aaronolsen

I overhauled Arabian Twilight- it is still kind of sporadic, but much longer. Let's see what you think... Arabian Twilight ballad new.MID Arabian Twilight ballad.MUS

Wow... I love how the piano is skipping all over in the beginning, and how the key and mood keep getting 'pushed and pulled' by unexpected notes in the soprano... They fit so well, though- very mysterious... The slow section right after has a very beautiful lulling, rippling effect. The variations afterward depict almost every range of feeling and mood. Well done! I would love to hear the work recorded with the vocalist!

Thanks again. Yes, it does seem a bit- irritable- at times. However, true to form, it is a quite different flavor and cultural style. Yes I admit I am not 'proficient' nor 'gifted' when it comes to composing. Yet in my defense, it is supposed to sound very harsh, loud, lots of conflicting rhythms and many, many voices all fighting against each other to become dominant. Really, the dynamics aren't accentuated enough. Anyway, I'll work it through. Thanks for your help! AO

To each his own. Strings have capabilities that winds could only dream of... Yet winds do have strengths and charachteristics that strings can never have... I'm just saying- don't limit yourself. If you want to be a prominent or great composer, you may have to get out of your own instrument for a while.

Yes, many people think that orchestra is superior to bands. However, the truth is that they are simply different, not better or worse. That's like saying apples are better than oranges, a classic example. Maybe one person likes oranges because he's had them all of his life. Maybe another one hates oranges because they are so foreign to her. Really what you have to do is force yourself to listen critically and rid yourself of bias. I used to hate listening to classical music, and then my school orchestra needed some help in the brass section and I played with them. Upon listening, studying, and exploring, I now own a few albums full of classical music, and my favorite radio station is classical. The same works in reverse. I think it would really help string players if they knew a bit more about those instruments backing them up all the time. Just a thought.

Thanks Matusleo. I have a hard time writing when the only comments I get are "Yeah, it's good". This forum really helps to iron out the issues, and to put my work in front of those whose opinions are genuine, who know what they are talking about. I'll rework it and see how it goes. Thanks again!

I wish I could... I may be able to convert them- We may be getting Cakewalk soon. The midi files don't really give the full-body sound- many parts are covered up or missing, or even distorted. I'll see what I can do. I probably won't be posting for a while, but I'll work on it.

If I may, Fredrik... I am a trumpet player myself. The piece is beautifully crafted and the orchestral accompaniment is excellent. I would suggest not to be 'afraid' of the music. What I mean is, it is a fairly simple piece for orchestral trumpet playing. Go ahead and experiment with some embellishing- mordents, turns, trills, etc. Listen to orchestral trumpet solos, not just the 'popular' stuff. I take it you play the cello, and it sounds a bit like it was meant to be played by a string soloist. It is incredible how it all 'fits' together. Nice Job! A.olsen

:)Hello Everyone! This is my first posting:toothygrin:- and my best work to date. I thought I'd start out with a bang. My 'Suite' began as an untitled work for wind ensemble. As the first movement- Bedouin March- began to unfold, it sounded more and more exotic. It reminds me of dusty winds and rolling sand dunes, rocky ridges littered with scraggly vegetation. As soon as I knew I wanted to paint a picture of the Middle East, I got going. This is, essentially, a depiction of the Middle-Eastern idea as far as my uneducated guess will go. Although it took me only a few hours to initially 'place the notes down', I spent a three years of 'pecking' it to death, editing, reediting, revising, rerevising, and cutting, pasting, and editing some more. I conducted a bit of research into the music of the Middle East while writing these. Recurring themes in each website were an evenly tempered scale, with close intervals, favoring western equivalent seconds and fifths, with very harsh chords and tones in general. Also, rhythmic dissonance, or excessive counterpoint, was a key element to the form and structure. Often, one lead voice would dominate, sometimes improvising, while two or three others would support with differing rhythms 'underneath'. Enough banter. Now, the three tunes are Bedouin March, Arabian Twilight, and Rub' al Khali. They were originally written for wind ensemble, but I'm trying to make it adaptable for concert band and marching band. Enjoy! Bedouin March.MUS Bedouin March.MID Arabian Twilight ballad.MUS Arabian Twilight ballad.MID Rub al'Khali- the Sea of Flames.MUS Rub al'Khali- the Sea of Flames.MID