alex
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Post by alex on Sept 21, 2017 22:14:25 GMT
Hello! My alma mater is hosting a competition for orchestral music, and I would like some feedback to determine which piece to enter. I have written two similar 'overtures' for concert orchestra (3333/4331/timp+perc/piano/harp/strings). They're both about 8 minutes long, and both feature similar tonal language (romantically tonal with some modernist facade). They differ in personality but come from the same place in my current music language. I'm proud of and nervous about both of them. I invite you to listen and judge for yourself. 1) 'Vexations' is conceived as a tone poem, setting a metaphorical journey similar to opening pandora's box. It was the first composed of the two, and its score has been edited a bit more diligently (though both need serious reformatting and some editing). 2) 'Magnet Sky' is conceived as an operatic overture, perhaps in the more full-picture Wagnerian sense. scores/mp3 here: drive.google.com/open?id=0ByrMMwA9-annZGIzT0R6b1JUVWMThank you all! |
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Post by Tim Marko on Sept 21, 2017 22:44:09 GMT
Alex,
The only thing at the link you posted is the score to 'Magnet Sky'.
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Post by Dave Dexter on Sept 21, 2017 22:54:37 GMT
Is it these? soundcloud.com/alex-goodhart/vexations-overture-for-orchestrasoundcloud.com/alex-goodhart/magnet-sky-overture-first-draftI can't comment in too much depth because the overall tonal language isn't my preference. That said, I admire what you've done with it, and the midi lets the music down in a few places (especially brass) making it hard for me to judge - whilst others could read the score and get a perfect sense of it, I can't. I'd love to hear them for real, some great unexpected harmonies and moments. On the whole, I think you should go with Vexations for some of the more melodic, tonal passages and overall sense of grandeur. But if you're not strictly going for a lot of melodic writing that might be useless feedback. Edit . . . is that the final instrumentation for Magnet Sky? It's quite unorthodox (4 bassoons, 2 c.bassoons, 8 horns! the woodwinds in general etc). It could be specific to your style, but it's unusual. Layout-wise, timpani should take up one stave and both timpani and harp need their tuning indicated at the start. In scores at least, percussion is generally notated simply as "percussion 1" etc and the instrument changes are written in as needed. There's a few issues like that I spotted - if they're things that fall within your planned revisions or are the result of notation software templates then that's not such an issue. |
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alex
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Post by alex on Sept 21, 2017 23:17:59 GMT
I fixed the link. Thank you Tim
Thanks for your feedback Dave. What you listened to is a previous version of Vexations, but the differences only come at the end. The Magnet Sky instrumentation is listed totally wrong, my bad! It's just 1 contra (3 bsns total), 4 horns, etc.
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Post by Dave Dexter on Sept 21, 2017 23:23:29 GMT
Aha. Looking at the Vexations score things like timpani and harp tunings are present so you know that side of things.
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Post by Mike Hewer on Sept 22, 2017 7:52:42 GMT
Hi Alex,
What great pieces. My favourite is Magner Sky. It held me completely for its duration. Your language is not unlike mine in its use of extended procedures and I am sure I can hear an echo of Britten in one or two places. The second piece just didn't engage me as much even though that too was inventive and powerful in places.
You now have both pieces voted for, perhaps you could tell us what the aesthetic requirements are for the competition. Who is your Alma Mater?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2017 14:51:11 GMT
Alex,
I listened all the way through Magnet Sky which considering the terrible samples is very unusual for me. That's how much I'd like to hear it played by real orchestra. If I'm honest, my thoughts on the general feel of the piece is in no little part down to my age. I'm reminded of 1960's lost in space type film end credits while we all left the cinema. Not in itself a 'bad thing'.
Thanks for sharing
Ray
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Post by gx on Sept 22, 2017 16:29:35 GMT
Alex, I enjoyed both pieces very much! Very expressive and dramatic. I guess if i were to choose, I'm leaning towards 'Magnet Sky' .
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Post by Tim Marko on Sept 22, 2017 18:58:20 GMT
I also lean to 'Magnet Sky'. Either way you choose, they are both very well done pieces.
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Post by Bob Porter on Sept 22, 2017 19:02:40 GMT
Well, I vote for Vexations. I felt the other one got bogged down in itself. Vexations kept my interest all the way through. Seems to have more drive. Sample quality a non issue in this situation.
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Post by alex guest on Sept 23, 2017 18:20:19 GMT
Thanks so much for your thoughts everyone.
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