Well, I decided to update my first post in this thread and remove some of my older works. Please, take some time and listen to my compositions. These are my latest. I may post some of my older compositions back up later, but please, Enjoy! ^_^

LATEST WORKS





Piano
Lost (http://forums.ichigos.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6936&d=1206757364) - For Piano
Intrada (http://forums.ichigos.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6935&d=1206755086) - For Piano
A Gaze at the Full Moon (http://forums.ichigos.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8202&d=1230663739) - For Piano






The Duino Elegies
The First Elegy - "Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?" (http://forums.ichigos.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6927&d=1206326183)- For Solo Piano and Orchestra
The Second Elegy: Lost the Way (http://www.zshare.net/audio/1379054375c95a3a/) -Orchestrated





Other Compositions/Arrangements
Theme of Justin Guinto (http://www.zshare.net/audio/15630993f7a727d8/)




Sketches/Incomplete Works
Passion Under the Twilight (http://forums.ichigos.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8015&d=1226728765)
"Classical" (http://forums.ichigos.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7776&d=1221842172)

sounds nice!
too short:cry:
only problem i can find with it
it envoked an image of a homecoming hero's fanfare
with the heralds and their trumpets
proclaiming the victory...
sorry! mind is drifting...
anyway, what program do you use to make mp3s and midis
(probably finale full expensive version)

Yeah, it is the full and stupidly expensive version, but there are ways to aquire the full version. You just have to know where to look.

Sounds good.

Ooh, nice! I just think you should've added more instruments. ;)

Here is a sneek peak of my next composition I am working on. Its gonna take me some time to finnish it, though. As of now, it has no name but suggestions for a name are welcome.

Maybe it's because it's a MIDI file, but it all sounds really, really loud in the beginning. I think that when the timpani comes in alone, it seems kind of... off with the rest of the piece. Then, luckily, it gets back on track.

Overall, an in-between-O.K.-and-good piece... so far. It has potential; keep working on it. :)

Beginning sucks, no significent instrument. This is going to sound awsome. You could probably use in a concert band.

Yeah, I don't really like MIDI files because every notation program seems to interpret them differently. I'll stick to posting mp3's and Mus files.

I changed some stuff here at the beginning, is it any better? (excuse the mp3, the flutes and oboe sound really funky)

I still need some idea's for a title, so no matter how stupid you think your title name is, just tell me.

Thanxs everyone for your comments!

too short
excellent

Pretty good. I agree with Marlon on the timpani solo section - a little odd for me. But sounds cool.

I feel like I've heard a melody similar to this before...likely to be mere coincidence. Nice orchestration, although it was very short, almost to the point where I might not even consider it a full song. If it kept going with a theme like that, then, well, it would be pretty awesome. But as it stands right now, I find it very lacking. Add more!

An idea for a title: Er...Corrupt Democracy? Yep. That'll do.

Well I really wasn't done with it, I just posted what I had done so far to see if it was something I should continue working on, which I am.

Thanks for the suggestion for a title, but I'm looking for a more powerful title. Something like "The Iron Fist of Rage" (Die Eisen-Faust von Raserei, is that how you would say it in German?).

An idea for a title: Er...Corrupt Democracy? Yep. That'll do.

Might as well name is United States of America. Yup. ._.

German titles are so cliche btw.

I thik it sound "batmanish" in the begining. There is obviously more to you and your compositions then I thought at first, well it´ll be a good compo!

keep it up.

It's been a while since I last posted so I thought I would share some of the stuff I have been playing around with lately.

The first piece is entitled The Angel's Lullaby. It is very repetitious I will have to say. The next one is a project in the works. The Piece will be dubbed Brass Fanfare and March, how original huh. I only have 6 measures done but let me know what you think of the fanfare part.

Thanxs for your time and comments!

The Brass Fanfare thinger got on my nerves - maybe it was because it was in MIDI. I don't know, the high notes just like... Argh! XD The Angel's Lullaby was better, in my opinion. It had a nice little melody. :)

EDIT: Oh, wait. I heard the .MUS and yeah, the quality helps the piece a lot. I actually like it! A lot! :)

Yeah I just noticed that. If at all possible please try to use Finale.

Angel's Lullaby is titled "ichigo's theme: main"......
really pretty song! Great job!^_^
Brass Fanfare And March-also a great job! keep working!

The Angel's lullaby was pretty good actually. You should include a B section in between, instead of repeating the main melody by just changing instrumentation.

Keep going with that Fanfare. Could be something.

~~

I love 'The Angels Lulluby" a lot.

Like as Noir Suggested, I would have a B section of the piece, with a development of the melody, and put nice harmony with it.

I would suggest switching that Eb/Cminor key into a B/G#minor. It wound sound good with a good transition.

Thanxs for all your comments so far...^_^

Check back on the Brass Fanfare and March, I did more work on it and now I have run into a brick wall. I don't know what I should do from here. What do you think I should do?:think:

For Angel's Lullaby, I suggest you to do some heavy editting in orchestration, because making the entire woodwind choir and strings to play tutti would be a pain to hear after a while if not taken care of carefully. Also, more countermelodies would enhance greatly. The harp part should also have less 'solid' chords, as my orchestration book suggests that harpists doesn't like solid chords over broken chords. Keep at it, you have a great idea, just expand on it with some studying!

Ok, FINALLY, I have finished my Brass Fanfare and March! :lol:

What do you guys think?

don't mean to be picky, but an mp3 might help......its brilliant, but on the midi and mus, it doesn't sound right.
it's excellent, don't get me wrong, but better sound quality would help to let people appreciate the song more.

EDIT:thnx for the mp3
yeh it sounds a lot better

I just listened to your brass fanfare... The opening part was fine... It sounds like a typical theme you'd hear in a normal fanfare, but when it comes to the part where the bass instruments plays block chords, it turned icky... As you see, horns + trombone + tuba is a very powerful combination, so therefore if they play 'heavy' chords, they're gonna overpower the rest of the band or ensemble, and yeah, you might be able to tone it down via Finale, in reality, it's gonna ruin your piece, especially when it's staccato, it's gonna be too 'oomph oomph'-esque. So I suggest you to learn some counterpoints to apply it to orchestration. And you added some unneccesary accents, if you want a louder sound, then just make it ff or something, no need for random accents. And you should find a better way to link your middle part back to the beginning theme... And that's probably it... :think: Good luck~!

I like it a lot! Good job! :lol: I enjoyed it. Hope to hear more from you.

This is you of the spare of the monent things that I wrote this evening. Is it worth continueing? Let me know what you think.

If at all possible, please use the .MUS file

Thanx!

It sounds messy... :think: Maybe study some orchestration and then work on it? And I think you should think of a melody first, then you develop into more other stuff...

I don't know... It doesn't sound messy to me. :think: I like it!

I have now tried to write something for piano. This is my first time so....it kinda short. :heh: Any imput?

It feels... incomplete. Try adding someting between measures 7 and 8.

Yeah, it does feel a little empty, or rather, bland. The spacing between the bass and the treble is too large, imo. Add some middle range notes to colour the chords in. And the last chord sounds wrong. =S

Yay, I have something to show you guys! Here is my entry to the composition contest. I revisited my piece "The Angel's Lullaby" and spiced it up a lot. Tell me what you think!

EDIT: It is arranged for Woodwinds, Harp, and a few percussion parts

Phew. I loved it... It's quite pretty! Although, it reminds me of People of the North (FFX). The only thing I wanted was more bass, or my midi didn't really have the correct settings =/

But great job! And good luck in the competition!

whoah.... :0 that is amazing!
if that doesn't place in the top two of the contest, there is no justice in this world...

Thank you very much!

@Sepharite: Umm... there was no brass in this piece. It is arranged for Woodwinds, Harp, and a few percussion parts. Also, I would not know if it sounded similar to this piece you mentioned. I have never played a FF game ever!

Any other comments?

=P I'll leave my comments when I vote in the contest, but I'll give you a brief one anyways; your idea was good, but it wasn't well developed. There were moments were the chords clashed, and orchestration turned bland and grey, and other times the melodies didn't flow. Having said that, I do believe that you can find those places out yourself and fix them. Good luck. ;)

It started off good, the strings comming in and slow development was...decent. But as the music continued with that one melody, it got really boring and I actually got annoyed by it because it did not change even a bit. I think you went a bit overboard with the idee fixe but it was a nice composition over all.

This is a little something I wrote. I'm trying to get the hang of an orchestra. The strings don't really do much in this peace and it's uber short. Here is At the Break of Dawn.

Work.. out.. better.. CHORDS.

That's all really, but then you'd probably have to change the melody around to make it all fit as well.

I agree with Mazeppa. The harmonies don't make much sense, and because of it, it kinda messed up the mood. You'd have to tweak it up a bit for it to not sound as jumbled and to take away the little bit of dissonance that bothers me, LoL.

