Hey guys it's Pezzelle. Some of you on Ichigos may remember me as Inuyasha_1052, but I grew up and decided to make a less...childish name (yay redundancy). Anyway, I was given the privilege to have two of my pieces recorded by our music director at school and decided since they are newer compositions that I would put them in the line of fire and open them to your critique. So here you have "Stars" and "Kyrie in D-Major".

I would like to leave one thing on a side note however. The ensemble for stars consisted of 2 sopranos, 3 tenors, 3 altos, and 3 basses. (My other soprano dropped out) and they only had one rehearsal, after which was when the piece was recorded. It was close to the end of the year so there are a few mistakes. As for the Kyrie, I hadn't played it since my senior project almost 7 months ago, so don't mind the shoddy piano playing ^_^.

Hope you enjoy,
~Pezzelle~

The ensemble for stars consisted of 2 sopranos, 3 tenors, 3 altos, and 3 basses. (My other soprano dropped out) and they only had one rehearsal, after which was when the piece was recorded. It was close to the end of the year so there are a few mistakes.

Haha, I know how that goes. So glad to see another choral composer around! I'll listen and comment a little later when I get some time/headphones.

Edit: OK, here we go!

Stars - The recording quality itself sounded really good. What equipment/venue did you use? The song itself sounded sort of Baroque influenced in a way. The diction could be a lot better by the choir, but obviously you didn't have time to work on that. I'm curious to see the lyrics, though.

Kyrie - I think there's too much piano solo on this one...it almost seems like the soloist takes the background most of the time. It's also not exactly innovative...I think you should have taken more risks in composing this piece. Kudos to the soloist, though.

I used an H2 handy recorder, it belongs to our band director at school. Courtesy of ebay they run about $180 and use SD cards for memory. Small, portable and battery powered.

^_^ thank you for your kind words on Stars, I will post lyrics if it turns out that they are too muddled to make out. I also am appreciative of your criticism on the Kyrie. It was my wish to go back in and rework it for a full choir, but I was rushed for my senior project and the end result was what the recording shows. Next year when I start college if I can get the directors to agree I will post a recording of the reworked version.

Edit: Also, the recorder was sitting on top of the grand, and our piano is a beast, I will agree that there was more piano than voice, but the voice was supposed to overpower the piano xD.

I still have some polishing to do with this one, but I decided to take a stab at orchestrating a piece. I finished it 2 days ago and figured I may as well put it up as well. So I hope that you all enjoy "Pax Eterna"

Hey! I really want to listen to your music, and I will REALLY soon! I am just a little busy right now, but I would like to let you know that I am looking forward to listening to your music!! :)

Since this is going to be my official composition thread, and the last one that I make I figured I should migrate all of my old compositions here as well. That way they are re-opened to new critique from those of you that may have missed them the first time around. Two of the pieces are called sonatas, however I no longer believe that they are actually sonatas so just disregard that.

All Constructive Criticism Welcome.

Old Pieces Continued:


@Lullabye: This is more of a sketch, I think that I might expand on it in the future. What do you think?

Hey. I've only got one more bit of sheet music to write out, so I'm taking some time off to listen to your music!

Stars: There are some beautiful harmonies here! I really like it. It reminds me of a requiem at times :) It's a shame you didn't have some reverb on the recording though :( It's ok though :P

I also liked how you used tension and release as well! Well done :)

Kyrie in D major: The opening piano reminded me of ABBA haha! But then it turned a little more "anthem-ish". However when the song does that repeat of the final chord progression at around the 1 mins mark I was reminded of a more classical style. That is SO cool! Did you intend to have a blend of styles? Good recording too :) The singers also very good!

Pax Eterna: I really liked how you started off with fewer instruments. However I think there could be a little more spice after the first little section. I might drag on a little to long otherwise hehe...

ANYWAY, I love the second section. There are some beautiful harmonies here! It's just a shame it got absolutely abolished by the MIDI :( I like the piano when it comes back in. When it goes into the 3/4 bit in Cmin/Eb maj, the transition is a little mushy and a note or 2 clashes. Maybe revise and make more fluent?

LOVE THE CHORD PROGRESSION IN THIS PART!!!!:):):):) I just think it needs the woodwind mimicing the faster notes in the piano. To really make it kick @ss hehe :P

Also, I think you could have a bit more of a bang before you go back into the softer bit hehe. I actually wished for a more advanced chord at the end though hehe. SORRY :(

Suggestions could be;

F maj 9
MAYBE try a Ab maj 7

Or maybe Ab Maj will do fine ^^ My judgment could be of by miles haha!

FANTASTIC JOB SO FAR WITH THIS PIECE. I REALLY ENJOYED LISTENING TO IT!!! YOU ROCK!

I actually wished for a more advanced chord at the end though hehe. SORRY :(

Suggestions could be;

F maj 9
MAYBE try a Ab maj 7



Thank you for taking the time to listen to my work, I actually ended up giving both of those chords a shot at the end. To me they didn't feel quite right but maybe I was just voicing them poorly :heh:

I'm thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the pieces, and I don't believe that I've ever been told that I rock before, so thank you very much ^_^.

I didn't really intend to blend styles as much as I intended to just write what I was hearing in my brain, but...it worked out ^_~. Personally I try to gravitate towards the Classical/Romantic periods of music but I try to do so without abandoning contemporary style entirely.

Also, I listened to your MIDI's :) I won't spend as much on each one so I can get some rest lol. I will only get like...4 hrs tonight lol..

Dance in E Minor - Fun, fun, fun!!!! I couldn't dance to it becuase I'd trip over, but it's very enjoyable :)

Kyrie in C - I love the notes you chose for the piano's arpeggios! The melody flows really, really well! This is so beautiful!

Serenity - A little too popish for what I'm into now, which consists of Yuki Kajiura's "Hear our Prayer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LqKuPPxi_M&feature=channel_page)" and YMO's 07 live performance of RYDEEN (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WfhOpnYLP8&feature=channel_page). It's probably the bell synths :P I'm going through one of those bell synth phases :P BUT it's still good hehe.

Tragic Fate Sonata - Crazy romantic piano stuff! Yay! I like A LOT! THIS IS INSANE!! THIS IS JUST SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO COOL!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't want to analyze though haha.

Sonata 2 - Didn't work :( The MIDI file not the song haha. Haven't heard the song yet :P

Adagio in F - A nice song here :) However I think I got a little bored :( Sorry :(

Lullabye - The song contradicts the name a little bit I'm afraid :( Again, sorry for negative comments.

FAVORITE IS....





Tragic Fate Sonata!!!! Go crazy piano stuff that I could never play!!

WELL DONE!!!!!!!! GOODNIGHT!

Old Pieces Continued:


@Lullabye: This is more of a sketch, I think that I might expand on it in the future. What do you think?

Adagio - I really liked those opening chords, though most other parts the harmony feels kind of sparse (2-voices). The second near the middle is an interesting turn, but I think in such a short piece I'd prefer just a restatement of the initial theme, to bring some more solidarity to the form.

Lullabye - Sounds rather poppy, though maybe a bit too momentus for the beginning. The quick chord changes from the start gave me a sort of climatic feel, which probably makes it work better as the chorus section or something. Not too bad as a sketch though.

Also, the recorder was sitting on top of the grand, and our piano is a beast, I will agree that there was more piano than voice, but the voice was supposed to overpower the piano xD.

I was actually referring to the actual amount of time the piano was playing alone as compared to the time it was accompanying the vocal solo.

Pax Eterna: Make sure your chords in the beginning have good doubling...too tired to make any other comments right now. :heh:

I was actually referring to the actual amount of time the piano was playing alone as compared to the time it was accompanying the vocal solo.



:heh: My bad......It was something I threw together quick for the project, the actual piece doesn't have any of the fluffy piano parts, just the melody with a subtle background.

To all interested I signed on with a small company to write music for a text based MMO. That is taking most of my time right now. I will post updates as soon as possible. ^_^

Wow! Congratulations!!

I was improving last night, and I managed to get a recording of it. I think I may notate it, but first let's try something new. I want you guys to tell me what was on my mind while I was vomiting my emotions to the piano.

Side Note: Kevin, I look forward to hearing your feedback, seeing as how your going to be our next Uematsu ^_~.

I have quite a bit of time today, so I might go over your other pieces too (but no promises! XD)

Improv-- It starts out pretty basic, but it is followable. I like the suspensions, but I wish they would have resolved (it would sound a little more complete). I would make sure, when you improvise, that you come to a better stop and stay as much in time as you can; one thing that I've seen many people who improvise is that they aren't confident in where they want to go and they take the time to actually think what to do. I would let yourself go a little bit more, generally. I enjoyed that little chord at :39, however, you've lost a theme here now and most of the playing is fairly common harmonic lines and the arpeggiated left hand. I like 1:17-- that chord was a nice little surprise (although, odd). I liked how you ended it.

Overall, it was nice. When you improvise, I would suggest you lay-out some themes in the piece. Right before you play, just force out a melody in your head, or a progression of some sort-- or, when you just start playing, keep it simple and make sure you memorize the progression and that melody. In jazz, improvising is pretty simple (and the form is: Theme, Jam, Theme). It's good to get a base on what the piece is, then variate your motifs up, and then restate them in an "ending" kind of way. This is derived from Sonata-Allegro form, if you didn't notice. It's a great form for improvising and the one I recommend 90% of the time for improvement.

Hope to hear some more! Keep playin' :)

Side Note: Kevin, I look forward to hearing your feedback, seeing as how your going to be our next Uematsu ^_~.
= WHAT!?!?!



