Greetings, fellow musicians/composers! :) I've decided to attempt to revive my interest in Ichigo's Forums again, and what better way than to share a few of my compositions and let you all know that I'm still alive? :sweat:

I originally came to Ichigo's in mid-2004 with very little knowledge about music theory and a (well, looking back anyway) rather pitiful list of short pieces that I had composed. Before long, I became really involved in the Ichigo's community, with listening/critiquing the work of fellow composers being my favorite pastime around the forums. Once my senior year of high school arrived, though, my time on the forums was beginning to be less and less frequent.

Since then, I've graduated high school (1 of 7 valedictorians) and just a week ago wrapped up my first year at the local university as a Music Composition major (all A's so far, too! :heh:). I feel I've become a whole new person through the composition of music, and I know that every day I work on my music (not a day goes by that I don't...), I leave another mark -- a musical footprint -- on the world. It's because of that rewarding, accomplished feeling that I continue to create and grow through music. And as I near my 1000th piece, I have no intention of slowing down anytime soon!

Now that you realize I'm quite apt at the art of rambling, I should probably get on with the music. Here goes!

I think the first thing I'd like to share is a small piece in the style of the classical Italian composer Muzio Clementi that I wrote for my composition class last semester. As such, it is written for solo piano with numerous melodic ornaments (including mordents, trills, and, like Clementi, many appoggiaturas), emphasizes importance placed on melody (with the LH scarcely drawing attention to itself), and it follows a very simplified sonata form, typical of the early Classical style. Any feedback/criticism/questions will be accepted with a smile. Hope you enjoy! :)

~James

I assume you've be taught under a certain style and much attention to the rules, i doubt anyone could point out an imperfection other than a better piano sample. I have not been the biggest fan of playing by certain rules, because it doesn't show a lot one's personal self, but it does show skill. I believe that skill would also be if it is possible to juice out a song out of the blue with many different mixtures, but that's me. I have no musical education but all that I make comes from the soul baby. :] this song isn't bad, I wouldn't notice any slight difference of style if it was in my "Beijing Central Phil Orchestra" collection.

I will be honest: I think I wouldn't be able to critize it in any way even if i knew more about music theory than I know now (which is just a little)... At least not for imperfections in the piece, the sound or anything lik that.
But... I find it very boring. It's like... I feel... Like kids are having alot of fun ignoring me and I don't care so much I would try to bother to be with them and therefore I rather am bored while their playing. Watching them as they play, but I don't really understand what so fun. And I'm bored... something like that, I think...

Wow. It's really interesting; chromaticism, the major/minor shift, ornaments, and all of that stuff. I've tried writing in this style, and it's very hard :\. Good job ^_^.


I will be honest: I think I wouldn't be able to critize it in any way even if i knew more about music theory than I know now (which is just a little)... At least not for imperfections in the piece, the sound or anything lik that.
But... I find it very boring. It's like... I feel... Like kids are having alot of fun ignoring me and I don't care so much I would try to bother to be with them and therefore I rather am bored while their playing. Watching them as they play, but I don't really understand what so fun. And I'm bored... something like that, I think...

It's how Classical music is :mellow: . Classical music is one of those styles that focus a lot more on theory/strict rules.

Wow. It's really interesting; chromaticism, the I've tried writing in this style, and it's very hard :\.

Very hard indeed. I'd like to compose like this one day. Experience is always fun :yes:

It's how Classical music is :mellow: . Classical music is one of those styles that focus a lot more on theory/strict rules.

I don't find classical music boring. Maybe I don't like it sometimes, but I never found it boring. If you meant what I wrote about finding the piece boring.

Yeah, it reminds me of the Kuhlau Sonatina that I played...

