Piano Concerto No.1 - Movement II

Hi everyone,

I have finished composing the Second Movement of my Piano Concerto No.1. This is my first attempt to write a slow movement for piano. Hope you like it and any comments are appreciated!

Thank you!

Best,

HoYin

(P.S. Link to 1st Mov.: 

)

Pretty dramatic. I listened while watching the score. In the apparent abscence of formal development of themes it seemed through-composed (about which I'm perfectly happy)! 

The only problem was this production: the orchestra drowns out the soloist too often. It's really apparent at letters D, E and elsewhere when these lyrical passages felt like they needed to be to the fore.  I'd have like more slow meditative passages but that's just me. Slow/2nd movements often contrast with the 1st movements but I haven't had time to check your 1st mvt so I'm not sure how it contrasts. What I did like, however, is the way the piano often elaborates on what the orchestra is doing and the shifting harmonic rhythms. 

You seem an accomplished pianist. In spite of a slow movement there's some quite tricky stuff. I notice that you haven't included pedal markings. Is this because you want the pianist to decide? (Difficult because the shifting harmonies would blur with too much pedal). I mention it because in (for example) bars 83 for a while, you include minim chords with shorter notes played with the remaining fingers. At these points you may not want pedal because the effect would be very different. Some phrases would be difficult because the melodic fingering wants to stand out against the held chords, so I assume. That'll keep the pianist on his toes (or fingers)!

So, bravo, then. A nice piece as it stands. 

19 hours ago, Quinn said:

Pretty dramatic. I listened while watching the score. In the apparent abscence of formal development of themes it seemed through-composed (about which I'm perfectly happy)! 

The only problem was this production: the orchestra drowns out the soloist too often. It's really apparent at letters D, E and elsewhere when these lyrical passages felt like they needed to be to the fore.  I'd have like more slow meditative passages but that's just me. Slow/2nd movements often contrast with the 1st movements but I haven't had time to check your 1st mvt so I'm not sure how it contrasts. What I did like, however, is the way the piano often elaborates on what the orchestra is doing and the shifting harmonic rhythms. 

You seem an accomplished pianist. In spite of a slow movement there's some quite tricky stuff. I notice that you haven't included pedal markings. Is this because you want the pianist to decide? (Difficult because the shifting harmonies would blur with too much pedal). I mention it because in (for example) bars 83 for a while, you include minim chords with shorter notes played with the remaining fingers. At these points you may not want pedal because the effect would be very different. Some phrases would be difficult because the melodic fingering wants to stand out against the held chords, so I assume. That'll keep the pianist on his toes (or fingers)!

So, bravo, then. A nice piece as it stands. 

 

I am glad you love this piece. In fact, I am a violinist but I am more used to compose piano works. I am touched by renowned piano concertos so I decided to write one in my style.

Perhaps my melodies are a bit stack and are hard to perform it, so I often overlook the technical issues. I would give pianists more freedom on pedals, but my works are even made to create a harsh-sounding ambiance.   So there are less assigned pedal markings. And it is more important to make the melodies stand out (often the highest notes and seconds in higher registers should be emphasized also).