mindfulmusician

WHOA! It's been quite I awhile since I've been on this site. Incidentally, whenever there's a composition contest next time, I'd like to enter. The etude was the roughest, I thought, but had some good potential. The harmonies are interesting, but they don't flow quite well. Also, it seems like it was a bit bass heavy, with the left hand just roaming around the lower end of the piano - I'd suggest moving around a bit to get some different colors of the keyboard. The 2nd mvt of pitch black was really good - I was just confused on instrumenation - marching band and strings and chorus? Anyway, it certainly was an advanced piece, and flows very nicely. What really stole my heart, though, was A Weaver's Tale. Very beautiful, simple, even plaintive. It was very Copland-esque, and after seeing that it was a tribute to a lost friend, it seems a very fitting one. Well done, all!

Is it just me, or does it seem really hard to get recognized and acknowledged these days? There are so many talented composers, and it seems that many cannot get their voices heard. It's quite sad. - mm

Sorry for the possibly stupid question, but, I haven't been on the site in a few months. Anyway, I see a lot of people have uploaded their compositions onto the site, and gotten a lot of feedback on their work. How can I do that? I apologize if this question has been asked a ridiculous amount of times, but, I haven't found any place with directions on how to do so. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks! - mm

Hey, when did this happen? Was this recorded just this past Friday? - mm

Indeed, I hope as well that after a slight repose that Seguin can make some kind of comeback. Perhaps our good friend Rachmoninov will help us out with that. Bored2damax (or anyone from Seguin, for that matter), do you know who the arranger is by any chance? - mm

Ok, so, I've just started to listen to this band - Apocalyptica - and, they're AMAZING. I love the music, and, after an analysis, I've come to the conclusion that it's the combination of rock, classical, originality, and, for some reason, some music sounds as if it could be in a marching show. For example, after listening to one of their greatest songs, "Inquisition Symphony," there were a lot of moments where I could imagine drill in my head, with the band (or better yet, a corps) marching this music. Perhaps it's just me, but, I think that if this were to be somehow transcribed or arranged for band or corps, that it would make a heck of an opener. It's just a fantasy, of course, but, the driving rhythms and FAST tempo makes it seem as if it would be perfect for a show. Anyway, I just decided to post this, and ponder publicly about the matter. Has anyone heard of these guys, and does any one like their music? If you've never heard them, and if you're eclectic, you should DEFINITELY check them out. Anyway, that's just my two cents...feel free to agree or start a healthy discourse. - mindfulmusician

I would try to check out "Glassworks." I'm also new to minimalism, but, I walked by a friend's room, and he was playing Philip Glass' "Glassworks", and I was drawn into his room as matter is drawn towards a black hole (I don't know if that metaphor is a good one or not, but, I'll use it anyway). I knew he was into Glass before I heard it, but, it the music was so intriguing - I couldn't get it out of my head for a while. Anyway, that's just a suggestion from a fellow "newbie" as far as minimalism goes. - mindfulmusician

Ok, it seems as if there is a great battle going on between you two, and I would like to step in. First of all, I think it greatly depends on how you interpret it. For example, Fortissimo, it seems as if you only consider passion if its stirring and perhaps a tad belligerent (from what I have seen thus far - perhaps I am wrong). However, it all depends on the context, and how you interpret it. For example, when The Planets was written, Holst used a great amount of imagination in sketching out the feelings behind each one (keep in mind this was in 1914, before highly-detailed pictures of the planets, in all their beauty and glory, even existed). But, in your point of view, someone could have just as easily derided the work saying, "What's the point? All he wrote about was some stupid dot in the night sky!" To compare Debussy with a movie score would be a bit glib, I feel, and, perhaps even insulting. Perhaps his orchestral music isn't THAT great in your opinion, but, I have a few pianist friends who won't shut up about his piano music, which is quite superb. Yet, I digress. Debussy wrote the work in 1894, and, so, to compare it to a movie score would be, if anything, praising Debussy's impact on 20th Century composers, instead of insulting his unoriginal work. And, regarding the title of the work, it was not so much based on that image in itself, as it was on a poem of the same name. Here's a link with an English translation, or, if you have the ability to read it, the original French as well. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afternoon_of_a_Faun_%28poem%29 And, so, I would say that its all a matter of interpretation as to what is important and what is not. I think some would see the beauty of a mythical creature covorting around in an enchanting forest in the music. Some would just see it as you saw it, Fortissimo, which is some "animal sitting around and doing next to nothing all afternoon." Conversely, I'm sure one could see Shostakovich's op. 110 as the last gasps of a coward who was too afraid to commit suicide, and submitted to the will of the Communist Party by living instead of protesting through death(this is a VERY extreme point of view, and NOT my own - just a fictional perspective). Its all a matter of opinion and perspective; I will agree that a piece of music should not be written without some type of noteworthy, poignant inspiration, but what constitutes that inspiration is open to interpretation, and is subject to opinion. - mm

