating various genres of music for different eras and in expanding my palette of genres I can write for. It was a great opportunity for me to compose original music & 1 soundtrack per week for a duration of 7 weeks.
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There were tight deadlines and I was organized to submit in advance.
BUFF Ads 2024:
40s Ad
Music by Raph Pepin
BUFF Ads: Ad #2 Bishop's Film Festival 2024
This year, every week represented a different era and a reference of a movie. The thematic was based on the year chosen. For this one, the director was going for reference of 40s and detectives. Jazz being over the top is intended, a little cliché to solving mysteries. The music was inspired by the Pink Panther theme.
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Skills:
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Responsible to compose the music only and not sound design
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Listening to the team's request for music
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Regardless of the low budget ads, these projects helped in creating various genres of music for different eras and in expanding my palette of genres I can write for. It was a great opportunity for me to compose original music & 1 soundtrack per week for a duration of 7 weeks.
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There were tight deadlines and I was organized to submit in advance.
BUFF Ads 2024:
60s Ad
Music by Raph Pepin
BUFF Ads: Ad #3 Bishop's Film Festival 2024
This year, every week represented a different era and a reference of a movie. The thematic was based on the year chosen. For this one, the director was going for reference of for the 60s and referring the iconic psycho film "Scream". I went for suspense and thrilling. I built in tension and unsettling ambiance to go along the emotions of the scenes.
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Skills:
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Responsible to compose the music only and not sound design
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Listening to the team's request for music
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Regardless of the low budget ads, these projects helped in creating various genres of music for different eras and in expanding my palette of genres I can write for. It was a great opportunity for me to compose original music & 1 soundtrack per week for a duration of 7 weeks.
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There were tight deadlines and I was organized to submit in advance.
BUFF Ads 2024:
90s Ad
Music by Raph Pepin
BUFF Ads: Ad #4 Bishop's Film Festival 2024
This year, every week represented a different era and a reference of a movie. The thematic was based on the year chosen. For this one, the director was going for references of the 90s and Fight Club (1999) / Scott Pilgrim (2000s). I blended in arcade sounds for nostalgia for the fight scene and my music was inspired of "Where Is My Mind" by Pixies. I was heavily influenced by nostalgic sounds.
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Skills:
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Responsible to compose the music only and not sound design
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Listening to the team's request for music
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Regardless of the low budget ads, these projects helped in creating various genres of music for different eras and in expanding my palette of genres I can write for. It was a great opportunity for me to compose original music & 1 soundtrack per week for a duration of 7 weeks.
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There were tight deadlines and I was organized to submit in advance.
BUFF Ads 2024:
2020s Ad
Music by Raph Pepin
BUFF Ads: Ad #5 Bishop's Film Festival 2024​
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There were a total of 7 ads that I have done, but I have selected my favourites for the portfolio.
This year, every week represented a different era and a reference of a movie. The thematic was based on the year chosen. For this one, the director was going for references of of the End of Quarantine & Covid Lockdown, the end of those days and that we are free now. I was going for a similar sound as the previous ones, to create a sense of familiarity among listeners and nostalgic. This was the last ad of BUFF before the screening in April 2024.
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Skills:
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Responsible to compose the music only and not sound design
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Listening to the team's request for music
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Regardless of the low budget ads, these projects helped in creating various genres of music for different eras and in expanding my palette of genres I can write for. It was a great opportunity for me to compose original music & 1 soundtrack per week for a duration of 7 weeks.
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There were tight deadlines and I was organized to submit in advance.
"Eyes Closed"
Score, Orchestration & Arrangement
by Raph Pepin
Personal Project: Eyes Closed Orchestration & Arrangement by Raph Pepin
Here's an arrangement of Eyes Closed by Ed Sheeran (May 2024), combined with some of my original ideas all by staying in the sounds of the song. I added different sections featuring original ideas with the main melody.
This project has a lot of room for more addition of lines in all instruments, but I would like to show what I have gotten so far for now. This project includes score notation skills on MuseScore, composition, orchestration, creativity and instrumental arrangement.
Stevie Wonder Pastiche
by Raph Pepin
As part of an advanced music theory course at University , "Seminar in Music Theory" (April 2024), projects were to be made in the style of a certain composer.
Over the semester, we studied precisely motifs of iconic scores from the composers chosen such as Stevie Wonder, Mozart and John Williams. In the scores, we were expected to compose an original piece close to the style of these composers and we were allowed to use very similar motifs used in specific scores. ​
John Williams Pastiche
by Raph Pepin
As part of an advanced music theory course at University , "Seminar in Music Theory" (March 2024), projects were to be made in the style of a certain composer.
Over the semester, we studied precisely motifs of iconic scores from the composers chosen such as Stevie Wonder, Mozart and John Williams. In the scores, we were expected to compose an original piece close to the style of these composers and we were allowed to use very similar motifs used in specific scores.
For this assignment, we needed to create a score of our original piece and align our ideas to the goals of our professor. We needed to incorporate a theme for “Hercule” the dog and “Nathan”, the owner.
My professor wanted us to design a theme for the dog that seemed heroic, whereas for the owner, he wanted to hear a more stressful theme to represent a chasing scene to catch the dog. The point of the assignment was to practice the skill of writing different themes under a client's request.
In this one, I was inspired of some ideas used in the E.T Opening Theme to create this piece. We were allowed to recycle similar structure motifs from the composer to showcase our understanding and our study on the composer.
Mozart Pastiche
by Raph Pepin
As part of an advanced music theory course at University , "Seminar in Music Theory" (March 2024), projects were to be made in the style of a certain composer.
Over the semester, we studied precisely motifs of iconic scores from the composers chosen such as Stevie Wonder, Mozart and John Williams. In the scores, we were expected to compose an original piece close to the style of these composers and we were allowed to use very similar motifs used in specific scores.
In this assignment, we were allowed to recycle similar structure motifs from the composer to showcase our understanding.
Havana by Camilla Cabello,
interpreted by Raph Pepin (Pop Cuban Music)
This performance shows my nature of interpretation and how I stay connected to the music I play, I love incorporating sections where there are not a lot of movements and slowed down for a moment.
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Live Performance recorded in Gems World Academy Dubai, for Bishop's Music Audition in 2020.
Mandinga Rubén Gonzalez,
interpreted by Raph Pepin (Cuban Music)
This performance shows my nature of interpretation and how I stay connected to the music I play. "Mandinga" explores the tumbao pattern in the bass, and wanted to learn this. Rhythmic wise, it was quite challenging. This piece carries a joyous melody and makes it fun to play.
Live Performance recorded in Gems World Academy Dubai, for Bishop's Music Audition in 2020.
All Too Well (Taylor's Version)
Cover by Raph Pepin
This music video of my performance (January 2022) captures my energy and passion as a pianist and the landscape of Dubai. Recorded all tracks on Logic.
Equation by Camille & Hans Zimmer
Cover Arrangement by Raph Pepin
This cover highlights the blend of a repeated tick of a clock sound layered with building instrumentation. The arrangement highlights my deliberate use of airy vocal techniques along with the instrumental soundtrack I did on Logic. My register is alto and I am very inspired of the sounds of Billie Eilish, Pomme, Jeremy Zucker, Lizzy McAlpine and Jacob Collier. The arrangement integrates acoustic instruments, immersing listeners in the distinctive soundscape of Raph Pepin.