Well, these are really good ideas, just put them together with, like Mazeppa said, better chords. Good luck. :)

Ok, I'm trying a Bosa Nova. Please tell me what you think so far...

So far so good, in my opinion. Everything seems to work out nicely together. ^_^ Good job, and complete it, LoL!

Hey, here is my latest work. I did an arrangement on the Hymn "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing." It has a little sections of trumpet goodness in it. :lol: Tell me what you think. Also this is the first time for me using GPO, so tell me if there was somehting I should have done.

hmmm the name sounds interesting.... i don't have time to listen to it right now but i'll edit in the comment later
EDIT: on the second thought i'll do it now hmmm the organ seems to overpower the trumpets in some places maybe you should tone it down a bit?

Yeah, I'll keep that in mind for next time. Thank You for your comment!

Here is my latest piece. It is a Jazz piece and it's short. I only really wrote a head and a small solo section but PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK OF IT! :lol:

This is named after the road that runs by my house. Here is Route 136

I like it. The last chord sounds a little weird but that might be what you where trying to get at. This is a little off topic but i read through this entire thread listening to your compositions and the finished prodcut of The Angels lullaby is really awsome! I have the .mus saved on my comp lol. I listen to it ocansionally when i open up finale lol =P.

P.S
And i can't believe you've never played a FF GAME!!!! O.O

Here is my latest arrangement. Hopefully, a few of my friends and I will be able to play this before our christmas concert. Please tell me if you hear anything...ugly. Here is Ave Maria.

I personally don't like the song, but that's not your fault, so good job! XD

Ok, I need some help with this. Here is an idea I have jotted down. It most likely will not be arranged for piano, but anywho. The chord in measure 5 seems funny to me. Is it right, or, is there a better chord that fits there? Also the melody in measure 8, does beats 3 and 4 sound good or should someting better be put there? If there is anything else you would like to add, feel free to do so. This is one of my first ideas in a long, long time so I'm anxious to get some feed back. :lol:

It also sounds strangely familiar to me. I hope it isn't though! :heh:

The melody in the beginning is definately from a folk tune... I forget its name. Anyway, I didn't like some of the following chord patterns. This is what I would have used, feel free to use it or leave it as it was before.

Sweet, thanks Noir7. I have to agree I do like those chords better. Here is what I came up with now off of that. Hopefully, it doesn't sound as much like that folk song your thinking of. Don't you just hate it when that happens? :heh:

So many things to say and all in one lump of a post...

First off, I have to say that your ability to arrange instruments is amazing. Especially in your orchestral pieces. I actually took notes. Notes! :lol: I just sat down and listened to most of everything you posted, so here it is all in one shot.
I actually see pictures in a few of them, so if I write out a scene or two, that's what I get from it.

Fanfare for the Hero: Excelent in concept, really adheres to the classic hero returning home theme.

[The people were lined up and cheering from every borough and alleyway, on every street corner and atop every roof. Commoners and patritions, beggars and lords, and even local criminals were united and standing as brothers and sisters as a grand captain clad in golden armor lead his valiant troupe in their victory march towards the castle which stood like a great beacon to the proud and weary soldiers. Rose petals fell from the sky like snowflakes, and the sound of the people chanting the name of their champion could be heard clearly over the valleys and the fields.]
There are parts here and there that get drug down here or there from the bass, but otherwise it's great.

Nameless Composition or Iron Fist of Rage or whatever you decided to call it: Very dark and ominous, but it has a certain righteous ring to it. Revenge comes to mind, almost. The same knight captain from the last piece came up for this one.

[The captain let his guard down. He allowed himself rest far to easilly, and he paid dearly for it. Glimpses of the gruesome scene flashed before his eyes like the lightning that raged above him. A small batallion of enemy soldiers attacked a small village that rested on the border of the capital city. Every building was razed to the ground, and there was no villager they left alive. He failed in his duty, his duty to protect those people. He'd begged the king to take action against their attack, but the village was out of the comfortable jurisdiction of the kingdom. He'd told him that wouldn't send his knights off again right after the war. That his duty was to the people of the kingdom, and nothing else. So alone, the captain marched, adrenaline and blood rushing through his veins. Once again encased in his golden battle armor, his fist an iron vise about the hilt of his sword, he embarked on a journey of revenge. The king and his knights may have failed to take arms against the enemy, but he would not. He refused let their deaths go unanswered. Knowing it would end in his own demise, he set out to fulfil his final and truest duty; not as a knight, not as a man, but as an avenger to the people who fell that night. A champion of the forgotten.]

Really, it sent chills down my spine the first four or so times I heard it. Well, there's more, but I think that's enough for one post, ne? I'll conclude a bit later. ^_^

Wow! I'm glad that you like my privious works. It means a lot to me. Thanks!

I'm going to post this up now. It's not done yet but I want to see what poeple think so far. It's an arrangment from the anime Simoun entitled "Denen." It gets thin around 35 because thats what I'm currently working on, on and off depending when I have time or am in the mood. So please, comments requested! Download the song if you would like to compare it. Thank you!

Hey, it took me a while but I finnished my arrangement of Denen. What do you guys think of it?

One comment: on the last note, I think you need one more Eb somewhere in the chord to make it sound more final.

I had a little idea here. What do you guys think? Keep in mind that would not be the begining of the song. Comments Please!

Hm... if I were to claim 5$ from everyone who posts Finale07 (or whatever year mark they're on now, THEY'RE ALL THE SAME) scores and expect comments, perhaps I could make a living here. :think:

Some weird chords were in there, and I heard you "little idea" in there too.

~~

Actually, I can only listen to Finale '07 or anything non-MIDI too. Some reason, my computer can't read MIDIs or use that "SmartSynth" or whatever that Finale usues regularly.

I have another little idea I'd like to share with you. Please comment!

Sorry I havn't been too co-operative with the formats :heh:. That would help wouldn't it. Let's try this then.

Wah! Having violas playing higher than the 2nd violins is a big nono. So I suggest you to take a look at that. It's also a little too chordy since everything is doubled. Furthermore, since you doubled some trumpet notes with the violins at pitch, your violins are gonna drown out. The theme seems interesting though, keep at it. :)

Yeah, I like the idea of it very much, but some orchestration issues are definitely present.

Thanks for the input guys!

I cleaned up a bit and tried to make it seem a little less chordy. The only thing is that I ended up doubleing up some of the brass parts with the strings. Would there be something more effective I can do with the strings in this section? Anyting else?

I actually think this piece is more suitable for brass bands or concert bands as opposed to orchestra. But if you insist on using strings, then I suggest you to treat it as either one of these: supporter or the dominant. By supporter, I mean that you should only give it accompaniment parts and always below your melody and dominant meaning that it being the melody. If you double the two, you will have a very tiring effect after a while since you always hear the two families of instrument present.

I've started work on my latest Arrangement. This is Michael Giacchino's "After the Drop" from Medal of Honor: Frontline. What do you think so far?

Well, for the past 3 or 4 hours I have had an epiphany and came up with this. I want to make sure though that I'm not copying something already done, could you take a listen for me?

Your chord inversions are weird.

I haven't post anything in a while so I'll post this. It's part of my first Sonata for Trumpet. I believe it would fall under the category of the sonata but I'm not 100% sure on it so please correct me if I'm wrong. As always comments are requested! Thank you!

I'm not sure about the Sonata-thing either, you could ask Dotdot or someone else more educated :) For the song itself, I wasn't too fond about the chord progression. It works, but nothing beyond that, you know?

I think I may understand what you are saying but could you be a little more specific please (like a time in the MP3).

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sonata_form ;) .

The intro sounds as if it were for a concerto, in my opinion. Think of some chords for the Piano at 1:26, because it's making the 1:29 part (when the Piano plays again) seem weird... 1:43 (the minor part) was somewhat awkward. I would probably think of more themes and extend the intro. But that's just me :P .

I agree.

At first I had called this piece a concerto but I changed it to sonata because I thought that in order for it to be a concerto it had to be arranged for and orchestra with a solo instrument.

Yes, concerto usually refers to solo instrument(s) plus orchestra. (That's why I told you to try to orchestrate it earlier ;)).

It's not really a sonata yet, because it seems like you don't really have a good exposition or a recap yet... But indeed, the openings sounds very much like an usual allegro-sonata form you hear in concertos. Some of your trills remind me of Mozart's Flute Concerto in G Major... Which I just heard today. :ph34r:

I think it doesn't necessarily have to be orchestrated. I actually think it sounds nice with just piano and trumpet; it really shows the semi-classical styled kind of elegance.

I'm taking a short break on my Sonata so I was messing around. I tried to see if I could record myself playing different parts and align them together to make one song. This is what I came up with. I think I have learned a better way of doing it post facto but do you guys have any suggestions on this?

