modern classical composition for string quartet

I make ambient/drone music and have been working towards incorporating more string arrangements. I have a pretty limited background in composition and would love to hear some feedback. Thank you.

So you might want to look into the aleatoric systems... namely in this case, using seconds (i.e. 32") to mark your time instead of the whole notes and multimeasure rests you have now. It just makes it look a lot cleaner. Is m. 273 like that as well (the stagger bowing)? If so then simply use words to note that type of change. If it's supposed to be in time, you might want to use some repeats (same with the section at 65 perhaps).

At measure 33-34 and those like it, there's no real reason to have it tied to the next whole note when all of it is done in an ad lib. fashion (unless, of course, it's timed out, in which case, you could just have the "tempo" be slower instead of tying). 

The beginning note... is it supposed to sound major or just like a harmonic cluster. If it's supposed to actually be in D major, you might want to add the 3rd, but that's just traditional western theory; easily and understandably broken.

Honestly, the chords you're using are fine the way I hear them in my head but I think it comes down to engraving at this point. You're in no way obligated to think I'm correct. If you want to see what I mean by a seconds system, I attached a part of a piece I wrote called "A Forest" (©2014) which does similar type things.

Cheers!

Edit: Whoops sorry it's sideways!

5 hours ago, MonarcheonAan said:

So you might want to look into the aleatoric systems... namely in this case, using seconds (i.e. 32") to mark your time instead of the whole notes and multimeasure rests you have now. It just makes it look a lot cleaner. Is m. 273 like that as well (the stagger bowing)? If so then simply use words to note that type of change. If it's supposed to be in time, you might want to use some repeats (same with the section at 65 perhaps).

At measure 33-34 and those like it, there's no real reason to have it tied to the next whole note when all of it is done in an ad lib. fashion (unless, of course, it's timed out, in which case, you could just have the "tempo" be slower instead of tying). 

The beginning note... is it supposed to sound major or just like a harmonic cluster. If it's supposed to actually be in D major, you might want to add the 3rd, but that's just traditional western theory; easily and understandably broken.

Honestly, the chords you're using are fine the way I hear them in my head but I think it comes down to engraving at this point. You're in no way obligated to think I'm correct. If you want to see what I mean by a seconds system, I attached a part of a piece I wrote called "A Forest" (©2014) which does similar type things.

Cheers!

Edit: Whoops sorry it's sideways!

 

 

Thank you for the feedback! I'm learning alot!