aninquisition

Any recommendations on the best keyboard bang for the buck? I'm looking for a large database of realistic orchestral sounds. How much? Thanks. matthew

Good day! I'm preparing to write a military march (fantasy genre: Dwarven citadel). I was surprised to discover how much the form of the march underdetermines the sound and emotional effect in that a few seem powerful but many marches (classical and Sousa-like) sound more light and fruity, which isn't what I'm attempting here. I will be composing the march in old style (pen and paper with piano only), as that is all I have access to. Does anyone have any advice on how to get a Dwarven-type feel out of a piano-only march? (Aside from using lower octaves...) Can anyone articulate for me what are the compositional elements that make Holst's Bringer of War such a strong march-like work? Or, more generally, what do I need to do (aside from march key and time sigs) to make my composition sound distinctly like a march, as opposed to something that sounds nice and inspiring but not march-like? Thank you for your time and advice! Be well! piper

Good day to all! Please forgive the ebullient naivete, but it is exciting to be joining a group of people with whom I share such a deep passion! I am just beginning to compose and to learn music theory by self-direction, and I am seeking information on the best software and keyboard to purchase in order to write sonatas, quartets and orchestral pieces (perhaps down the road on the latter!) for both playback and sheetmusic creation. More specifically, I would like advice on what program to purchase that would allow me to play phrases and so forth on a keyboard and which would then be automatically written into sheet music form. The other feature would be to some kind of playback system after I have entered all the voices (through the keyboard) for a composition. I'm sure these are obvious and silly questions, but I don't know where to begin. Thanks to any and all for your help and suggestions - please feel free to email me at aninquisition@aol.com if you prefer. Be well! piper