I finished my Sonata for Trumpet (I hope). Tell me please if I am missing anything. I have been told that it also covers some styles other than baroque, though baroque seems the be the main style. Please comment and enjoy! ^_^

Try to extend the Sonata by adding a new phrase... which will extend the beginning. <--- all in my opinion. It's not needed.

The first 'long' trill on the Trumpet, I suggest eighth notes throughout the whole measure. The middle part was a bit too 'straight forward'; minor key switch was a bit too fast... The 3rd part didn't make sense for some reason. It's as if it came out of nowhere. Sure, it's the main theme (with some changes), but the transition didn't go well. On the cadenza, I would suggest some more chromaticism (short chromatic scales?).

On the cadenza, I would suggest some more chromaticism (short chromatic scales?).

I wouldn't suggest that, since it's somewhat neo-classical influenced. So as long as you have some sort of climax in the cadenza and something to build up to it, then it's okay for a cadenza.

I felt that you could've added more dynamics and musical tempo changes (rits and accels). There's more nit-picky stuff I could say... But meh, forget it, too lazy to give detailed comments today. XP It's pretty nice.

Your piano part is sort of mediocre. There's so much you could have done with the piano, and it seems your chords are awkward in position, harmony, and usage.

The chromatic sections in the trumpet sound really awkward sometimes. Definitely could have used with some more contrasting dynamics and stuff.

I think you could have had a more engaging trumpet melody if you had had a larger amount of thematic material that was consistent throughout.

Overall, its pretty good, its just not totally engaging.

so deleted:sweat:

hi, i'm new here:wave:
i wrote a small compostion and dont know if it's good or bad. i know that some parts aren't that good and i will repair them
i hope u will listen to it and enjoy it :sweat:

Umm... You're supposed to make your own thread, not using other people's thread to post compositions.

Umm... You're supposed to make your own thread, not using other people's thread to post compositions.

ohh sorry didnt know that<_< ...will delete it

This is my latest project in the works. "Is Quisnam Libere Tribuo Salus" which I hope means translated from Latin "He Who Freely Grants Salvation."

Comments please so far! I plan on changing key right after what I have now (never mind that horn doodle at the end) as can be seen in the PDF.

One thing I will say, is that I feel as if I just plopped the listener into the middle of a composition.

Is Quisnam Libere Tribuo Salus

First off, it sounds very grandiose! This is a very pleasing introduction for whatever else is to come later on. You're very good at orchestration. The long, tied notes allow the harmonies to move forward easily. And the piccolo's entry was a nice surprise!

How did you learn to write such large-scale music? I'm intimidated any time I think of writing for symphonic orchestra! :heh: I'm looking forward to seeing what's to come after this, though I kind of wish this section were expanded just a bit more (which I'm sure would be a snap for you). I'm impressed, PorscheGTIII!

General Rule: Horns in F are usually written one dynamic level above all other brass instruments. I feel like there should be more movement in the strings, similar to what you did with the Flutes in the first few measures. Otherwise, great job :).

Though it's written in triple 'p', it sounds more like forte. :/ So yeah, I guess you'll just have to compromise that somehow. At the fifth bar, when the oboe plays a conjunct motif, I don't think it will be effective since your other instruments will overpower it for sure. Also, making oboe play 'mp' at that register isn't a good idea either.

Is Quisnam Libere Tribuo Salus

First off, it sounds very grandiose! This is a very pleasing introduction for whatever else is to come later on. You're very good at orchestration. The long, tied notes allow the harmonies to move forward easily. And the piccolo's entry was a nice surprise!

How did you learn to write such large-scale music? I'm intimidated any time I think of writing for symphonic orchestra! :heh: I'm looking forward to seeing what's to come after this, though I kind of wish this section were expanded just a bit more (which I'm sure would be a snap for you). I'm impressed, PorscheGTIII!

Thank you! I try my best at composition even though I have never taken a theory or composition class in my life. I try to study this on my own and just write whatever comes to mind.

I'm posting much sooner than I anticipated I would for my next part. The reason is....composer's block. I have corrected some of the dynamic stuff at the begining and tried to continue my composition. My problem is now, does it fit? Does it make sense? Is it mediocre or does the whole idea need scrapped?

Please please please I need answers to those questions!!

The new idea added at the end actually works just fine. I like the syncopated rhythms, but I think at the transition (the 4/4 bar with nothing in it) should be fixed, with a final chord. Then the lower parts could transition into the next section flawlessly. I was thinking that the low strings and low brass could continue, while tubular bells come in and start to accelerate into the new tempo. (Because the part you just wrote sounds very festive...) I would also suggest using the bells to make a repeating line to make it sound like church bells. The end of the new section could continue with the start of the melody with the new section in the background... or something like that.

Sounds good so far! I can't wait to see what you do with this!!!

Today was a strange day for me. So I took a break from what I normally do and wrote a short Piano song I titled Lost for lack of a better name. This should be a much better piece than the last time I wrote something, so comments are nice.

EDIT: Fixed the Bb 's to B# 's

EDIT2: New MP3! ^_^

Eh, it's a pretty nice prelude. Keep it, mos def.'

The only thing that I will kick your face about is those chords in the 16ths and that 'Bb' thing makes it sound 'very not-good off.' x_x

Now that you mention it, it should be a 'B#' Instead of a 'Bb.' The part with the 16ths, is it because the progression is more or less repeated?

Fixed the B#'s check back to my last post for the latest recording

Those 16ths chords just make it sound sloppy and 'rushed.' This piece is more flowing, but then those chords come in and kinda give it heck.

Idk, just has an odd vibe from 'em.

I was given the task to "re-vamp" my High School's Alma Mater and this is what I can up with.

You have the high woodwinds stuck in near-direct unison for the first few measures. I'll comment more later...

That's done on purpose. This is to be played in a marching band setting. Woodwinds take a seat next to the brass in this case. If their parts were to be any more varied I'm afraid they will not be heard over the brass, manly the trumpets and the horns as they already can be barely heard. To top things off, it's more of an accompaniment because a singer over a loud speaker has the lead.

Oh :0 . In that case, I believe it should be fine. (Or, try sticking with octave doublings (Flute 8va/ Clarinet), but I don't know about that in this case (hard to think right now). More comments later...)

To some degree, I agree with Clarinetist about the unison problem. With real instruments, trumpets and horn can EASILY cut through the woodwinds, so you don't have to worry about making it too loud or whatever. Though, it's also okay to do what you're doing since it's in a band setting. But I'd think you'll need more counterpoint since it's kind of bland throughout.

No no. I'm not worried about the brass not being heard. I'm worried about the woodwinds not being heard because, they are barely audible on the field as it is. If I break down the part, it will appear to soften the volume and nothing then will get through.

I agree with Porsche. I'm in a marching band myself, and the woodwind section easily outnumbers the brass. Unfortunately, even with more flutes and clarinets, the balance still sways towards the brass.

Sounds really good, although I would like to hear the old version, just to hear the changes.

This is a really nice Alma Mater - it has a calm, stately feel that fits perfectly. I'm not knowledgeable enough to comment on orchestration, so I won't. But melodically and harmonically, it really sounds wonderful - great work!

I've been studying up a lot since school has been out. I would like to get some comments on this introduction I wrote please.

Hmm... Something in the opening of this introduction bugs me... The glockenspiel just interferes with everything else... And seems too loud. Overall, this piece lacks middleground elements. All I hear is only the harmony and the melody, you should consider adding even more parts for better emphasis and just making it more interesting. Your cymbal rolls also lack dynamic. It's fine, nonetheless.

Pretty good idea you have going there, so I encourage you to keep it going. I agree with Dot: the glockenspiel is too loud, even past the introduction.

Yeah, it's a double part with the xylophone because I thought it would give an interesting sound but you can hardly hear the xylophone. So it's suggested that I need to add another melody in the introduction and tone down the mallet percussion.

I don't know what's up with the stupid cymbals. They just decided they don't want to listen to any of the expression tool dynamics. because I had that first cymbal roll and barely audible to a fast crescendo. More work!

I had some fun with church hymns. :) This piece is entitled "Three Hymns" and is an oboe and bassoon duet with strings.

Guess all three hymns correctly and win the uber sized cookie! @_@

In :23 or something of the first hymn, I heard a very oriental cadence, which was rather interesting. Well, criticisms for this piece is that the bassoon part seems to move too much in the first hymn, in another words, for a dignified hymn, I think it should've had less motion. Other than that, I think if you replace the oboe part and the bassoon part with singers, it would be very interesting. I like it.

Edit: I just realized it was an arrangement... However, my comment about the bassoon movements remain.

