Yet again another new piece is finished. March is my newest piece. To see why I composed it refer to my other posts.

The beginning was really nice, but the transition from :32 to :33 was really upsetting, because you could have totally started some epic fanfare there, but chose a solo piano part instead. If you added another theme there that would fix this, then slowly die down to the piano solo part, it would be better.

Other than that, this was a really good peice! Is this your first composition? :P

edit: I forgot...Welcome to ichigos. XD

Welcome to Ichigo's family! ^_^ May I ask about your background in music?

Nice opening statement; I disagree with zippy, a fanfare wouldn't fit the style IMO--I suggest suspended cymbals and other percussion (timpani, snare, triangle or w/e) to smoothen the flow. (I checked--smoothen is a word, haha.) 1:47 - 1:53, I felt the crescendo wasn't strong enough. I like the subtle timpani rolls and your use of the chimes. At the middle part, the long tones get almost boring. They're not boring, it's just that if they were any slower, I'd be bored. Maybe add some pizzicato strings around that area? Nice harp part at the end. It sounds like it's leading to something greater, I'm actually excited if you decide to continue this piece. May I ask about the title? Lol.

This is a piece I composed for a group of friends. It is in ABA form for full orchestra with choir. I hope you guys like it. Constructive criticism is welcomed.

nice I liked it maybe needs more agressive piano in the middle to lift it, very dramatic though.

Wow! the intro as everyone else said was amazingly epic and nearly flawless imo. But im not so sure about about the rest around 33 seconds in or so but you did a great job of bringing that part into the rest of the piece.

The introduction for a brief moment felt empty in the bass part. I think if you added a bass note in the organ when the timpani enter, would have helped better. The connection of this part with the piano part did not feel so good. What ajamesu said will benefit this. The piano section, I must say I found it totally dull and uncreative. The piano is not helping by just playing these chords. And the lack of melodic lines makes it more tedious for I to listen to it. Give to it more movement, break these chords and create something attractive to listen. Give a melodic line to it, interchange it with other instruments, add a counterpoint, create an interesting mid-ground etc. You have to hold interesting in the music or will turn tiring for the listener.

Btw if there was something that was totally panned to the left speaker, I could not hear it.

And welcome to Ichigos!

Thank you all for listening and reviewing my composition. To answer ajamesu's question about my musical background, I've been taking private piano lessons for 7 years, and private voice lessons for 3 year, and a variety of courses in music theory, and history. In addition, this piece was originally intended to be the main theme to a horror/comedy film my friends in Exploding Foot Studios wanted to make entitled "Fabricide".

After reading all your comments, I've noticed everyone likes the opening but most seem to dislike the solo piano part. I will take another look at it. Perhaps it's because the piece switches to d Dorian. Nyu001, you were probably hearing the string bass in the left speaker. Thank you all again for you critiques and opinions.

the change to dorian was abrupt but personally, I think it was cause you shifted up too much interms of keys that made the section sound out of place. A dorian is very close to a pure minor so maybe it would work better going to a Ra-Dorian....eg: A-Mn to an A-dorian. I'm commenting solely on intuition right now from listening.

Can I ask how you recorded the choir into the background of your playback?

The entire recording is straight from the midi sounds of Finale 2007. There never was a choir unfortunately. KaitouKudou, would you please clarify your suggestion. I'm having a hard time understanding it. Thanks again to anyone who reviewed my composition.

Wow. It has been a while. Well here is my latest compositions. It is not done yet and I'm having problems coming up with a good theme for the next section of the piece (the recording abruptly stops). It starts out in minor but goes to the relative major at the end and I want to compose a theme that is memorable and triumphant enough to be the focus of the piece. The minor section is more or less an intro. The title is temporary, and this is being composed for a film that my friends and I are making this summer. All constructive criticism is welcomed. Also I would like to know if some of the sections are too dense/thick sounding. Less is more I guess.