Oh man, that sounds like an intense show. I'd love to hear that. Anyway, I am still unsure of whether a show should dive head first into things, or gradually build up. In my show, which I still have to work on, I just dove straight into things. Perhaps a bit foolhardy, but, I'm still just a beginner, so, I can claim ignorance and naivete...lol. - mindfulmusician

Yeah, I have also heard it at Eric Whitacre's site, and unfortunately, I haven't been able to find it anywhere else. However, mnkyman, I will share your sentiments that it is a very awesome song indeed. - mm

Threevalvecircus, sorry to hijack your topic, but I have a question to ask. Well, I've just started work on my first show, entitled "Experiments," (that's a tentative name) because that's exactly what it is...one big experiment. So, I've gotten two minutes so far, and I've reached a part where I want to showcase the percussion and pit. Since I am more acquainted with winds, I would like to know if anyone can offer ANY advice for composing for the percussion and pit. I am absolutely clueless about this, and need some help with this. For the rest of the show, I can "feel" what the percussion and pit should play, but I need some help with the exposed part. Can anyone help??? - mm

Ticheli's technical work, I must admit, is as exquisite as the pasta of vermicelli... However, when it comes to more lyrical music, I would prefer that of Whitacre...

Ok...I'm still confused...anyway, let's just make amends and move on in the spirit of brotherhood, which this holiday season represents. So...eggnog...lol...but, seriously...back to music... - mm

Wow...a latin class? That's awesome. I knew about Saturnalia, but not about saturnalia. Anyway, making a nice segue back to The Boondocks, I've heard about it, but haven't got to see it. What time does it come on? Cartoon Network on Adult Swim, right? So, yeah, let me know. - mm

No problem...perhaps its too much "eggnog" you've been drinking, eh? Personally, I hate the stuff, but, people seem to like it...I think its the liquor in some cases. Anyway, I digress. lol... - mm

Yes, MartinHorn, I DID notice that someone mentioned Jupiter, which is why I used the word "would" instead of "should." I guess I should have quoted that section so people knew what I was referring to instead of assuming people knew what I was talking about...lol. - mm

I figured that SOMEONE would mention Jupiter. I was about to ask if that would be an example. But, I guess I can see Fortissimo's point about stopping the momentum of the show. Perhaps embedded sections are the wave of the future. It seems that I see more and more shows that are one big, flowing movement with distinct sections instead of the conventional shows with multiple, independent movements. Anyway, I hate to do this, but I'm undecided on the subject. I'll try to meditate on this subject later. - mm

Well, I tried amazon, and I got a few scores, and the prices were ok, but there were limited options. For God's sakes - I could only find 1 score for Lincolnshire Posy, and it was scored for ORCHESTRA! It was mad, I tell you. That's why I asked to see if anyone knew of better sites or stores, because amazon (and I'm pretty sure its the same at ebay), has a pretty limited selection. - mm

So, yeah, to quote the Charlie Brown episode, "Christmas time is here." And what could make me more happy than the scores to an orchestral or wind ensemble work?! Well, there are some things, but a score would make me VERY happy nonetheless. I think that having a score helps a budding composer see what other composers have done, and it helps one to understand their music a LOT more. Anyway, I wanted to know if anyone here knows a good website, or a good music store chain that often has scores at reasonable prices. Getting your dollar's worth is key here, so it would help if anyone knows where to get some cheap scores (if we weren't talking about music, that line could SO be taken out of context...lol). Anyway, thanks, and happy holidays to all. - mm

Well, I guess you don't NEED a slow movement. BUT, c'mon...wouldn't it be nice to have some variety? - mm

fires (p.s. - how did you get obnoxious from fat up there, whoever that was?) - mm

You're going for Revolution now?? When did this happen? - mm

lol...I don't hate slow parts, but I usually can't write them very well. If I do write a ballad of some sort, it usually feels stiff and boring to me. Yeah...I usually like it fast. - mm

hippo (if you know your Latin, it'll make sense...lol) - mm

Oh yeah, I forgot to say - I thought it was a great job overall. - mm