I know the first hymn, but unfortunately, I only know it in Hmong. >.<

Great job. :)

1st Hymn: This is My Father's World
2nd Hymn: I haven't heard this one, although it reminded me of Simple Gifts...
3rd Hymn: God Be With You 'Till We Meet Again

Very good! (and happy birthday by the way)

I'll give you the uber cookie anyway. The second one is not as known. It's entitled "I Sing the Almighty Power of God." ^_^

So in order it's...

This is My Father's World
I Sing the Almighty Power of God
God Be With You 'Till We Meet Again

I've got a couple things for you...first a question...

http://download.yousendit.com/AEB3E9AA27AFED2E

Of those three recordings, which one do you prefer? I was playing around with GPO trying to get a better string sound from it.

~~~~~~~

This was going to be my entry into the summer composition contest, but I felt it was not up to standard to be of any competition. It was based off the snowing in the summer picture. I was going for that the first part was to be joyous, like the snow falling and then pick up faster and faster. The next section was to be very serious, because if it were to snow in the summer, plants and little critters would die because of the unusual climate. The last section, and the part not completed, would have been a summery of the first motive with a little variation and a grand, climatic finish. Maybe some day I'll get around to playing with it some more.

It's not a complete work.

It seems like you were striving for an incidental music feel. However, I felt that you could've exposed more middleground elements, as I mostly hear only a melody and chordal accompaniments. In another words, more counterpoints. More dynamics would also help.

Sorry to ask this of you from so long back;
But could you post your revised version of Angel's Lullaby as a .mp3 as well? It's beautiful and I want to well.
Put it on my iPod and dance to it! XD;;;

I listened to a good majority of your pieces and I do like HAHS Alma Mater for marching band (Being a member myself; I can somewhat imagine what kind of field set-up it could have).

Iron Fist of Rage or whatever you call it:
Wow. That's dark. It kinda reminded me of the Imperial March (not in rhythms or anyway, just the theme did).

The Brass Fanfare and March was a bit too repetitive for my liking so I was somewhat bored easily, but it was good nonetheless.

Ave Maria was pretty, interesting selection of instruments. I think the only reason I didn't too much enjoy this one was simply because I don't like the song. But you did a good job of arranging it. :]

Denen was so pretty! I thought of an epic hero journey as the piece went along. I agree with some of the earlier comments made, the last chord seemed a bit weird. o-O;~

You experiment so much! I'm envious.

And I couldn't convince my director to let us play the Fountain of Dreams arrangement you made. I'm sorry~I was really looking forward to playing it. D:
If he ever does let us play it, I'll be sure to snag a recording of it for you. :]

Well, I did a first run through of the introduction to the second movement to my Sonata for Trumpet. What do you think?

Perhaps you could speed it up a little, it felt a little unfitting at times. You can also perhaps add a little more counterpoints and countermelodies to make the opening more interesting. It's kind of short, so I can't really say much.

My church is celebrating the 100th anniversary of our sanctuary. Coincidently, I too was working on a piece for organ to be played for this occasion and this is what I came up with.

EDIT: I noticed some errors and fixed them sorry about that. :heh:

EDIT2: :heh: Well, sorry about that, it's not ready.

Ok, let's try this again. It's a short Fanfare and Prelude to a church service...hence the name. Comments are nice. ^_^

You should have a seperate staff for the pedal notes. I don't really understand what you want out of the accents; I mean, with an organ, you can't really play punchy accents like brass instruments. I also fear that staccato and sixteenth notes will be a little too slow to sound on a real organ, unless you plan to perform it on an electric organ. Also, instead of grandioso, I felt that maestoso marking is clearer as it's more commonly used than grandioso, but this is a minor detail.

I also fear that staccato and sixteenth notes will be a little too slow to sound on a real organ, unless you plan to perform it on an electric organ
Staccato is fine on organ. I experienced it first hand on Saturday.

Here is movement two to my Sonata for Trumpet entitled "Allegro Moderato i Grave."

EDIT: Hmmm... Ichigo's doesn't like hosting the file for some reason. lol

Try Here
http://download.yousendit.com/AB792BF14B5C749A

Geez, for some reason Ichigos doesn't like the MP3 of this. It will only accept it in OGG. Anywho, here is the second movement to my Sonata for Trumpet entitled "Allegro Moderato i Grave."

Ummm yeah, that Ogg, isn't working.
And i wanted to hear it too...

Nah, I just downloaded it and it works fine. You may not have the right codec for ogg. You can get that here...

http://www.vorbis.com/

Well, I kinda wondered off from my finals studying/work and wrote this shot piece. :heh:

EDIT: New Piano MP3! ^_^

awww it's very cute i like the beginning part, it makes me feel floaty =)

Wait a minute, I'm not using my headphones so I can't be sure, but a Cm/Cmaj clash at 0:08?

Yup. I think it sounds cool. XD

Lol, I should increase your warning level for that.

Here is the beginnings of a choral piece I thought of this afternoon while trying to work on another piece. :heh: I noticed it didn't fit in what I was originally working on but it would stand great by itself.

Well, I thought that sounded great! However I think there are 2 things wrong.

1. Dynamics for voices are generally above the staff, so they don't get in the way of the lyrics.
2. I'm pretty sure the lowest note for a bass is the C, not a Bb. However, I may very well be wrong about that.

EDIT: And I am. Bassos can go lower.

Yeah, basses can go as low as a c below the staff (unless it's Russian style. I've seen pieces where they have to go to a B below that, but that's only very practical with a big choir).

I'm not gonna lie, this song was really poorly executed; the parts and chord progression were very boring and your voice leading was not great. However, it has some cool potential. You could really build on this choral melody by bringing out some more interesting harmonies. Your sound right now is really thin and very cliche. Try creating an alto harmony instead of only doubling the melody for the first part of the theme.

Let me show you some things I got when I tried playing with it. You don't have to use any of it at all, but I thought I'd show you some of the potential I saw in it.

Edit: sorry, I was doing it quickly so it's a little sloppy in places

Wow, that's just the inspiration/guidance I was looking for! Thank you! ^_^

I believe I heard a sus4 chord I measure 13 right? I had actually thought about putting one in there but decided against it because I used it too much in the other piece I was working on. :heh:

I may have a chance for a college choir to play this so I need to do the best I can. XD

*is jealous* How the heck did you get that opportunity?! I'm recording O Nata Lux with my high school choir on Saturday, but it's not going to sound nearly as good as I hope :(

Well, before I go back to not posting stuff for a while I wanted to share my latest transcription. I did this in 5 hours without a piano and I believe its right on with the MP3 I was going off of. Get in touch with me if you want to check out the original and compare it with mine (yes, I think right now I'm on my high horse. :heh:Forgive me. Too many energy drinks today. XD ). It's called "Suiteki" which I think translated to water dropper :lol: and its from an anime called "Sola."

PDF (http://forums.ichigos.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6576&d=1199430085)
MP3 (http://forums.ichigos.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6577&d=1199430162)

Well, I'd like to say that I feel I have made to to the next level in my composition studies. Don't ask me what it is because I don't know. :lol: Anywho, this is my first composition using virtual instruments so comments regarding that would be great!

This composition will be...hopefully...the first of ten compositions. They are based on my interpretation of Rainer Maria Rilke's "Duino Elegies." This one is based on the First Duino Elegy...

The First Duino Elegy
Who, if I cried out, would hear me among the Angelic
Orders? And even if one were to suddenly
take me to its heart, I would vanish into its
stronger existence. For beauty is nothing but
the beginning of terror, that we are still able to bear,
and we revere it so, because it calmly disdains
to destroy us. Every Angel is terror.
And so I hold myself back and swallow the cry
of a darkened sobbing. Ah, who then can
we make use of? Not Angels: not men,
and the resourceful creatures see clearly
that we are not really at home
in the interpreted world. Perhaps there remains
some tree on a slope, that we can see
again each day: there remains to us yesterday’s street,
and the thinned-out loyalty of a habit
that liked us, and so stayed, and never departed.
Oh, and the night, the night, when the wind full of space
wears out our faces – whom would she not stay for,
the longed-for, gentle, disappointing one, whom the solitary
heart
with difficulty stands before. Is she less heavy for lovers?
Ah, they only hide their fate between themselves.
Do you not know yet? Throw the emptiness out of your
arms to add to the spaces we breathe; maybe the birds
will feel the expansion of air, in more intimate flight.
Yes, the Spring-times needed you deeply. Many a star
must have been there for you so you might feel it. A wave
lifted towards you out of the past, or, as you walked
past an open window, a violin
gave of itself. All this was their mission.
But could you handle it? Were you not always,
still, distracted by expectation, as if all you experienced,
like a Beloved, came near to you? (Where could you contain
her, with all the vast strange thoughts in you
going in and out, and often staying the night.)
But if you are yearning, then sing the lovers: for long
their notorious feelings have not been immortal enough.
Those, you almost envied them, the forsaken, that you
found as loving as those who were satisfied. Begin,
always as new, the unattainable praising:
think: the hero prolongs himself, even his falling
was only a pretext for being, his latest rebirth.
But lovers are taken back by exhausted Nature
into herself, as if there were not the power
to make them again. Have you remembered
Gastara Stampa sufficiently yet, that any girl,