Welcome back! XP


The beginning sounds awesome, and I like how you faded it into the more... classical? sounding part.

Actually, that was the part I didn't like that much, when it sounded more classical. It didn't have that... big, fanfare, feel to it. I think you should maybe add a bit more bass and stuffz to that part.... I guess you could also make the big fanfare take place for the big theme at the end... it's pretty good :D

I was quite impressed with "final project". Just when I thought you'd hold it all in its initial comfort-zone, you switched things up, and the composition as a whole makes a lot of sense. Although I was hoping for some more flavorful texture in the middle parts, I really think it works as it is. This should definitely be played live to be appreciated though. Good job!

The "March" I didn't really fancy. You might be right about the density problem, but the biggest issue is that it sounds mushed-up and especially around the middle mark, the instruments don't go well together. However, I think a big contributor to this problem is your choice of soundfonts/samples (or the lack thereof). It's decently written, just that the execution is kind of poor.

Nice! All of your compositions are pretty good, keep it up! I like you "final project" composition the most. =) Very professional sounding! Are these compositions originally midi files? Also, do you plan on distributing sheet music for all your compositions? Just wondering only, haha. ^_^

I finished the piece. To view the completed version use the link on the top post

Here is a new piece I just started working on. It is for string orch. and oboe. It is supposed to be very relaxing. The last few bars are just of the melody because I still have to fill in the harmonies. I'm going to use this piece to experiment with new harmonies and break out of my shell a bit. Hope you enjoy.

I have this Eric Whitacre piece that I think might give you some inspiration for this. It's a string transcription of his piece "Water Night" (http://www.crumble-onuts.com/music/Water_Night.mp3). Your piece is beautiful, but the harmonies are still quite within the realm of tonal; I think this could give you some ideas as to how to step outside of the box.

it was very relaxing. i liked it.

The entire recording is straight from the midi sounds of Finale 2007. There never was a choir unfortunately. KaitouKudou, would you please clarify your suggestion. I'm having a hard time understanding it. Thanks again to anyone who reviewed my composition.

Hey sorry for not seeing this post and taking so long to reply. School has been brutal so I've been gone.

To clarify my previous point...as I recall...a smooth transition is easier to get if what you're going into is similar to what you had before. when I said ra-dorian, I was referring to solfage (do-re-mi...). A pure minor scale is basically a dorian scale with a lowered 6th so that's why I thought it might work better. As I don't know the key your piece is in, I just used "A minor" as an example.

As for your new piece. You've successfully achieved the relaxing feeling you wanted but as deathraider said, it is still very much tonal. Tonal does not equal bad. The only thing with the piece is that to me, it feels like you had intended it to be tonal with a firm harmony line. This is why when you tried to go "out side your box", such as changing the voicing in your harmony, the music felt really awkward.

Hey guys. Sorry I haven't been real active for a while. Between the full-time job and piano practice composing is just a faint memory. Anyway, here is another new piece that I started. It starts out with a slow intro and then completely changes at around 30 seconds. Try to guess what video game ost inspired the faster duple section of the piece. It's pretty obvious in my opinion. Enjoy, and as always, constructive criticism is welcomed. Also KaitouKudou, if you could clarify what is awkward about my harmonies in my somber piece. I think it sounds fine but everyone has their own taste.

Definitely feels like Zelda, but the melody reminds me more of Super Mario 64. I would say my biggest criticism is that I feel like it's a little generic; I want a little more individual flair of some sort!

Though is going quite nice so far. I like it. ^_^

Hello all. The somber small ensemble is finally done. Here is a new version of it. I upped the tempo slightly and completely reworked the B section. It is in ABA form. Give it listen and tell me what you think. Also is there anyway to change the name of this thread?

It has a romantic feeling to me, I like it. Some notes reminded me to old romantic pieces.

To get your thread name change just let me know through here or PM, and I will change it.

Welcome back! :D