D.S

Pretty good. It would probably sound better with real instruments. The tempo changes were good. I agree with whoever said trhat it needs something to lay down chords underneath it. Maybe try Steve Reich's technique of using an electric organ (it sounds surprisingly cool).

There are no major problems with this piece (a properly trained composition teacher probably could probably give you more advice). My only complaint was that it ended too suddenly, and there wasn't a definite heroic theme anywhere. Minor complaints, and things that great composers have gotten away with. I loved some of the orchestral colors (such as what sounded like pizzicato) and how the chaos theme kept coming back.

I'm working on Albert Glinsky's "Toccata-Scherzo" on violin.

I play piano, violin, and viola (pretty much just violin in a different clef), so at this point, I really just write for different combinations of strings and piano. Eventually, I think I'll broden my range, but until I start feeling confident about how my string pieces sound.

Sorry. I wasn't clear. What I mean is that composing just because someone tells you to, or just composing what you think other people want to hear despite what you like, is degrading to you and your listener. Yes, we all compose to communicate. But you're composing because you WANT to communicate, right? You're composing for yourself.

In response to the question about if you need any inherent skill to compose. No. You don't need any sort of musical talent what-so-ever. All you need is the inborn NEED to compose, and you will find some way to work around any lack of a good ear or junk like that. And even if others tell you that "No, you wont write anything good," then take this site off your favorites list and don't visit it anymore, and compose anyway. Composition is for you, and you only. Not the listener, not the critics, not your teachers... you. And if you manage to write something that people lik, well, all the better for them. Note that this is not to say that you shouldn't ever take someone's advice on what to do to improve your piece. That is advice that, in the long run, is better to take, just because you yourself begin to see new possibilities, and new ways of doing things. The only way to know if you can compose or not is to start composing. Anything. Write down random notes if you want. Find a music notation program and just put in all eigth notes. Whatever. Just as long as you start getting a feel for what works, what doesn't, and how to go about the whole thing. good luck.

Aaron Copland's Third Symphony is the greates piece (in my opinion) ever written.

There are always new things to try in a composition, small and large. And I agree that it's very possible, probably even probable, that in 50 or so years, a completely new style of composition will have developed.

It sounds like the polyphonic thing is a matter of personal taste, but I do have a little problem with texture variety (I tried to fix some of it in this piece), probably from minimalist influences. I should have brought that melody at :22 back, but I just couldn't bring myself to, since I didn't like it as much as the others :blush:. Thanks for your input.

How important is the originality of a piece to you? Does it have to be a different sound, or at least a new twist on a previous idea, or do you prefer pieces that simply present a polished, perfect version of a style?

Sorry. The thing wont play now. It doesn't seem to exist (the site says it's 0:00). If you want to, you can try e-mailing the file to me at jefequeso@gmail.com

No offense to anyone on here, but I'm a little iffy about giving sheet music out online. When you say the piano part was too different, what exactly do you mean?

You don't have to upload an MP3. Just make a midi file (if you have any Finale program). It's taking awhile to load... Wow, is it taking awhile! Oy! Load you moronic MP3! LOOOOAAAADDDD!!!!! Crud. I'm going to have to wait 'till I get to my grandpa's house. He's got DSL. Hang in there.

Here's a prospective first movement of a violin sonata. The program I used is picky about dynamics, so I didn't put any in (I'm going to add them by hand). But, you should get the general idea. violin sonata.MID

Sort of an experiment with various modern elements. It starts out nasty, and gets tonal toward the end, so that you appreciate the tonal part more. Tell me what you think. minuettrio.MID