whose lover has gone, might feel from that
intenser example of love: ‘Could I only become like her?’
Should not these ancient sufferings be finally
fruitful for us? Isn’t it time that, loving,
we freed ourselves from the beloved, and, trembling,
endured as the arrow endures the bow, so as to be, in its flight,
something more than itself? For staying is nowhere.
Voices, voices. Hear then, my heart, as only
saints have heard: so that the mighty call
raised them from the earth: they, though, knelt on
impossibly and paid no attention:
such was their listening. Not that you could withstand
God’s voice: far from it. But listen to the breath,
the unbroken message that creates itself from the silence.
It rushes towards you now, from those youthfully dead.
Whenever you entered, didn’t their fate speak to you,
quietly, in churches in Naples or Rome?
Or else an inscription exaltedly impressed itself on you,
as lately the tablet in Santa Maria Formosa.
What do they will of me? That I should gently remove
the semblance of injustice, that slightly, at times,
hinders their spirits from a pure moving-on.
It is truly strange to no longer inhabit the earth,
to no longer practice customs barely acquired,
not to give a meaning of human futurity
to roses, and other expressly promising things:
no longer to be what one was in endlessly anxious hands,
and to set aside even one’s own
proper name like a broken plaything.
Strange: not to go on wishing one’s wishes. Strange
to see all that was once in place, floating
so loosely in space. And it’s hard being dead,
and full of retrieval, before one gradually feels
a little eternity. Though the living
all make the error of drawing too sharp a distinction.
Angels (they say) would often not know whether
they moved among living or dead. The eternal current
sweeps all the ages, within it, through both the spheres,
forever, and resounds above them in both.
Finally they have no more need of us, the early-departed,
weaned gently from earthly things, as one outgrows
the mother’s mild breast. But we, needing
such great secrets, for whom sadness is often
the source of a blessed progress, could we exist without
them?
Is it a meaningless story how once, in the grieving for Linos,
first music ventured to penetrate arid rigidity,
so that, in startled space, which an almost godlike youth
suddenly left forever, the emptiness first felt
the quivering that now enraptures us, and comforts, and
helps.

Title: The Duino Elegies
Subtitle: Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?

Enjoy! ^_^

Hey Car boy well done, The sound quality is great, it started adorable, sad and calm feeling with the piano and I liked that "teasing" of something big coming and didn't (0:44-0:47), But found it a bit early to do that. The piece is nice but didn't get to hold my attention completely. However, I would like to listen to the future compositions of your interpretation!

Btw the volume it was low here than I barely could listen to it the first time!

I just played your last transcription (forgot the name of the song) the song is adorable! and the transcription is pretty good aswell! props! ^.^

I think your string accompaniment could be much more interesting. Perhaps use it to add some counterpoint in some way to make it a more interesting part.

I think you need to add a some more contrasting material or a key change to build the song up; it didn't really feel like it went anywhere solid.

BTW, it did sound better in most spots that I already commented on.

I agree with deathraider: the string parts could be more interesting and it needs contrast. It just seemed to stay toward one spot, not going anywhere.

Hey, I had this idea last night. Please comment - I'm looking more for if it's coherent since it was a one evening thing, but comments if you like it or not a good too! :lol:

I think you should orchestrate this idea. It sounds pretty good. However, I also think you should work on some transitions.

I had one of those great composing days again. Here is my first run through of "Lost the Way," the next track to my Duino Elegies.

The Second Elegy: Lost the Way (http://www.zshare.net/audio/1262946588314351/)

Enjoy. ^_^

No one has anything to say? :huh:

I would speed it up just a tad at the beginning (not too much), but the tempo change at around 1:25 sounds a bit strange. The first part very much sounds like background music because there's not really any melody. I really enjoy the piano part in the middle section. However,I think that the strings need to double the piano less often, and need to counter the piano melody; this would make this part of the song even greater. The chord at 2:26 seems weak because the third is doubled instead of the bass.

Ummmm..... Could you post in a different format? For some reason, I can't hear it online.

http://download.yousendit.com/4F2664F30817B433

Yay! Thank you!
I read the second elegy as your piece was playing and I loved the way they went together so well. You are really good at relating the piece and the inspiration. Often, you hear the music and if fits the theme of the inspiring piece but doesn't fit the tone.

I thought I'd see what people thought about this little unfinished excerpt from on of my many unfinished projects. XD

All who hear this please post some kind of comment. XD

"Project Bang"....anything to do with the obsessive, but enjoyable, bass drum part? Very nice.

Can I just say how much I love Rilke? I know that you've had that in your sig forever, but I feel like I have to say something now. Although, I must say he was a bit on the paranoid side... his poetry is amazing.

Project Bang: This sounds like it could be developed into some pretty cool music for some sort of game trailer. However, I would say you should work to make it even bigger and use even fuller instrumentation. I would also suggest you use a tuba or something to blast out some low notes to match your drum part, and to give it even more 'bang'.

Project Bang: This sounds like it could be developed into some pretty cool music for some sort of game trailer. However, I would say you should work to make it even bigger and use even fuller instrumentation. I would also suggest you use a tuba or something to blast out some low notes to match your drum part, and to give it even more 'bang'.
I completely ditto the above. This is very actiony music, more in the sense of movie or game action, and I like it :lol:
Either tuba just blatting out the notes, or bass trombone. Bass trombone + Tuba = appocalypse and thus should be tried FIRST @_@ BWHAHAHAHAA

Did I mention that I am green with envy over your sampler? Christ man!

Well, here's the final project. I experimented with the way I produced it a little.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/1379054375c95a3a/

Sorry, I couldn't resist adding a little to the orchestration! I really like how it turned out, though. You need to score the rest for piano so I can orchestrate it! :P

Well, here is the theme for my friend in the army. Enjoy!

http://www.zshare.net/audio/15630993f7a727d8/

No one have commented. >_>

It's nice as a short intro for your army friend. xD

The guitar is a bit loud compared with the volume of the rest of the instruments. I would prefer to use the trumpet but the guitar can do as good as the trumpet here.

Btw happy birthday!

Heck yes, happy birthday! Are you really 20?!

Yuppers. \o/

I've been at work with more of my tracks for my CD. I would like some opinions here...

In The Third Elegy, I'm trying to mix synth sounds with what I consider abstract piano work to get more of a sighy-look-into-the-night-thinking kinda feel. The whole idea behind this elegy is that women must remember they were not the first love their partner had, but rather the partner's mother was.I'm stuck with the synth part. I've mixed some pads, but I think it need more stuff...

The Fourth Elegy is just a sketch of the beginning. I didn't add anything more than the timpani part so far because the GPO percussion for some reason won't take velocity commands.

Third Elegy - I'm enjoying the textures and mood in this, though some of the pauses in the piano part feel too long - trying pedaling them down longer if you aren't already doing so, or increase the reverb levels (perhaps an echo effect might also work in situation). When the piano suddenly crescendo'd near the middle, it sounded a bit weird to me - as if rather than the piano suddenly got louder, it was more as if I suddenly got closer to the piano or it got closer to me. This might be more of the sample's fault, but in any case, I'd tone that crescendo down some.
If you are looking to add more to the mix, maybe add a soft countermelody part along with the piano, and little sparkles here and there with another background instrument or two.

Fourth Elegy - Sounds like an interesting start, but the recording sounds pretty boxy - almost as if it was a mono recording. I'm just assuming that's probaby because you haven't spread out the instruments yet and basically kept everything dry. But if not, it's something to watch out for.

I liked your fourth elegy. Considering I love woodwinds too much, this piece completely completely grabbed my attention. I like the progression as the orchestra comes in, and the harmonic texture at 0:36-0:52 is quite pleasing to the ear. The last minute however, lacks of melodical value. Sounds more like harmony, and for a solo that's not so good. But that's just me.

Still, I like it. Keep them coming! :D

For the Third Elegy, I would suggest you use even more of the dissonance you used about 2/3 of the way through because otherwise it won't make as much sense, and plus I think it helped to convey the true feeling of an elegy. I also think you should change the ending. What I would do is only play that tonic once at the cadence, and then play open fifths (as in play the octave with only the fifth scale degree between them) 2 octaves up after. I'm not sure I'm being entirely articulate so if you are confused let me know.

i like the beginning of the 3rd one, but i'm not sure i understand the baseline that came in afterwards... i like the tonic 7th chords you threw in in the upper register, but the left hand in 2:33... =.=" not very coherent with the melancholy theme, but then again that's just from a person who is too diatonic of her own good xD
as a woodwind player i naturally enjoyed the beginning of the 4th, very peaceful. beautiful melodies. but i really don't know about the end, when the brass instrument came in (wat was it, btw? i thought it sounded like some tv channel had technical difficulties... no hard feelings, but the midi sound almost deafened me =.=") i recommend you look over the ending, but the rest is absolutely breathtaking! do you hav a title for it? may i recommend "Adrift, On the Horizon"? xD

