jackblume

I was thinking your music may be inspired my Glass's score! Very fine work indeed Mr Vincent. I like it a lot.

Actually, it's a Table Canon, a Mirror Canon is the inversion, this is the retrograde (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_Canon) Nice idea, but I agree with SergeOfArniVillage, there's a whole lot more you could do with it. It seems a little as though the confines of the exercise have prevented you from creating something that is still musically, or atmospherically interesting. The chord progressions are neither adventurous, nor artistically static in the 'misty' sense that SergeOfArniVillage referred to. I would def try writing another of these thinking even more about the final piece, rather than just getting the two lines to fit together. Think about it as two staves in parallel, the lower playing the retrograde, rather than one stave in two directions.

That's the one I got! Cheap and works perfectly. I just had a quick search on amazon US for you american folk... $2.75! http://www.amazon.com/Cable-Converter-Music-Keyboard-Window/dp/B0017H4EBG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1279706555&sr=8-1 Yes, this is what you need, and using MIDI is really very simple once it's set up. (If you have a mac, setup doesn't usually require any work other than plugging in). Logic is brilliant, but it is highly advanced professional software which, based on what you say you do, doesn't sound like what you require. I'm sure that Sonar is more than adequate for your needs. For notation though, I find Sibelius is the best programme. (You can still play into Sibelius from your keyboard, not only move around the note-heads). If you want to do more complex recordings with many more (and more realistic sounding) digital instruments, a more advanced DAW may be the way to go. Good luck!

The second half of an exercise in development and contrast. (See 'Melting Ice Cream' for the first part)This is a theme and variations developing ideas based on the concept of treading on broken glass, in direct contrast with that of melting ice cream. Treading on Broken Glass (Piano Study #2)

The first half of an exercise exploring development and contrast.This is a short theme and variations for piano, developing an idea based on the concept of melting ice cream.The second half, in direct contrast with this, is a theme and variations called 'Treading on Broken Glass'. Also uploaded. Melting Ice Cream (Piano Study #1)

Thank you very much, it's wonderful receiving out and out compliments hehe

Thanks! I'm the male one heh. Cheers for the horn backing advice, that's something I didn't know before! Well spotted on the piano solo... it was indeed supposed to be a trumpet or sax solo originally, but I didn't have time to record one so I very quickly played in a piano solo and pumped the gain. I know that wouldn't work live, but it was fine for the purposes of the recording. Thankfully it doesn't need to be played live. In the same line, it's not scored as a proper arrangement, I literally wrote the song at a piano, and then did the arrangement as I went along in Logic. That's why I don't have separate horn parts, merely some 'horn section' stab chords, and some 'trumpet section' backings. The string parts would, if it were to be performed, be played by a small string section, Bublé style. A string section is another fundamental part of a cheesy pop/jazz piece, I find Glad you enjoyed though, thanks for the tips!

This is a jazz duet with full big band that I wrote as a surprise for a bride and groom at their wedding. I spent a good deal of time when I should have been revising for exams writing, recording and mixing this, so at least it paid off on the night. The chorus uses a standard circle of fifths progression, and the key change goes up a tone, as every cheesy jazz/pop song should. The Twentieth Day of June

Thanks a lot! Well I imagine that Jazz probably has been an influence. I suppose its influenced by everything that's entered my ear canals over the past year! hones:

Cool, thanks Peter! A few years ago I wrote a couple of longer minimalist pieces... around 6-7 minutes for larger ensembles, with much slower and more minimal development. I think with this piece I didn't really want to go for that, I wanted to develop the ideas continuously in a more fluid manner. The idea that it is continuously developing, for me, is quite different to the (arguably) more static development of traditional minimalism in which something will repeat itself many times before it changes at all. However, I completely agree that it could continue further, and that perhaps I do hint at ideas earlier on that don't get developed as thoroughly as one might want them to. Thanks for the tips, and light saber!

I'm a big John Adams fan... his work is brilliant (you'll notice he's in my favourite composers list hehe). In that respect, I do prefer post-minimalist music to the likes of Glass and Reich. I'm gonna go check out Totalism in a second, sounds exciting! Thanks for all the comments, I'll bear it all in mind next time I start writing something like this.

Ok, yes I know what you mean about the 'guitar solo' sound. Presumably that is the 'sul pont' passage, with its gritty sound timbre and free glissandi. The score is now up as a PDF if you want to see it. And I've just uploaded another, slightly older piece too if you're interested, for solo piano.

A short piece (or study) for solo Piano, with emphasis on continuous development. As a result of this, is through-composed, developing harmonic, melodic and rhythmic ideas continuously throughout. Very minimalist-inspired. Vivification

Score uploaded! Sib though, not set up at the moment to do a PDF, will do soon. Thanks, glad you like it! I had never thought of it as a rock/pop crossover piece, but that's an interesting angle. I composed it as my A Level composition, and for a large competition too. I performed it myself, both the Cello and Piano, but the Cello is live and Piano is MIDI. I wish I could have been a little more in tune in some of the high parts too, but It's some of it is pretty difficult haha! But most of it is completely in tune. Bands I listen to? Have never really been into those classic rock bands, used to be a pretty big Muse/Radiohead fan, but I wouldn't say they have influenced this piece at all. I have been quite inspired recently by playing Gaspar Cassado's Cello suite, which has influenced some of it I suppose. Anyway, thanks for the long and complimentary review! It's great to hear how other people hear and interpret your music. I'll upload some more of my work soon.

Really liking that industrial sound you have going. The bass pedal sits nice and subtly under the mix. It sounds very much like a piece of intense game music!