University portfolio - final year

Here comes another raining hail at the uni thread :toothygrin:

Ok supposing everything goes well in my resits, I will have to decide by the end of the month and put in my proposal for my composition project next year. Originally I was planning on doing a violin sonata/concerto but I am worried. If I do this then my full lot of marks will come from one work which if I mess up with mean a very large dent in my degree.

I get 18-22 mins (varies on instrumentation and so forth) to play with. But given that the last very large scale work I did was at A level (3 years old), I am concerned that I will not be able to approach or complete to a high standard a very large scale work unless it was something like program music (like my A level one was). However, I am not sure I could develop my current style to make it more mature and contemporary and then use that to write a large scale work.

Then we have the concern that should I do a large scale work, it would mean that the very small portfolio I already have would not benefit and it would be very hard to locate, should I wish, a performance of the completed work.

However, I could write a mixture portfolio in which I have 3/4 pieces spread over the year. I rejected this idea at first because I wanted to have my full attention based on one work with I could spend 7 months on and get it the way I wanted and not have to worry about other works.

But if I did this second option then I would be able to explore a tour de force of styles, techniques and instrumentations. If I was to do this, I'd think about doing 3 works for Pierre ensemble. But I feel that maybe more stressful given that I am also doing a large scale dissertation and modules next year too.

So what do you guys think?

I'd prefer 3 smaller pieces, but that's because I can't write larger works well, but I have no idea what a Pierre Ensemble is...

But, I'm in the same boat, sort of. I have a 45-min comp recital as a capstone-type thing at the end of my BFA. Gots to gets writing!

oops spelling mistake! I meant a Pierrot ensemble which is a musical ensemble comprised of flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano, frequently augmented by the addition of a singer or percussionist. The ensemble can also use the normally doubling - flute (piccolo).

I'd say try the smaller pieces. But I would personally not use the same ensemble for all the pieces, if I chose to do the smaller pieces. Otherwise you'll kind of stick with the same orchestration and not be able to exhibit a wider array of skills and writing techniques which you might be able to exhibit with different orchestrations, in terms of instrument families or size.

But I don't think you'll find the answer in YC :) I think you should think carefully about how your folios have been throughout the previous years, how you'd like to finish (a big, impressive piece could be a very nice graduating piece if you work on it a lot, while a folio of smaller pieces might not be as impressive), what you haven't done, what you'd like to do, and what you feel like doing in general. Also, think of applying what you've found out in your essay about the orchestra in 20th and 21st century composition :P

But I don't think you'll find the answer in YC :) I think you should think carefully about how your folios have been throughout the previous years, how you'd like to finish (a big, impressive piece could be a very nice graduating piece if you work on it a lot, while a folio of smaller pieces might not be as impressive), what you haven't done, what you'd like to do, and what you feel like doing in general. Also, think of applying what you've found out in your essay about the orchestra in 20th and 21st century composition :P

Well this is what is the thorn in my side. I feel that I have learnt hardly anything over the course of my degree. My education in composition has been rather limited and any coursework has been restricted to a few 2-3 min exercises with one 6 min piece in each term.

I have been restricted in my time to explore my own study through health and financal problems so while I am now attempting to do my own study, I am now in the situation that this will be my final year.

This is why I chose to go the biggest composition project because it would give me the extra time to explore myself. But now I have to decide what to do with the time I get.

Dude, I hear you all the way... I feel the same way, but I've had some killer moments in courses.

You seem pretty comfortable with the idea of a major work, so that's probably what you should aim for. Do you have an adviser of some type? I've had the same composition teacher from day one, so that's been a big help, and he's steered me a bit; maybe a quick email to yours in the offseason could be good?

Nice to know I'm not the only one :) How are you gonna grab the musicians?

From what you describe, it seems like going for the big project sounds the best thing to do.

I think working on one piece alone would be a good way, as you said, to kind of give more of yourself into writing a single piece and see how this works out. I don't think you should feel you might not respond well to writing a big piece, because that's what composition is all about - encountering difficulties and finding ways around them :P So if you choose that, make sure you find good solutions to any problems that come around and you should be perfectly fine, but definitely don't be put off by the difficulties that a larger work might pose. Whatever you choose, I wish you the best of luck :)

EDIT:

Dude, I hear you all the way [...]

Dude...?

Dude, I hear you all the way...

*psst* Dude's name is Charlotte ;)

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SO, Charlotte - which option will YOU be most comfortable with? Which will give you the most space to flex your creativity? Try not to tailor your writing to what a particular school or prof may like, but be yourself.

Pick an ensemble that you like...AND, one that you'll be able to amass and rehearse in time.

For me, three or four smaller works might be easier - but a larger work will be vastly more cohesive and developed.

...

*shrug*

I like the idea of writing a big piece because I get to focus on one piece but the project outline does say rather clearly that this project is not for stylistic study so I will be expected write something contemporary and modern, which is daunting right now.