The Fourth Elegy is FAR from being completed. After I'm done writing it I have to work it though my virtual instrument library so it sounds realistic and such.

The brass that came in was horns, trombone, and tuba playing the roots fifths and octaves of the chords.

ai good plan xD
-turns to dictionary.com to search for "elegy"-

Here's a little quartet thing I also started to work on. I was playing around to get a more realistic sound from my library so even though there is only 4 instruments, there is 16 different channels I had to use... and it still needs a few more... XD

EDIT: Removed MP3. Please see latest version.

You had to use 16 channels? o_O That is the original sample of them layered with another 3 samples?

The piece have nice classic harmonies and sounding quite smooth. At 0:07 the mordent sounds weird. I think is the viola that sounded a bit louder than the rest?

You see, every time I want the first violin to play an accent, I need to move that note into a new channel and play it through a violin sample that has an accent.

Yeah, that viola part and the part at 0:24 are the reasons I need to add a few more new channels.

wow the beginning actually sounds like 18th century classical... O.O
i noe they use a lot of sequences, but maybe you can spice them up a bit
i'm not a string person, but i do like the sound xD

You see, every time I want the first violin to play an accent, I need to move that note into a new channel and play it through a violin sample that has an accent.

Yeah, that viola part and the part at 0:24 are the reasons I need to add a few more new channels.

Does it not include a combined version of the articulations? A lot of more articulate sample instrument these days do that, and to switch articulation (to staccato/marcoto for example), you'd simply either change the modwheel, or perhaps hit a note designated as a trigger, depending on how it's set up, to switch the current instrument "layer." But yeah, a few years ago I remember people having to use literally over a hundred channels to get a full orchestral range with all the articulations, before they had such shortcuts.

Anyways, cute little piece you've got. Sounds fine so far musically, though I hear a bit of glitching in the chords around :10 - seems like some of the samples are getting cut off before they finish playing. Might be a polyphony problem or something.

Here's a little something I was working on for a couple days. I don't know how to introduce this theme and I don't have anything really orchestrated for the first part of this MP3. Things just need to come to me better in other words. XD

Sounds interesting the sketch. I would like to hear more of the previous one. Where you was working with the classic harmonies.

Well, this is where I went with that classical piece...I think I jumped time periods a bit. XD

I don't know If I like the transitions between the different motifs. What do yuntz think?

EDIT: Removed MP3. Please see the latest version.

At 0:10-0:11 and at 0:42-0:43 reminds me to Mozart's A little night of music. I liked the pizzicato introduced. I think they can come back after another section with the strings' bow. After second 0:44 things changed, turning dull. I think it need more movement in that part, or to re-write something that can fit better with the previous sections and more energetic.

The intro is very similar to Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, in my opinion. Before the pizzicato section, I would suggest putting in a poco rit. to make the transition a little more smoother. At around 0:36, I suggest continuing with that melody in the violins with some pizz. in the harmonies. I agree with Nyu001 about 0:44.

The intro is very similar to Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, in my opinion. Before the pizzicato section, I would suggest putting in a poco rit. to make the transition a little more smoother. At around 0:36, I suggest continuing with that melody in the violins with some pizz. in the harmonies. I agree with Nyu001 about 0:44.

Very good. Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik is my inspiration. Yeah, that one measure is very similar to Mozart's. :heh: Trust me when I say that was unintentional.

He's what I've done so far. Comments?

I didn't really like the pause at 0:33... I'd suggest continuing the eighth note harmonies in order to transition to the minor key. Also, at 0:27... there's something I didn't like about the placement of the Violin I/II call and response (maybe put the Violin I in the harmony in that part? or maybe something that's different from the eighth-note harmonies for the Violin I?). There are noticeably a few pauses here and there... and it may be a good idea to add some movement in those pauses (what I mentioned about 0:33, basically). Possibly harmonies that sort of unite the parts?

Right now, in my opinion, you have the themes... it's just a matter of trying to bring them together.

Be careful with some parts of not to fall more as imitations than inspirations.

Be careful with some parts of not to fall more as imitations than inspirations.
Imitation is the best form of flattery :P

I like it so far. Pretty basic sounding, but good. (My ears prefer a bit more complexity usually)

Well, it's been a while since I posted something so I thought I'd give a little update on my status. I've posted something I sketched out on evening and I have on the back burner. I also moved that classical-esk piece I had posted to the back burner. Currently, I'm working on an orchestrated version of "You'll Never Walk Alone" featuring the Piano. Please look forward to it! For now, I present my sketch of "Passion Under the Twilight."

You have to do something about the strings, they sound sooo finale-ish. The song actually has a nice structure, and it had a nice moment with the violin and cello for a while (1:05-1:10), but the harp part is awkward somehow -- and the oboe is not put well into use either.

I think I have an idea of what you mean by Finale-ish but I'm not so sure. When I record from the midi file I write with the aide of Finale, I incorporate the velocities and channel volume properties that Finale provides with Human Playback for dynamics and such. Should I ignore the data and manually control everything in a sequencer or is there something else that you mean by Finale-ish?

I've got something nice and short here. I was talking late at night with Deathraider and he told me to come up with something that uses the chord B#, C#, F#, and A# in a quick composition and we would compare what each of us had done after an hour's work. So for it being 1am, I think it turned out pretty neat. We're thinking of trying this again if anyone else would want to join in sometime. Comments are always welcome! ^_^

I like this! Very relaxing to me, and inspire to me a quiet and lonely night. Also a sense of mystery. The first bars is what I liked more. After that introduction a feeling of sorrow seemed to appear. Bars #13-14 made the mood to get lifted a bit, which I would have liked to keep it as it was before. Nice title choice also.

The idea of choice chords and various people to compose something with them is very interesting. We get to see how people handle it in different ways using the same chords or even a melody.

That... was actually quite nice... For complete BS that was quite nice :P (Oh come on, nothing serious happens at one in the morning! <.<)

I like the concept too, challenging one another to compose something with a really simple premise. Hmm... we should implement that when college starts back up Porsche >.> ... <.< ... because of the lulz. Then they can COMBINE! and create something awesome. (Composing two different pieces and layering them one on top of the other? BRILLIANT!)

...yeah I'm rambling now...

Still tho, I like it despite it being something rather puny.

There was this part at 00:40-00:50 which worked very well in my opinion. Although, the rest of it wasn't something I'd hang in my japanese plastic one-foot tall Christmas tree. I see the idea of to the piece, it was just too short and too bare to stand on its own or to have an impact, you know? When writing stuff like this for a piano solo, it requires even more from the composer to channel the desired emotion, than for instance letting an orchestra set the mood.

While playing around in the Comping Game thread, I revisited an old idea from a couple years ago and spent an afternoon expanding on it. Then, I only wrote down most of the trumpet melody but could not figure out a good accompaniment. This piece will surely test the skills of the trumpeter that performs it. The melody skips around and sometimes makes use of an arpeggio that will push the trumpeter towards it's up register (Bb Trumpet Eb5). Comments are welcome!


Audio - Waltz of the Grand Trumpeter (http://www.zshare.net/audio/53994174a9619ba7/)

Really.... an Eb above the staff? ... God I hate you. :P

The timpani tho... would that have to be retuned during the piece? That's a lot of different notes for 5 or 6 timpani, methinks.

Nice and "easy" waltzy thingy. Sounds very nice, although could use perhaps a little more pizazz during some places, such as measures #32-35 and other like spots. Not runs or anything too ornate, but perhaps something other than straight quarter notes... like the basses/cellos jumping up/down 4ths/5ths to add another layer of interest to those otherwise dull points (as the mere chord change alone doesn't really satiate my ear).


One point of inquiry... why on Earth do you have it as 6/8 when that is clearly a 3/4 Waltz? I know the trumpet's melody can be broken into 2 groups of 3 in the measure but everything else would be ridiculous when conducted in 6/8 as opposed to 3/4. @_@

I was thinking one beat per measure and conducted in two.

EDIT: And I TOTALLY forgot that you have to tune Timpani's. XD

I was thinking one beat per measure and conducted in two.

EDIT: And I TOTALLY forgot that you have to tune Timpani's. XD
1) WRRROOOOOOONNNGG!!!!!

2)
http://www.aerthyr.net/images/facepalm2.jpg

That is a good additional material to the piece. I think the timpani thing won't matter, unless the piece get a live perform. Also the piece trick me, thinking is longer, when the piece finish and goes back to the introduction; I keep thinking is just continuation and not a repetition.

I was wondering if I could get a little more feedback on these two compositions I did about a year or so ago. Coming back to them, I feel they are incomplete. In the first elegy, i really only like about 1:20 to 1:47. for the second elegy, I like 1:58 to 3:39. Even then I think more could have been added to that section. Also, I was still experimenting on how to use a DAW to produce a recording, so more can be done to improve on that.

