ttmaster2004

I agree with royreintjes statements that this piece is extremely atmospheric and very well done with regards to evoking the imagery that you are trying to evoke. Also the way you use harmonies (progressions/voicings/dissonance) is varied and interesting throughout. However, at many moments I felt you extended phrases for too long and kept ideas going past their welcome without enough variation. Overall, however this is a beautiful piece that you should be proud of. Congrats!

I really enjoyed this piece. It never became monotonous or boring to me as other reviewers have said. I don't think you really need a contrasting section since you have enough variation throughout the piece with regards to rhythm and melody and especially textures and colors to keep the listener interested. I like the style of the piece as it struck me as not taking it self very seriously yet still well written enough to be taken seriously by the listener. Great job!

I am wondering if the piece makes sense structurally and if it flows well. It makes sense in my mind, but I do not know if this coherently transfers to the listener. Thus, it would be very helpful if some people could tell me if they felt the piece was too random or if it just sounds like a bunch of various lines thrown together. If this is the case then more revision is obviously necessary. Also a question for string players: will the solo snap pizz. parts come out in performance? Will the effect be as it sounds in the mp3, or much softer? Thanks in advance!

Hi, i like the contest idea and it just happens that I have a piece already written that seems to work. Would i be allowed to enter the competition at this time? Also is it allowed to submit a piece that you have written earlier and not for this competition in the allotted one month time period? This piece would be for orchestra. Thanks.

Heckel, I was referring to more specific info regarding the notes themselves. The story is fine and clear but if you could clarify how the notes, harmonies, motifs, structures relate to each other and are developed that would help. Basically tell me your thought process while composing this piece. Many people have claimed that this is a random piece and if we understand how you went about composing the piece and how you developed things technically I think it would unrandomize the piece so to speak. If you didn't really think of these things while composing, that's fine as well, it doesn't diminish the piece.

Thanks heckel and impresario for the kind words. Hmm, i'm wondering why you weren't able to hear the contrabassoon part. Whenever I listen I am able to distinguish it. I'll need to adjust this in the mix though if its a problem. Has anyone else had such problems with the recording? Also impresario what other parts were you unable to hear clearly? Thanks.

I've just finished listening to "composition 1" and am very impressed. The piece remained somewhat constant throughout in terms of dynamics and feel but nowhere did I feel bored or uninterested. Somehow you found away to maintain interest throughout. I can't comment technically on how I think you accomplished this (maybe the variety of articulation, textures, and tessituras), but I certainly think that it is quite an accomplishment!

Graham, I've just listened to the piece but like others was impressed but a bit confused by it. I am not going to critique it yet as I don't think I fully understand it. Clearly, there are brilliant ideas going on in here, otherwise judges including samuel adler wouldn't have awarded you first prize, I just don't think we are able to distinguish them. Thus, I think it would be helpful if you could provide more technical and detailed info about the piece so that some of these brilliant ideas can be revealed to us. Tell us about some specific motific, orchestrational, and structural ideas and how you developed them, then i'm sure people like Norby will be taking back their words and we will all be able to provide more constructive criticism. Congrats on the win!

Hi blackballoons, It seems you are interested in the ASCAP competition so I have some words on that. After listening to the first movement I think you have a good chance in the competition. The judges definitely like this type of modern music that isn't avant-garde. I've noticed that usually most winners have this sort of style and pieces that are too avant-garde are rejected. In 2008 I wrote a piece in this style and won, and in 2009 I wrote a very avant-garde piece that received finalist standing but did not win. Thus, I think you will do well; the piece is very imaginative and enjoyable. It is important to note, however, that you shouldn't place too much importance in these competitions. As shown by the trends i explained above, the competitions are very biased and music is too subjective to be judged. So, whatever you do, just enjoy composing in whatever style suits you best. The awards and accolades will come.

I feel that "the leonids" piece would fit very well into a film score as it does tell a story quite well, but as a piece of concert music maybe it is a bit too varied? This is my opinion of course and maybe my feeble mind cannot discern the connection between the many ideas. I enjoyed each idea on its own, but their overall connection wasn't apparent to me. Technically, the piece is wonderful. You certainly have a firm grasp of melody, harmony, orchestration and rhythm. Nothing I can criticize in that aspect. Very nice.

I enjoyed this piece, it definitely was fun and kept my interest throughout. The harmonic, melodic, and orchestrational ideas were strong. However, I felt that the rhythmic ideas were too square. The piece remained in 4/4 throughout without not one slight alteration if I remember correctly. Maybe a surprising 3/4 somewhere in the middle of the sea of 4/4 would add extra interest? Overall, a very enjoyable piece. Nice job!

Thanks for the comments omar and mitchell. I am currently in the process of extending the piece and making it for full orchestra. This "2 hour copy" is sort of a rough draft or a sketch for maybe the ending of the extended orchestral fanfare that I am writing now. Omar, When I stated that the piece was "american" sounding it did not imply patriotism. By saying that I was basically stating that the piece was influenced by copland and has that sort of feel to it. Also, many fanfares are quite dissonant. John Adams "short ride in a fast machine" has many dissonant parts and I'm sure more knowledgeable musicians will know much more dissonant fanfares. Again thanks for listening.

This is a short fanfare that I wrote yesterday in about two hours. It is very American sounding and is interspersed with a few very dissonant, even atonal, parts, but tonality always returns. Enjoy! score: fanfare 2.pdf - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage mp3: Fanfare 2.mp3 - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

What about the parts where the right hand skips approximately 2 octaves back and forth in quick succession. Those certainly would not be possible correct?

Hmm, I was thinking about that, but I decided against it since I thought the extreme rhythmic variation (7 against 5, 5 against 3, etc.) between the two parts might pose many performance problems for one pianist. Any thoughts on this?