Don't even mention my lecturers. I should have gone to a different uni.

Thankfully its not for a specific ensemble and therefore requiring me to write for particular players.

Ok, so I am still confused but I am in the sitution where I have so much uni work to do for Tuesday that I am not likely to get any sleep all weekend.

But say I do the Violin Concerto/Sonata. How can I make it work? I have recently done a module on the virtuositic concerto in which I hope elements will appear in my Tango composition. As a violinist, albeit beginner, so that would help. What I trying to explain is that yes, I like the idea of a big piece because its big and I'll have the one focus all year but how am I going to approach that big piece? yet alone in a contemporary way.

So this leads me to thing I would benfit from a portfolio of smaller works for chamber (on a common theme). BUT this confuses me because if I do this then yes I will get several chamber works which I have poured my attention into and therefore have a good portfolio which I can attempt to get performed and/or get me to post grad. But how would I apporach that?

I know these are concerns I should be sharing with my university but those who know my background will understand why I am asking you guys - who have been more help to me EVER - than them.

I'd like to explain why I am struggling to decide -

The last work I did which I was actually proud of was an for orchestral work. It was a program piece for Othello which I had several themes in but very very little development on them. That was 3 years ago.

I have always complained on here that I hate my current style and I wanted to spend my summer productivally with a textbook I found in the library which looked at every little detail from melody onwards, full of examples and little exercises to do. But this couldn't happen and so I am left in the position where the only musical forms I am comfortable in using is ABA and rondo - both of which came from my A level studies. I have never attempted a sonata form piece something I wanted to try for ages - but not when nearly 30% of my entire years' marks comes from the result.

Simply put - if I get less and 60% for this portfolio - I lose any and all chance of getting a 2:1 degree but I am getting the chance finally to spend a year doing what I want instead of what they want yet there is some much I want to do and I can't decide.

Firstly, sorry to triple post.

Today I was told that I need to submit my proposals ASAP and I have finally decided on my written project so I just need a composition.

So guys - these are my three possible projects - simple as - A, B or C and why?

A: A Violin Sonata - A two movement work of Violin and Piano using the structure used by Walton is his Sonata (1st movement - Sonata form 2nd Variations)

B: Program Music: Selections from Romeo and Juliet for orchestra. If I going to do an orchestral piece then I need something to focus me and when I did my last orchestral piece I used Othello. Orchestra double 2222, 4221, Timp Perc Harp, Strings.

C: Chamber Music: Three works for Pierrot ensemble. It has been suggested that if I did a selection of Chamber Works that I mix up the ensemble. But as far I am aware all the works in the folio must have a common element.

Thanks

C.

Probably could show your skills best in three Pierrot ensemble works...or just three chamber ensemble works.

I would say an orchestral piece, but Romeo and Juliet is a tad overdone. So I vote C.

Woot a response

Thank you!

C.

I would say an orchestral piece, but Romeo and Juliet is a tad overdone. So I vote C.

Ditto... why not an Ibsen play? :P

Ditto... why not an Ibsen play? :P

A what?

I'd pick C. I'm really into writing for a single ensemble, but finding unique and creative ways to use it. Find a way to get three distinct sounding pieces from the same instrumentation...

Thinking orchestrationally is important - don't forget doubles, mutes, extended techniques...

...

Ok this is the propsal that I am planning on sending to my lecturer.

For my Composition project (40 credits), I would like to write three individual works for Pierrot ensemble. I plan on making the works constant each other - for example - having one lyrical work and one rhythmic work. I intend to also explore the possibility of using the traditionally doubling availible such as maybe using a Cor Anglais instead of an Oboe with the works. I am not ruling out either inclusion of voice but as I am very unfamiliar with writing for vocals, I doubt will decide to use this.

What do you think?

By "works constant each other" I think you mean "works contrast each other" :hmmm:...and available is misspelled.

The proposal probably could've been worded better, too, but I won't go into that, unless you want some editing help, just I thought I'd point out those misspellings. Since it's for your lecturer it should be fine.

Raining -

Sounds good your idea to write for Pierrot ensemble. If time is short, you may want to just focus on this without worrying about the voice. Don't quite understand how these will be "constant" -- how will you unify these pieces?

Sorry both - I am dyslexic and firefox spelling will only help so much

The proposal only has to be a few lines long so that it can be reviewed by the department so they can assign the student the best supervisor and make sure that the topic is sound academically.

CO - Pierrot ensemble often includes voice though it isn't a requirement which is why I have mentioned it. And that was a spelling mistake - I meant contrast!

I'll be typing this up properly and then emailing my lecturer soon.

A play by Henrik Ibsen? Peer Gynt, Enemy of the People? Had to read that stuff... senior year of HS, I think.

Cool playwright if you've never read him... Mad depressing at times.

I was just trying to think of someone who wasn't Shakespeare :)