Leaderboard

Hello everyone, It has again been a while since I have posted anything, and I have a new piece to show you all: the Fantasy-Variations in G-sharp minor. This piece was written in 2020. The theme is based on an aria from the 1967 opera "Grigory Melekhov" by the composer Ivan Dzerzhinsky. Ivan Dzerzhinsky (1909-1978) was a Soviet composer and pianist, best known for his operas and popular songs. His most famous work is the 1935 opera "Quietly Flows the Don" (based on the novel of the same name by writer Mikhail Sholokhov), which was a success at its premiere, and which launched Dzerzhinsky's career as a composer. He continued writing operas over the next several decades, including "Virgin Soil Upturned" (from which the duet "The Cossack Song" has since become popular among Russian ensembles), "Fate of a Man", and of course, "Grigory Melekhov" (also based on Sholokhov's novel). Aside from operas and vocal works, he also composed piano concertos and piano suites. His music usually is quite traditional and accessible, many pieces bearing similarities to Mussorgsky and even Puccini. With the exception of "The Cossack Song", his works receive very few performances today, and they are almost entirely within Russia. Furthermore, he has been labeled a "hack" by musicologists for his musical style, and for his status within the Soviet Union. I wrote this piece because I thought Dzerzhinsky's melody was too beautiful to be forgotten, and I wanted to make it available to other people, as well as to add something new to it; this is not meant to be a political piece. All that said, I hope you all enjoy the piece. 🙂 Also, for those of you who are interested, here is the original theme:

For my Secret Santa entry, I had to describe a world in which all the adults had succumbed to a global pandemic (COVID-19, anyone?), leaving the children alive and alone to fend for themselves and shape the planet they had unwittingly inherited. Though this is a fanciful scenario, psychologically this fear of loss of protection and "parental" guidance is not so farfetched. What would happen if all of that were stripped away? (It invariably is many times throughout our lives.) So that's what this work aims to delve into. I did not intend to get so carried away with this project. I wanted it to be just a few minutes long, with maybe one or two thematic developments... but the creative flame took hold and I'm helpless to resist its overlordish demands. Sigh. So here you have my first attempt at a "traditional" symphony. Not quite as long or extensive (thank God!) but an attempt nonetheless. As is my usual wont, the music is built around the 4th mode of limited transposition—a symmetrical scale whose harmonic progressions depend largely on augmented 4ths/diminished 5ths. Lots of dissonance, tons of quartal harmonies, and perhaps a bit of atonality in places, but I'm not apologizing. The work is extremely tonal—or maybe modal is a better word—it just explores some chords and progressions that aren't very CPP. No score yet... still working on the final two sections, hope to post it and them soon. But I wanted you guys to have something to listen to, since today is the deadline after all. Still working on the score, but the symphony is, by and large, finished. Great topic, definitely fed my creativity! Let me know what could be improved, or what you liked/disliked, as you listen to this. Thanks for bearing with me, and happy listening!

Big music. This does seem to convey the scene you wanted to set in terms of moody and brooding; ominous, baleful. It paints a bleak picture interspersed with obstacles moving hugely to the foreground. I really liked the ending, seeming to point to an indeterminate future, fading out. A most competent piece of writing - one of those rare occasions when someone should make a film to the music, not the other way around. Interesting harmonically, timbrally and structurally (I don't mean formal structure but in the pacing and spacing of the episodes). A propos other comments. I really don't think it needs more percussion. Well done indeed.

Very lyrical and seems to capture some of the coyness of the subject and apprehension through that middle section - well contrasting and harmonically interesting as it builds up. The dialogue stands out well. Most enjoyable. A pleasant listen. .

A delightful piece! It's very nicely constructed, and you have succeeded in capturing the essence and style of a classical piano concerto. I like your harmonic choices very much, and the piano line provides a very even balance with the winds. There were some notes I wasn't entirely sure worked perfectly, but they didn't take away from the overall experience. I enjoyed listening to it very much. Also, I agree with the others who commented here, I think a couple more movements would add nicely to the piece, but it works fine as it is. Great job!

Delightful. The piano part is relatively understated, more of a complementary part of the ensemble rather than a featured soloist and not too difficult. This would be fun to perform for an intermediate level ensemble.

It reminds me of Mozart's concertos. The piano certainly sounds similar to something that Mozart would write. And the interplay of motives across the woodwinds and eventually the piano is just beautiful. And I like how the piano, while being the soloist, is not overwhelming the woodwinds. I have sometimes had that issue of the piano overwhelming the woodwinds, especially the case for the flute and even more so in a duet score. And this is with me taking into consideration the interplay between instruments and writing sections that highlight the character and capabilities of such woodwind instruments. I think you did a good job composing your piece and I do agree that you could add a second and third movement, but just this first movement alone is beautiful and well written.

Wow, that is a really good piece. I think you have perfectly achieved your goal. Formwise and harmony-like sounds like a classical piano concerto, arranged for chamber group. Bright optimistic character, good interplay between parts and nice use of triplets. Well done! You could write a second and third movement to round the piece.