Hello :)
I am a new member, my name is Jen. I started composing in December of 2005 and I have composed many works. All of them are listed in my soundclick page, www.soundclick.com/jlmcdaniel. I am going to post a few here to share with the forum, comments welcome ^_^

MP3s

Etude no. 8 in G Sharp Minor
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=4292950&q=hi

Piano Sonata no. 3, 3rd Movement
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=4362627&q=hi

Woodwind Concert
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=4258727&q=hi

Woodwind Quartet
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=3826403&q=hi

Prelude no. 4 in B Flat Minor
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=3660427&q=hi

Some midis for those who cannot view soundclick.

Also, all of these pieces are on my myspace music page: www.myspace.com/jlmcdaniel

I don't know Jen. My first impression of you was something like "Hey, she has to be a great composer" and when I browse through your works, I was a little disappointed. They're all presented well, but the actual music held not much content. You've been composing for 3/4 of a year, so I guess you still need more time to develop an 'Ear of a composer', so to speak.

You seem to have decent knowledge of theory, but you lack the most vital part of a composer. You seem to compose with the brain rather than the heart.

I enjoyed the woodwind quartet... allthough it was all over the place.
I actually went to sleep listening to it, found it soothing. and yea I know im wierd

I don't know how to put it... It sounds like it's technical, but for some reason it doesn't, but yet it does... :heh: I don't know how deep your studies in music is, but I feel that there's some depth to it than most other people here. ;) But still, I don't know how to explain... :heh: But yeah, I guess it's pretty nicely done technically speaking... ;)

:/ I enjoed those, nice job. Thanks for sharing:lol:
and man that piano songs gotta be hard to play xP

Blah.

As it was quoted,

"You can compose with structure and with your brain, but with no heart."

If you are on another composing website, you shall surely get some hard feedback from myself. :shifty:

This might just be my opinion (in whitch it is) but this has some very "Yawn" type styles in here. For 3/4 of a year composing you surely should have been familiar with the term "Random"-all over the place, and no distinct setting of music. That really struct me with that first Etude. You were trying to copy Chopin's wild, and strange, melodies (referring to the right hand actually) but you didn't seem to pull it off-trust me, you didn't-it was actually a cheap imitation.

EDIT LATER.

Blah.

As it was quoted,

"You can compose with structure and with your brain, but with no heart."

If you are on another composing website, you shall surely get some hard feedback from myself. :shifty:

This might just be my opinion (in whitch it is) but this has some very "Yawn" type styles in here. For 3/4 of a year composing you surely should have been familiar with the term "Random"-all over the place, and no distinct setting of music. That really struct me with that first Etude. You were trying to copy Chopin's wild, and strange, melodies (referring to the right hand actually) but you didn't seem to pull it off-trust me, you didn't-it was actually a cheap imitation.

EDIT LATER.

Hmm. Let's see. First off, I don't "copy" or "imitate" anyone. Second, neither of my etudes posted here are from the Romantic period at all, they were actually classified as neo-classical by some of my friends who are professional composers, and conservatory students. If you listen to it, you will notice that it is classical phrasing, not romantic. The reason I didn't "pull it off" is because I wasn't trying to. ;)

Noir7 - you are correct. Right now I am composing using mainly my knowledge of theory, and not so much passion or heart. When I first started composing, I ignored theory and wrote only from the heart, but it made my music sound unorganized. I am still in the learning phase, and soon I will combine my knowledge of theory with more passionate writing.

Neo-Classical.

Now I actually know what it is, and I don't like it; I don't like this at all.

It's too.. I don't know.. noobish? Yeah. Only word I could describe "neo-classical" for myself then-but don't get me wrong, just if you have friends that are "professional" composers or study music as a profession doesn't mean I know absolutely nothing.

For all you know, I could be the next Mozart, but I'm not.

Talk my critisizms, and don't blow me off as well. When I saw that it was classified as a "Classical" genre, I immediately thought of Beethoven, and a second-Chopin. I say Chopin, because a lot of his style and work was inspired by Beethoven's and didn't want to publish the Fantasie-Impromptu because it sounded so much like Beethoven (which actually it does, but not a complete rip-off).

How is neo-classical "noobish"? It is nothing more than modernized classical music, there is nothing wrong with it, and if you don't like it, that is just fine! I don't expect everyone on the planet to like my music. I know how to take criticism, trust me. Youngcomposers.com is full of harsh critics, but I learn something there everyday! However, you have offered nothing that I can improve upon, only that you dislike my work, which is why I dismiss your comments. I am a beginner and only looking to improve.

I removed a forum link in your siggy Jen, read the rules.

And about neglecting Mazeppa's comments... you can't really say "he offered nothing". There's a lot in there which you should take. The part about Chopin's wild piano style, for instance. I agree with this. Perhaps you weren't inspired by Chopin, but that Etude clearly is an empty shell now isn't it? A lot of sparkling notes but they say nothing. You should remember that.

I have to agree with Noir7 and Mazeppa. ;) You really need something with true inspiration and emotion. These pieces are rather empty. Then again, you might just need more time. I don't know. :mellow:

Jen, you're supposed to link to the YC homepage I think, though I don't know if they allow you to put that tag-line (I didn't). Anyways, I think I've heard a few of these, but I'll try to comment on them when I have more time.

Hello! I just wanted to say that I too have found myself frusterated with my pieces and how they just don't seem to make the cut so to speak, but the people here are so helpful and willing to make you an even better composer by offering wonderful advice! Everytime someone gives me something to work on I take it and include it in my next work, and by doing this I've noticed myself grow and a composer. Just try to take the advice rather than push it away. You are not bad at this! You just have to take what you have and grow with it. ^-^ Keep writing!

Jen, I have to agree with what Noir and Mazeppa said about your songs sounding empty. However, they're all technically impressive and sound very fun to play. (I'd also love to see someone playing them, I'd probably laugh at how fast their hands were moving ^ ^ )
Also, I find Mazeppa's songs to be rather empty a lot of the time too; rather hit and miss with him. The same goes with most composers I see (including myself; I suck. a lot.), so don't feel bad. It's hard to fill a song with passion if you're struggling just to get the technical stuff down. You've got the technical stuff down. I'm sure you'll be a great composer in no time, just practice a bit more, and make sure you have a strong mood or idea in your mind before you write your songs.

You'll do great, keep at it! ^_^

Also, at Mazeppa - Thanks so much for transcribing Zelda's lullaby, I haven't touched my piano in about two years, and you got me started again with that sheet music. I really appreciate it. ^__^

I don't know Jen. My first impression of you was something like "Hey, she has to be a great composer" and when I browse through your works, I was a little disappointed. They're all presented well, but the actual music held not much content. You've been composing for 3/4 of a year, so I guess you still need more time to develop an 'Ear of a composer', so to speak.

You seem to have decent knowledge of theory, but you lack the most vital part of a composer. You seem to compose with the brain rather than the heart.

strongly in agrement

@Hopeless - Good to hear. :lol:

Here is a piece I wrote before I learned theory, back in March. It is the most passionate thing I have ever written. I was completely devastated and heartbroken when I wrote this. It is pretty disorganized due to my former lack of theory, but this one was "from the heart" :sweat:

Prelude no. 3
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=3595049&q=hi


This one is also from the heart. I wrote this for Valentines Day.

Prelude no. 2
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=4301644&q=hi

Hey Jen! I know you from YC. It's exciting to see you progressing musically. I wish the motives in the later had been more pronounced, and that there was some harmony during the melody where the bass wasn't doing the quick arpeggios.
The other song I remember listening to earlier. I think the song conveys your emotions fairly well. but it's definitely dissorganized. And the two preludes both use to many of the quick arpeggios in my opinion. I feel like your songs have a lot of dissoncance, but that it doesn't add as much to the harmony of the piece. Perhaps the consonance/dissonance is not quite balanced.

This is the first movement of my first Piano Concerto.
It is dedicated to my best friend who has cancer.

http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=4464472&q=hi

It sounds... weird. The beginning sounds awkward at times. A little disconnected - like every player were trying to tune their instrument (not really). When the piano comes in, it gets a little better... but it still sounds random.

I only listened to the first half but it's alright. Doesn't really make sense to my ear. Good luck with it!

I am in no place to judge peoples composition because of at the level of composition I'm at, but here I go anyways.

You do seem to have a strong background in theory. I agree. But it seems to robotic in a way. Like "lets add an arpegio there, then some cords here, more apregio...". You have so many things going at the same time that don't sound "nice".

Try to dumb it down I guess. Its hard, I know from experience, but even the most brilliant of composers write the most brilliant songs that are really simple.