This is really pretty! Vomiting emotions is down my road to! ^^ What was on your mind? I can't tell exactly (not because of the music) but I could feel your put your heart into what you do. From an emotional(ist?) stand point, I think your holding back. It feels like you're waiting for something, or at least, you're scared of what might happen if you "let loose". You had a melody coming through at the start, but you lost it by the end. Remember, melody in this style is what connects the long journey from the start to the finish. It reminds us of how far we've come since the start of the journey. Remember FFX? The Zanarkand theme was the first thing the gamer heard, and it was also the last. That ending scene was so emotional, not only because of the story, but because that melody reminded us of how long this amazing journey has been. (100 hours!?). To hear the melody, changed enough to be played even more sweetly then in it's original form made a lot of people weep. I think you should make this a goal. Let a melody come from deep within you, then take the listener on an amazing journey through your piano playing, but then come back to "home". That's where the heart is. (Sorry for that cheesy metaphor at the end). I hope I was ok at this! >.<

Update: Sorry for the lack of output, but most of my current work is being kept on the hush hush. I start college Friday & I'm real nervous. Wish me luck. (Music Ed. Major)

Update: Sorry for the lack of output, but most of my current work is being kept on the hush hush. I start college Friday & I'm real nervous. Wish me luck. (Music Ed. Major)

Good luck! I'm sure you'll do fine!

Good luck! Where are you going?

Good luck! Where are you going?
Westminster College in New Wilmington PA.
:heh: Can't say I'm not nervous.

Oh, cool! There's a Westminster College about 15 minutes down the road from my University (University of Utah). :P

Westminster College in New Wilmington PA.
:heh: Can't say I'm not nervous.

Oh my. I almost went to that school! Probably would have gone to if they had a full engineering program. I've been there many times for swim meets. Nice. Hope your having fun with the Amish folk.

New piece to come soon. Working on it in composition class.

@Porsche. Yea....the Amish are...great. :lol:

Looking forward to it :)

Holy wow it has been forever.

So I have been doing a ton of improvising with the school's software. Mainly because I don't have to pay to use it. I guess I recorded this at one point and forgot about it. So I'm lining it up for the firing squad.

While listening take into account that this was an unplanned improv session on a keyboard worse than most casio's (The midi controller in the lab is horrid.) Have fun strolling through my mind.

Update: At some point between the end of next semester, expect to hear a finished first movement for a piano concerto that I'm working on.

Sorry for the lack of update guys. College has been punching me in the face HARD! However, I have splendid news. I can finally call myself a composer after Wednesday this week. A small orchestra on campus is premiering Pax Eterna in a concert setting, and after that I am sending the score off for publishing.

The concert is in Orr Auditorium at Westminster College at 7:30 pm this Wednesday, March 31rst. If anyone in the community is from around the area I would love to see you guys there.

~Pezzelle~

...Congratulations! Do you know how many people might be attending...?

Congrats! Porsche forwarded some of my stuff to the choir director there but I never heard back from him...haha

Do you have any publishers in mind?

@Deathraider. I don't have any in mind, Dr.Perttu (composition professor) told me that he would put in a good word with his publishers.

Also, which of the choir directors did you have the work forwarded to? Was it Dr. Lind, or Mr. Harper? I almost feel that if it had been Dr. Lind that she would have had the decency to get back to you. If you like I could try showing her some of it. She is a damn good director.

@MushyRulez: Right now the Facebook event lists the 59 people have confirmed that they will be there. Granted that 15 of them are my performers and I. So quite a few.

@Deathraider. I don't have any in mind, Dr.Perttu (composition professor) told me that he would put in a good word with his publishers.

Also, which of the choir directors did you have the work forwarded to? Was it Dr. Lind, or Mr. Harper? I almost feel that if it had been Dr. Lind that she would have had the decency to get back to you. If you like I could try showing her some of it. She is a damn good director.

I honestly have no idea; Porsche didn't really tell me. :heh: If you wanted to show her some of my stuff I would certainly not be opposed. My choir director won't get back to me...

By the way, I just watched some videos of Westminster College Choir on YouTube, but I'm not sure if it's the right one because it's directed by a man. They are they're really good, though!

Unfortunately I don't think that is us xD I haven't managed to find any videos of our choir singing since Christmas Vespers. Maybe once choir tour is over youtube will have more videos.

Where are you going for tour?

Scotland xD

Aww, I love Scotland! I'm probably going again this summer, so let me know when/where on some of the stuff and I'll see if I'm going to be in the area.

Death I gotta tell you, I have been listening to a lot of your pieces on your site. They are really wonderful stuff. I'm really fond of Pie Jesu right now. Have you had anything published yet? Also, who did you study composition under? Just random questions to ask as I add your music to my iPod. xD

The Kyrie is wonderful... the performance is great, I love how delicate you made it sound.