compy-green

I'd like to enter as a contestant :glare:

QUOTE So... the question still remains: how does one go about persuading an ensemble to perform a piece?[/b] My advice would be to just ask :P It can't hurt to try. Let them know a little about yourself - why you're interested in composing, why you want your piece performed, etc. Also, try looking into any composition contests going on in your area. Many of them offer having your piece performed as a grand prize. Good luck :blush:

Ah, I see what you mean! I guess it is obvious that I don't play piano very well, haha :) Thank you for the comments!

My first attempt at a "modern" piano piece. The midi format cut off my last measure for some odd reason :) SoloPiano.mid SoloPiano.mus

Wow, this thread has been very helpful :) I will have to check out some of these books! I read a GREAT book on film scoring not too long ago - "Complete Guide to Film Scoring" by Richard Davis. This is a very informative book and it is presented in an easy to understand way. It also has some interviews with film composers in the back of the book :D

I have some questions about Finale (I use 2005) How can I make Finale play trills? I know how to write one in ... but it never gets played :) How can I change the midi channel of an instrumet without changing any of the other instruments that are using that channel along with it?

QUOTE Not much of a band man, but I do find that I like much of Frank Ticheli's stuff (particularly Blue Shades and Postcard).[/b] Ah, I LOVE Blue Shades! :) Our band also played a lot of David Holsinger's pieces. Some of my favorites were Grayson Dance and Scootin' on Hardrock.

This is a recording of my highschool jazz band playing Isfahan by Duke Ellington. Im the sax soloist ... duh :) http://www.freewebs.com/compy-green/02-Track-02.mp3

QUOTE I think that for a young composer, it's important to get the music performed by live musicians and not only by a, let's face it, poor and inexpressive computer.[/b] I agree! Hearing your music played by real musicians is such a great experience! :) I've had a few of my pieces performed. Two were performed by my local symphony because I won a composition contest. Another was performed by a local college band. (because I asked... really nicely, lol) And my own highschool's wind ensemble played some of my pieces as well. QUOTE I've been looking hopelessly to find recorded music here! Do you plan to get your music performed or recorded?[/b] I have an mp3 of my highschool sax quartet playing one of my pieces: http://www.freewebs.com/compy-green/14-Track-14.mp3

Ok, I've got both of you listed :)

Thanks for all the comments you guys :P I can't wait to get into college (I move in this Friday, yay!) and really study composition. I'll be sure to post more pieces as I write them

I wrote this a WHILE ago, I wrote it for a middle school band. I didn't really get a chance to hear many comments on it other than from my band director so I thought I'd share with you guys. Some of the percussion parts sound...weird. Finale likes to turn things into whistles so I tried my best to make it sound right. Carousel.MID

Oh wow, I have so many favorites :cool: I love Stravinsky! I have a 2 CD set that I listen to in my car all the time. I also really dig Frank Ticheli and David Holsinger (band nerd here) and of course my idol, John Williams.

I gave the oboe part to the soprano sax, since they have similar timbres, and the bassoon part to the bari since that was the bass line, then I just gave the flute and clarinet parts to altos. I wish I had a recording of one of our better performances of it, ah well. :cool:

I didn't have real "recordings" of my pieces, I just put the midi files on a CD :blink: But, hey, I got accepted. I know my college was VERY vague on what they were looking for in the compositions. I sent in 3: A march, a woodwind quartet, and a modern band piece. I also brought an atonal violin/piano piece to the interview. Just show them that you can write in different styles. If you are entering as a freshman, they arent expecting you to be perfect, they just want to see potential :D As for the interview, don't worry about it too much. Just do your best to stay calm and most important BE YOURSELF. :cool: