The State of Our World

A consensus piece that I composed that summarizes the feelings and tension in today's world. I've also included some of my own thoughts, feelings, and questions in this piece. It is meant to have a dark atmosphere to show the listener that life is never pretty for too long.

The images are not mine, however the words onscreen are entirely original.

Interesting chords in the beginning... starting off with im7 and VIM7M9 was a bold choice, and I think it came out pretty well. The chord after THAT though, was harsh... IIIP11. The resolution note you put after it, the tonic A-flat, was not a correct resolution and doesn't have that same emotional impact I think you were going for. Simply having the melody line on the third would have been better.
The impressionistic section after was incredibly interesting especially with the pedal D, which I commend you on not making it sound too out of place... just dissonant enough! The choral section following was phrased really strangely, and kind of brought out the worst of the original section. When the two were blended together then two chord you threw in used the 11th again which is awkward when paired with the major third. General rule for you. A lot of this piece continued in a similar matter.
The slower section after, reusing the pedal D was again, dissonant, but in a really great way. Making use of the tritone chords or open fourth chords was an interesting choice to end the piece. Glad to hear an ending this time too! :)

Hahaha yay my ending is good! 

Thanks for your review they are always so very helpful and I'm glad you enjoyed it. 

The way you transition from triadic to quartal harmony really fits your message of the world not being the same anymore. Well done.

The only caution I have for you is that sustained loud loses its dramatic impact after about a minute. The texture change with the rain sounds was very welcome, but before then it all seemed like one dynamic. What is your dramatic high point in the piece? The lightning strike? The end? Use your dynamics to highlight that.

You're also losing a lot of color possibilities in the strings by pushing them loud all the time. Listen to an orchestral recording (not a movie score recording*) of the Barber Adagio for Strings. You'll hear how the strings change color with the dynamic and register.

*Movie music from the loudness war era (mid-90s to today) is a really poor guide for orchestration since it surrenders timbre possibility for volume. Real orchestra recordings possess infinitely more dynamics and coloration. Seeking them out and listening to them (especially Rimsky, Debussy, Stravinsky, Strauss, and Mahler) will open new sonic worlds to you.

Thanks! That was indeed really helpful and I also agree with the way my strings were done as now that I listen to it I can definitely see what you mean.

At first I went for the bowed strings but seems, as you mentioned, the color of those strings weren't quite there and I will keep that mind in my next piece.

I'm glad you guys enjoyed it! 

Keep the reviews coming guys, I don't just read them and brush them off; I seriously focus on what you guys are trying to get me to understand and as a composer still learning things such as the terminology, chords, intervals, tones etc. This is really helpful stuff and you guys were able to get me from point A (which was the very first piece I posted here in the boards when I first joined...which was seriously flawed) to this and I thank you all so very much!