Okay, here is my plan for the next couple of days. Obviously, I will make changes to have something somewhat acceptable for the album. After that, and a couple days of distance from the song, I'll try to get what I have now, shake it up a bit and step into my long term plan.
Short term: Making the album deadline:
More depth to the solo oboe and to the introduction
Check attack on trumpets
Adjust the brass notes and basoon backs
Is that a clarinet sqweaking?
Long term: BREATH NEW LIFE INTO THIS, the instruments feel somewhat... anemic...
Stop being afraid of creating new patterns.
Step out of your comfort zone.
Delete the playlist, focus on making good patterns.
Add to the melody, maybe something a bit higher, and different note pattern. The same 6 notes can be changed to create a different mood. Maybe use a different instrument for the different melodies.
Get new melodic elements, something to change from the 6 notes.
Revisit the drum patterns, adjust them a bit to a more rigid structure. (maybe split each instrument into a different pattern, stack them in the playlist instead of the step sequencer) Create drum patterns for each melodic elements, or drum patterns that adapt well to them.
Revisit the brass hits, see if I can make them fit more with the new melodies.
Guitar? Yes/no?
Get inspired:
Arrange the elements in a different pattern
Slower introduction.
Slowly add to the melodic instruments, building strength and momentum.
Listen to Master of Puppets from Metallica's S&M album.
Yes, I picked an odd source of inspiration, but this album kinda has similar leit motives, somwhat up beat music, modern interpretation, classical instruments. I'm not saying its
gonna sound like that, but I'll try and see what they did with all the musical aspect and use that as a cornerstone.