The First Elegy (http://forums.ichigos.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6927&d=1206326183)

The Second Elegy (http://www.zshare.net/audio/1379054375c95a3a/)

Wow. first elegy brought me to tears :cry:
Everything was perfect until around 2:40, the rest after that was kind of dull and i wanted it to end. But besides that it was fantastic!

I had troubles downloading the second one so yeah..

I had troubles w/ the second elegy, too, so I'm gonna comment on the first one. :)

The beginning moved too slowly, but it's an elegy so I guess it's okay. I liked when the strings came in, but that little harp-like piano riff felt like it came out of nowhere. That might just be the playback and it's supposed to be some kind of cadenza? My favorite part is 0:53 to 2:10. That string technique is cool. 1:20-1:47, this is personal, but I'd prefer the string melody to take prevalence over the bells. I think 1:34-1:39 felt kind of like an uplifting Disney movie background piece. Not saying that it sounds bad, but it made me smile and felt out of character for an elegy. Unless that's your intent, like looking to the bright side of something. Some of the parts do feel incomplete, especially when you have those long notes. They get kind of boring; maybe dynamics might spice them up. 2:40 did seem to be going nowhere; maybe it's the lack of a driving bass. I would just use straight arpeggios. I would close up the harmonies at the end for a sense of cohesion and finish, or maybe move it up into a higher octave of the piano and end on a sweet note. Overall, you have some nice ideas, but it does seems to lack a solid structure and sense of closure. Keep at it, I would LOVE to hear the finished piece ^_^

Thanks guys! Here's the second one...

http://www.yousendit.com/download/WnBUa3NkQ1JoeWF4dnc9PQ

I promise this long spiel has a point!

So, I've started to read this book I'm borrowing from my college library called "Techniques of Twentieth Century Composition" by Leon Dallin. Here's a little excerpt from a website I found about him...


Leon Dallin (1918-1993) received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from the Eastman School of Music in 1940 and 1941, respectively, and a Ph.D. from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1949. He taught composition and theory at Brigham Young University from 1948 to 1955 and at California State University at Long Beach from 1955 until his retirement in 1983. He is best known for his 1957 book Techniques of Twentieth Century Composition: A Guide to the Materials of Modern Music, which he revised in 1964 and again in 1974; this book was one of the cornerstones of the theory of twentieth-century music prior to the development of set theory in the 1970s.


What caught my eye on this book was his introductory chapter. He talks about how music majors receive excellent training in all parts of music. He said it is accepted as natural that all composers play and it should also be just as natural for all players to compose. He continues in this chapter to talk how too often composition is regarded as a mystic art only a few geniuses can perform and says if you can play an instrument, you can compose. Continuing he says that composition has suffered from a romantic emphasis and young composers are conditioned to think that inspiration cannot be taught or learned and should come as easy to a beginner as a master. He therefore states that instead of studying on rigid rules of a particular style, one should study theory that stresses the expressive aspect of composition based on general principles.

So, after every chapter, Dr. Dallin has exercises at the end of each chapter. In his preface, he says that students should be encouraged to do free creative writing in the style that is most natural for them at the moment and in the form and for the medium which most appeals to them. Also, he strongly recommends that expressive aspects in writing be emphasized and should be played with a group of students so all can learn from each others mistakes as well as triumphs. Public performance is key as the full cycle of composition has not been achieved until this has happened. Such an experience teaches more than a world of abstract instruction.

The first assignment for this introductory chapter is as follows...


Since a knowledge of conventional materials and the ability to handle them effectively serves as a point of departure for the study of more recent idioms, demonstrate that ability by harmonizing the following folk song and chorale melody. Use a conventional style in four parts paying particular attention to the choice of harmony, balance of cadences, flow of harmonic changes, melodic value, spacing, and doubling.

Deficiencies in background will be apparent immediately in this familiar idiom, and they should be remedied before proceeding. The underlying principles involved are equally valid for all styles.

So for that matter, I only did the first exercise which was the folk song "The Ash Grove." All that was given was the melody. From never hearing the harmony to this song before, I think I can very close to what it actually is as can be heard here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ldGWIIVpgc). I need you to be my audience and give me feedback as I am not a music major and have no one to turn to to ask for these types of questions!

I was wondering if I could get a little more feedback on these two compositions I did about a year or so ago. Coming back to them, I feel they are incomplete. In the first elegy, i really only like about 1:20 to 1:47. for the second elegy, I like 1:58 to 3:39. Even then I think more could have been added to that section. Also, I was still experimenting on how to use a DAW to produce a recording, so more can be done to improve on that.

The First Elegy (http://forums.ichigos.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6927&d=1206326183)

The Second Elegy (http://www.zshare.net/audio/1379054375c95a3a/)

Did you use sequencing to create the tracks for the first and second elegy, or did you use Finale? I've been looking for a decent sounding piece of notation software, but so far Sibelius 5 isn't really doing anyhting special. I'm still used to Finale, but if Finale starts sounding like what you had then I'm going to possibly switch back haha

Thanks! It's great music!

Written on Finale. Sequenced using FL Studio and EWQL Syphonic Orchestra Gold and EWQL Colossus packs.

Ok thanks! I going to freak out if that was the finale sounds. Then buy finale haha.

The overall impression that your harmonic arrangement of The Ash Grove left was beautiful and peaceful. I would think that in simple, peaceful folksy tunes like this, there would be no dissonances (that's subjective, but that's IMO). So in measure 11, I'd do something else with the viola when it clashes with the melody (the C with the B in the melody). I do like those rhythmic repercussions, though. Measures 5 and 22, I'd try something simpler in the cellos because of the dissonances in beat 3. Measure 10, I'd do something even simpler with the second violins because of the clash in the third beat. Measure 17, the Bmin/F# chord felt weak. Since the melody is so high up, I'd pack a closer harmony, so I'd put the cellos on a B (just below middle C). The Bmin > G felt weak, even if you added that one beat of D7. I'd hold Bmin for only one beat instead and hold the D7 chord for beats 2 and 3. Or, if you want, you can hold a D chord for beats 2 and 3 and add the 7th on the third beat. Try it out and mend that transition with whatever sounds right. :)

These are just suggestions, I'm no music major either, I don't have any formal training whatsoever, haha.

On to Chapter Two: Melodic Contour and Organization. This chapter went through examples of how past composers wrote their melodies. The first one was of a sketch of Beethoven's 3rd Symphony - Mvt. 2. He showed us all the sketches he went through to get his finished version of the melody. He then went on to show different examples of melodies and pointed out why they worked and the genius behind them.

This assignment was to write some melodies and to write some melodic outlines of them and to discuss them and why they work. So I present you two melodies. I only outlined the first one though...

Melody 1
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h255/porschegtiii/Melody1.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h255/porschegtiii/Melody1-MelodicOutline.jpg

Melody 2
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h255/porschegtiii/Melody2.jpg


So what can you guys tell me?

beautiful melodies, and very playable on both instruments. I have such a hard time with writing melodys, but once I have a good one ya know lol. Great job!!! you should make it a full orchestra piece and use them as "A" and "B" sectons!

I just took at look at your ash grove. In general it sounds nice to the ear. But after looking at your harmonization I realized what was bugging me. In SATB writing, you should not double the third. If this was done as an excersise, I'm sure the final F# to G is meant to be a V7 to I. That being said, you must have a third in all chords. You have 4 G's together on the end of your first page. This was avoidable if the second violins moved up to the B instead of down to the G or move the viola in the previous measure down a diatonic 2 to A-D-C so that it can naturally move down into the B. These are just a few that I noticed. I would encourage you to write out the harmony in whole notes first to get a clear picture of what your harmony should look like. You can add all the glimmers to it after.

The rules for harmonizing if you are just starting out should be:
1. Avoid parallel 5th and 8ve.
2. Do not double the 3rd.

tip: Most of the time, the movement of the voices can be done in a step or a skip.

Hope this helps, its basically the only 2 things I learned in my first 3 music theory classes lol.

Yes, I do start out with whole notes and embellish from there. Its easier to see how the notes are moving in relation to each other.

About your suggestion with the Violin II's or the Violas. When I change either of them, they both sound to me to interrupt the melody that voice was playing. For the violin suggestion, do you hear how the violin is descending in the measure before? To my ear, it suggests that the next note should also be descending down to the G rather than to the B. For the viola one, it does sound better than the violin suggestion, but on occasion to me it sounds like the viola is randomly coming out of nowhere. What would you say to that? I though having all the violins in unison would be acceptable since it was then end of the phrase.

