How do you feel about the Illumination Theory strings session?

[GPedrosa]

I really don't know how to feel about this part. The first time I listened to this, I slept (really). I'm not saying thats bad. Maybe overly movie-like.

[BlobVanDam]

The string section is my favourite part of the entire album, and one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever put to a DT album. I love it because it's very movie like, which is suitably fitting for a band called Dream Theater. That said, I'm still not sold on how it fits together with the song as a whole, mostly the transition into it.

[TheGreatPretender]

I like it. Honestly, I wish it sounded better, in terms of how it was mixed. If you compare the strings on DT12, to the strings on Symphonic Theater of Dreams, the ones on DT12 sound quite harsh and not as full. Sucks that they can't sound like the Symphonic ones. But in terms of composition, I think they're beautiful.

[ReaPsTA]

It's great.  I don't understand why the people who don't like it actively hate it.

[jammindude]

I literally shed tears...both studio and live...I haven't done that since SDOIT.

[BlobVanDam]

I literally shed tears...both studio and live...I haven't done that since SDOIT.

No music has ever made me come close to crying, but that section comes closer than any other piece of music.

[TheGreatPretender]

I literally shed tears...both studio and live...I haven't done that since SDOIT.

No music has ever made me come close to crying, but that section comes closer than any other piece of music.

I only shed tears for SFAM. When Strange Deja-Vu came on... 

[Daso]

It's absolutely beautiful. I think I cried too at some point. And I've never had any personal issues with the transitions on IT, I've always found them to be quite nice. Happens with the whole album, to be honest. In fact, I think I'm one of the few who doesn't feel like The Looking Glass's ending happens all of a sudden.

Back to the piece, I just find it to be so emotional, tasteful, elegant and carrying. It just takes you away in pure symphonic bliss. It's phenomenal, and I'm glad they did it on a song as good as IT.

[jammindude]

I literally shed tears...both studio and live...I haven't done that since SDOIT.

No music has ever made me come close to crying, but that section comes closer than any other piece of music.

Are you talking about IT or SDOIT?

[BlobVanDam]

I literally shed tears...both studio and live...I haven't done that since SDOIT.

No music has ever made me come close to crying, but that section comes closer than any other piece of music.

Are you talking about IT or SDOIT?

Sorry, I meant the string section in IT.

[adastra]

IT string section is one of my favourite Dream theater moments x___x   So  beautiful!

[?]

As a stand alone piece of music I quite like it. Nice melodies etc.

But I don't think it really works as part of IT. IMO it just feels like "hey why don't we stick a string section in there because we can?". And then some people are wowed by it because it's a string section in a DT song. It was a brave move! I just don't think it really works.

Totally agreed.

[Sacul]

It's absolutely beautiful. I think I cried too at some point. And I've never had any personal issues with the transitions on IT, I've always found them to be quite nice.

Agreed. Also, I always thought the transitions were awesome and the strings section was a necessary break for such an intense song.

[Sir Walrus Cauliflower]

It's one of my favorite moments in IT, along with the piano section at the end. James' high notes are great too immediately following the strings.

DT12 in general is a really strong album IMO, IT being one of it's best moments.

[Sycsa]

Some of the recurring melodies come off to me as cliché and corny, but when I'm in a receptive mood, I quite like it. Usually I'm just eagerly waiting for it to end in order to experience one of DT's most glorious moments ever..."Mothers for their children..."

[son_ov_hades]

I love it dearly. The string section is my favorite moment not only in Illumination Theory but on the album as a whole. It is totally unexpected but it works so well in the song, I love that after nearly 30 years this band can still write songs like that.

[emtee]

For me it's the most emotional and moving piece of music DT has ever created.

[hefdaddy42]

It is glorious.

[krands85]

It's great - I don't mind the song going in that direction for a while, it really sounds lovely. Not my favourite part of the song, but it's cool. The ambient section preceding it however, I'm not so keen on.

[Podaar]

I love it! It always makes me sit up and pay attention. Quite hum inducing as well.

[robwebster]

I feel everything about it. Aches on, and on - it's just bliss.

[kirksnosehair]

The piece itself is quite nice.  It would have made a wonderful opening movement between songs or the intro to a longer piece, perhaps.  Shoehorning it into Illumination Theory the way they did, though? 

[sueño]

I love everything about the piece, especially that section.  It was great to hear it live!

[theseoafs]

It is glorious.

Yep.

one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever put to a DT album.

I never really thought about this, but I think I would have to agree with this too.

[Nearmyth]

Great orchestral piece. Bad Dream Theater piece.

But to elaborate I just don't think it fits the song at all. The reprise of the Illumination main theme is great, but the ambience and then the  Tchaikovsky-esque beginning is very unfitting...

So I guess I agree that it's good on its own, but in the context of the album and of Illumination Theory, it's just kind of like... Okay?

I love how it transitions into The Pursuit of Truth though.

[RoeDent]

Absolutely beautiful!

[TAC]

The piece itself is quite nice.  It would have made a wonderful opening movement between songs or the intro to a longer piece, perhaps.  Shoehorning it into Illumination Theory the way they did, though? 

I agree.

[bosk1]

The piece itself is quite nice.  It would have made a wonderful opening movement between songs or the intro to a longer piece, perhaps.  Shoehorning it into Illumination Theory the way they did, though? 

I agree.

Same here.  It is a great piece.  I just feel like it doesn't fit in Illumination Theory and interrupts the flow of the song.  Intellectually, I completely get the arguments for why it does fit, conceptually, musically, etc.  But in terms of..."feel," for lack of a better term, it just doesn't feel right in the context of the song to me.  From everything I had heard, I was hoping that seeing it live would change my mind.  It did not.  But in the grand scheme of things, I also simply just realize that music hits people differently, and I am fine with it not clicking with me.  The band took a risk with this section of the song, and for some people, that risk paid off.  For others, not so much.  But there is still plenty about the album (and even the song specifically) that I do love, so it's cool.

[TAC]

The thing is, it follows what literally might be my favorite minute of DT's catalog! The songs is going fantastically, and then BAM! it's gone.

[King Postwhore]

I was buying coffee and donuts for our second shift last night and while waiting for the shift supervisor to meet me outside I was cranking IT and the string section sounded incredible.  I had it cranking in my car and it was so lush.

[DebraKadabra]

I do like it, but... to me it's out of place and random.

[JayOctavarium]

I do like it, but... to me it's out of place and random.

So this

[Madman Shepherd]

I'm surprised there is so much negativity towards it.  I think it is perfect.  Beautiful.  Fitting. 

I think some of the instrumental wank fests they have in some songs kill the momentum and mood of a song wayyyyy more than this. 

[Rodni Demental]

Yeah.. it's totally perfect. This song was playing when a friend of mine (who's not so much into metal), commented how much he liked the section, and saying something like "I hope the song stays like this". I sorta chucked thinking how it totally wasn't gonna stay like this, but it's still a great moment for the song and album.

And I just can't enter into how people think it doesn't fit. Smooth transitions.. bla bla bla.. I mean, classical symphonic music never cared for smooth transitions, seems like we're imposing preconceptions of how music should sound, from other types of music into our listening experience.. Oh wait, we always do that, silly me. 

[GPedrosa]

I think is a great composition. Perhaps kinda cliche, but great AS A COMPOSITION. This is my view as the simple mortal project of musican that I am. But as a DT fan, I don't think is that great... Actually it sounds pretty generic. Even giving a feeling of awesomeness when James comes back.