colinthomson

Very nice piece. Very good feel, and idea. I like it. Colin Thomson

It depends on what you want to do. If you want to write like Hans Zimmer, musical knowledge is less important. If you want to write like John Williams, than you better have as good a grasp of music theory as possible. Colin Thomson

I don't use a notation software at all. I write it out by hand, and then sequence it in using VSL. I love writing out music, and I have terrible handwriting, too. Take a look at this: Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin: Beethoven Digital Beethoven's handwriting wasn't the best, either. If I were going to have an orchestra play it, than I would put it into Finale or something. But the compositional process, for me, must be done by hand. Colin Thomson

Well, I haven't developed a a hard-and-fast work flow yet, but at the moment I am writing a piece not using key signatures, and I like it. So I will put my vote down for not using them, although that is subject to change. Colin Thomson

Do you write key signatures in your score? I have the score for 'Across the Stars' by John Williams, and he shows no key signature, even though he obviously begins in D minor and moves freely between keys throughout the piece. So I want to know what you do, and why you do it. Thanks. Colin Thomson

Where do you vote? Colin Thomson

I DON'T want to be signed up (thought I should make that clear), but in competitions like this do we need to have the score? I am in the opposite situation from Violinfiddler, because I write everything by hand, and then I use VSL and my keyboard to play it, and record it. The only score I get is handwritten (and the one built into Logic Pro, but I have had a hard time getting that to do what I want it too). As I said before, I will not be participating in this, but I would like to know what I should do for other competitions. Colin Thomson

Very . . . . Interesting. Hmmmmm. Always had a hard time with sonic modeling. Colin Thomson

yes, I used to play guitar, but now pretty much only piano. And I can't decide if that is a good thing or not. But I started with piano, went to guitar while still playing piano the whole time, and then sort of left guitar. Now I am playing around some with trumpet, clarinet, and ukulele. But I think piano will always be my number one instrument. Though learning those other ones gives you more respect for the players of those instruments. Colin Thomson

Finally, after looking at this for a while, said minor third. But that is just at the moment and subject to change without notice. I love all of them. Close to the top is also minor sixth, major sixth, and minor seventh, though I have been playing around with the major seventh some, too, and it is interesting. Colin Thomson

Can you give examples of where Liszt and Wagner (and others) have done this? I just want to hear more of it put into practicality. Thanks. Colin Thomson

I sure don't transcribe from head. I hope I don't have to. At least yet.

In the US, probably 'Happy Birthday". No idea about anywhere else. ;) But you need to remember that (I think) there are more people in Asia and the Eastern cultures than Western, so probably most of them would have no idea about happy birthday or Beethoven's 5th. But I am no authority. :cool: Colin Thomson

A really great book on orchestrating is 'The Study Of Orchestration' by Samuel Adler. It has sections for each of the common (and less common) instruments of the orchestra, how they are played, how the sound is produced, how to notate them, what is their range and the characteristics of their range, and much more. But then it also goes on to how you combine instruments and achieve a balance in the orchestra. It is a VERY helpfull book. Also, take a look at this website: Principles of Orchestration On-line - northernsounds.com This goes through the text of 'Principles of Orchestration' by Rimsky Korsakov, but also includes audio and video examples along the way. Colin Thomson

That is how I take it. I listen to so much music all the time, I hope I am getting something out of it. Stravinsky had a few good quotes. One of my favorites is something like 'Harp players spend 90% of their time tuning, and 10% playing out of tune'. Colin Thomson