Welcome back, Gnomish! It had been a while ever since you were here.

~~~

Wow, congratulations with your achievements over your absence! It must have been a great experience taking composition in university (which is what I strive to do when I do get into university... which will be a while from now :heh: ).

I do hear the Clementi influence, due to the fact that you used a lot of conjunct movements in your melodies. The piece was elegant with the classical style throughout and had all the nuances you would usually associate with classical music, but one thing you could've expanded on was dynamics. There are many contrasts in dynamics throughout, but somehow, it felt as if it lacked symmetry as an overall in the piece. I guess that's my only comment, other than that well done. As for whether if I like it or not, I don't have much feelings for classical music due to the fact that I'm more of a 20th century, avant-garde person, so I guess I couldn't really say if I like it or not. I hope to hear more from you. :)

I was never a fan of Clementi, but good job nevertheless! Unfortunately, in my opinion, by keeping the left hand accompaniment almost similar throughout the piece (which, I understand, was your intention), it is difficult to differentiate between the two themes. Also, both themes used chromatic appoggiaturas in a similar manner, both had descending scales, and both had a similar motif (two eighth notes, then a quarter note, then another quarter note, harmonized by the left hand), which only added to the difficulty of discerning one theme from the other.

Thanks for the comments, everyone! It's nice to see this composer forum is still full of life!

@Al: I see what you mean about the difficulty in telling apart the two theme groups -- however, I think that you've interpreted the development as being theme group 2, as it uses similar material from theme group 1. It follows the A B :| C A B' Coda format, C being the development which uses the same rhythms as the A section. The B section (theme group 2) is actually the part in D major (where the melody is a dotted quarter note, two sixteenth notes, and two eighth notes making up the first measure of the part in D major). Maybe it's difficult to hear that since it's just a sonatina and not a full-blown sonata. :heh: Thanks for your opinion!

I love this one, had been quite some time since i heard a newly composed classical. The theme isn't bad, still can be heard comfortably if u follow the melody. I like the flow of the music, the la grande linge felt pretty clear in this one, maybe becos of ur well plan structure. Very good. :) I hope u could upload more, or do u have any sites where i can dl ur pieces?

Ah, this is really great, in my opinion. You really did a good job capturing the classical style, which is something that I'm awful at. :P The melody is very peaceful and relaxing, which makes the whole piece feel that way. Honestly, I don't think I have quite enough theory knowledge to give you extremely detailed feedback, but I'll give it a shot anyway. The only thing that didn't entirely satisfy me was the very end - the last two chords seemed a tad abrupt. If it's part of the style/form, by all means, I'd leave it as is, but if you can afford to change it, perhaps sustain the last V chord a tad longer and add some ornamentation to make it a bit more interesting. Other than that, great work, and I really hope to hear more from you. :lol:

@Al: I see what you mean about the difficulty in telling apart the two theme groups -- however, I think that you've interpreted the development as being theme group 2, as it uses similar material from theme group 1. It follows the A B :| C A B' Coda format, C being the development which uses the same rhythms as the A section. The B section (theme group 2) is actually the part in G major (where the melody is a dotted quarter note, two sixteenth notes, and two eighth notes making up the first measure of the part in G major). Maybe it's difficult to hear that since it's just a sonatina and not a full-blown sonata. :heh: Thanks for your opinion!

No, I was well aware of the A B :| C A B' Coda format. I still think some parts of B are similar to A, but oh well =P

Ah, sorry to misinterpret what you meant, Al. Perhaps you're right, that the piece is just a bit too static. Thanks for clarifying! I'll post more tomorrow.

*unintentional bump*

Here's a piece I wrote yesterday. I know that the string samples are rather hideous, but try to overlook that. :heh:

This piece for string quartet has a pretty self-explanatory title. It is meant to sound pensive and minimalist, with little harmonic evolvement, some drone tones, and only occasional straying from the initial melodic material. I'm curious if anyone finds the title to be appropriate, as well. :) Thanks in advance for any feedback you may have!

Nice work in this last piece, however for some reason the beginning seems rather boring. I get how the beginning is supposed to set the tone and style, but the first part is just lacking moving lines, to make it interesting. Maybe you could add a piano part, and just do some random moving lines of the melody with the piano...? Just a thought.

I really agree with your choice of title for this song, but I did find an awkward transition. It takes place at 4:32 in your song. The mood seems to change quite abruptly due to the gap between the violins/viola and cello/bass.

Good work, and I'll be looking forward to whatever else you compose during your class!

James! Great new songs :heh: but anyway, UPLOAD YOUR #119 ; #126 ; #129 (!! I love how the harmony works together!); "A ride upon a Cloud" (love it :3) ;
"Fantasy in A" (the intro doesn't sound very special, but when the cello kicks in...!) ; "Kingdom of the Hidden" (one of your greatest songs! especially the part with the panflute and the bells!)
I'm sure many here would enjoy those songs =) At least I do.
I like how playful and nevertheless well structured your songs are. :)

EDIT: I forgot to mention "Shoal". That's got to be one of the best musical descriptions of nature. ^_^
Oh, it would be cool if you could post your "Untitled 41", since I love medieval music and many here seem to disrespect it as too primitive (I don't think so at all).

Love your sonatina, it's so perfect, can't say much about it, but I like it. I'm not into that uber-structured Classical style, but I can sure as hell appreciate it when someone throws a really good wack at it. (By the way, you said 1000th piece; I'll such nickname you Czerny. ^_^ )

That 'Drifting in and out of thought' is really beautiful, almost makes you lamentable while you listen to it. x_x (That's a compliment, emotions SHOULD be conveyed in pieces like that). And although the samples take just a little away to the emotion (they aren't THAT bad) it has a beautiful melancoly (drifty, hehe) feel to it, like it's making you imagine a young child in the back of his parents car, watching the rain fall--no sound, and when I picture that I now see you as a good film composer--weither it be short of major films. :)

Good job man, hope you post some of your old things that Matt mentioned. ^.^

haha, maybe I should do the BWV for James (JWV) :heh:
But that aside, you've done a terrific job on "Drifting In and Out of Thought". You know that I love simplicity and sadness in songs!