Did I break the rules too much? Thanks much for the feedback! This is what I'm looking for!

To me, the violin II change sounds alot more balanced interms of the final chord. I think its sounding like the melody gets interupted because you only changed that last 2 measures. Changes cause a wave in harmonizing. Once you change one thing, usually you will have to work backwards all the way to the beginning so your voice leading will naturally get there.:heh:

The 2 rules I wrote last post is the most strict ones. Something that would cause me to fail an assignment if I didn't follow them lol. There are other rules but ultimately, it is because if I do not, I would break one of the 2 suggested.

Keep working at it. You're doing fine:lol:

Once you change one thing, usually you will have to work backwards all the way to the beginning so your voice leading will naturally get there.:

Ah! That'd explain a lot. That'd get frustrating every once in a while when you settle on something you like and then find out you have to go back and change it. XD

Thanks for the input!

Here's something I'm working on and don't plan to be finished with for a long while. I'm revisiting an idea I posted about a year ago, Lost the Way.

I'm trying to convey musically what it feels to be lost. Lost can happen on macro and micro levels. The beginning, what I have so far, is showing how quickly one can become lost and be thrown into a panic. I have some balancing issues towards the end, but it's still a long work in progress. Feed back please!

I really could not get the "lost" part in your piece. It felts more like if was going to be a piano concerto or something with a more hmm I don't know how to say it precisely, but something reminded me to anime.

Sorry for a poor comment, hehe. The best I can remember is the piano part. ^^;

Here's something I'm working on and don't plan to be finished with for a long while. I'm revisiting an idea I posted about a year ago, Lost the Way.

I'm trying to convey musically what it feels to be lost. Lost can happen on macro and micro levels. The beginning, what I have so far, is showing how quickly one can become lost and be thrown into a panic. I have some balancing issues towards the end, but it's still a long work in progress. Feed back please!

Now that I think about it, there are many parellels one can draw from "lost" in music; whether it's with respect with tonality, rhythm, phrasing, there's really quite a bit of potential with this approach.

It's hard to see how it can go from just the beginning part, though, since this sort of theme is suggested more by process. But I'm certainly interested in see how it'll turn out. Keep it up!

Here's a piano score I just transcribed for the site that I put a little more effort into formatting the sheets than I usually do. It had been a few months since I actually did some transcribing for Ichigos, so it feels good to have finished something. ^_^

The user wanted something a little challenging so I kept this in mind, but I didn't want it to be too hard that only a select few could play it. Feed back on the arrangement and presentation would be great!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rxp7LEbyZEw&fmt=18

It is a nice transcription! Never heard the original, but I like this piano version. ^_^

I don't know how experience is the person, but the score looks quite easy to play. One suggestion about it, is the pedal marking. To have it repeated many times in the score can be annoying to the eyes. One thing you can do is to indicate it with the word "simile" to those passages that has a similar pedal mark. The player should know when to press the pedal in the harmony changes, though.

Here's a piano score I just transcribed for the site that I put a little more effort into formatting the sheets than I usually do. It had been a few months since I actually did some transcribing for Ichigos, so it feels good to have finished something. ^_^

The user wanted something a little challenging so I kept this in mind, but I didn't want it to be too hard that only a select few could play it. Feed back on the arrangement and presentation would be great!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rxp7LEbyZEw&fmt=18

Looks and sounds pretty good to me for the most part. There were some in the first minute or so where you withheld some melody notes (or threw them in another register) which kind of threw me off and got me lost, but I guess it works for making it more pianistically interesting.

Also, the key change at 46 sounded like it could've used some big left hand chords to make it more dramatic. Actually, maybe just make the left hand vary moreso overall - it seems that it's mostly either plays sustained notes or bottom up arppegios patterns. Though I guess since you don't want to make it too hard, this problem might be better solved through subtraction rather than addition - ie, punch a few holes in the rhymthic patterns.

Anyhow, those are my suggestions, but it works well enough as is, and sounds solid throughout. Good job with this one.

Beautiful! Now I'm interested in Jun Maeda haha :P Thank you for that!

Well, I've been working on some sound tracks for a visual novel a team of us here are working on. I've managed to complete thing one track so far. :heh: I'm looking for feedback, mostly on the production value of the music. The title itself has a double meaning as it will become evident once the reader finds out in the story.

http://www.yousendit.com/download/MnFpSkhYQzM0b0RIRGc9PQ

It feels nice as BGM, definitely. The guitar part is a little boring, but I think in this case it's ok. What instrument is that that you're using for the melody? If it's not a penny whistle, I think you should try it with penny whistle. It feels like it needs to be Celtic!

Edit: sorry my attention span is so short today; that's what happens when I'm excited! I'll try to think of some more specific comments...

I love it! I think it's perfect for earlier BGM. I don't have any changes to suggest. If the story follows the mood of your music, it's great :)

However, if the quality of the instruments improve, I think the flute MIGHT get a little, little bit boring after a while. Maybe...

But I love it! :)

Wow. It has been a long time.

This past year, I completed a class in orchestrating and arranging. Basically, I learned the in's and out's of each instrument, their ranges, how they sound in different registers, what they have difficulty doing, directions and instruments in Italian/French/German, etc. For our final project we had to, get this, orchestrate a piece of music. For my final project, I choose to orchestrate the song "If Dreams Came True," a song featured in AIR: The Motion Picture.

My only regret is that I couldn't get a singer to complete the track, so you'll have to sing it yourself if you want the main melody in there.

Speaking of which, if there is someone who would be interested in sing this for me, please get in touch ASAP! I would be thrilled to have a singer to complete this track!

If Dreams Came True - Orchestrated.mp3 - 11.67MB (http://www.zshare.net/audio/7693251385c74292/)

I would sing it, but I don't really have anything good to record with at the moment. All I have is my webcam...

Thanks! I should have been a little more clear... I would be looking for a female vocalist. :heh:

Pffffff...male vocalists are SO much cooler.

*Blows off the dust*

So I finally have time to dabble more into composition! This is one a started to work on a few days ago for concert band called "After Glow." You know how when the sun goes down and there's that awesome red sky? That's what this is supposed to represent; the transition between day and night. I plan to start off feel pretty mysterious and unconfortable (representing the business of day) and transitioning to a more calmn and flowing mood (representing the tranquility of night). Here's the short introduction to the composition.

I'm thinking of writing it keyless. What would you think of that?

There's not much there yet, but I really like what you have so far. It just feels like an intro, though. What are you planning on doing with the piece in terms of thematic material?

I think it would be fine if you left it key-less if that's what you want.

I like a lot the part with the timpani roll and the flutes. To me was like the sun going to bed whiles the sky started to turn darker. :)

Yeah, it feels like an intro. So if you were shooting for an intro, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! :cheers:

^Also, wasn't the whole thing the part with flutes and timpani?

^I mean from measure no.7 when the timpani start making that long roll.

I wrote something! lol My entry into this fun little competition we're having this summer:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYbLEpfkMsU

Woo! New piano composition! Piano Impropmtu in A Major(ish). Tell me what you guys think!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0LUaREoZ0o&hd=1

I really do like it. (It actually reminds me of an impromptu that I wrote a couple years back)

The melody in this is great, and I am a sucker for well-written simplicity. The change at ~:38 was just perfect, and I loved that the whole piece got much quieter. When you got back into the main theme after that section was brilliant-- I didn't even see (or hear) it coming. One thing you might want to add is a section without the chords (which is something I wanted to do to that very piece I wrote myself). I could hear the piece coming to a stop, and a section appears where the music becomes much less confined to chords, and had a certain fluidity now to it (much like the part @7:09, in this piece (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5favl2Qtx0)).

Great job. Keep it up, buddy :)

PS. My Finale completely doesn't work... so I won't be entering the competition :(

Thanks Mazeppa!

Funny that you should mention the impromptu that you wrote. While in the audio production stage I remembered your impromptu and had to take a look at it to make sure I didn't copy you by accident. :lol: I'm a fan of that composition. :) I think I understand what you mean by a section without chords like in Beethoven's 9th Symphony. That would be an awesome addition!

I'm sad to hear you can't enter the competition! Hopefully next time Finale won't be dumb.

I really like it. The syncopated section in the 0:40s is probably my favorite part. The ending was a little weak, but overall the piece is very nice. Really fun modulation!

My heart warms without a delay. I like it. Great harmony, dynamic, and rhythm. It's just what I needed. Some great bouncy fun music!