My First Work

Hi guys! I've been composing for quite a while now, it's been 2 years since I first started composing, so I decided to take a look back at my oldest work, a suite for strings, and share it on the forum. It was originally meant to be played for the string ensemble I was in but because of COVID-19, it couldn't be performed and the few recordings of practices were full of mistakes in the playing. Of course it is very very flawed with many issues such as transitions and chord progressions but I feel it's worth taking another look. Could you guys share some feedback? I'm sure that there is some critique or good points that I may have overlooked in my own self-analysis. Thank you!

For a first work, one thing you without question demonstrate is determination. In order to offer constructive feedback, can you describe what your intentions in more detail? Do you want to depict an imagine or scene (I.e programmatic) or is it intended to serve a functional purpose (i.e for our entertainment)? 

2 hours ago, Markus Boyd said:

For a first work, one thing you without question demonstrate is determination.

Thanks haha

2 hours ago, Markus Boyd said:

Do you want to depict an imagine or scene (I.e programmatic) or is it intended to serve a functional purpose (i.e for our entertainment)? 

To be honest I really wasn't sure about the intentions throughout the composing period. I was originally going to make this programmatic, and it was going to be about the different emotions of humans , but when I began to have movements of the piece that was similar in mood to each other I started running into various roadblocks in that concept and tried to find other ways to make it programmatic such as depicting the stages of life or even food. But in the end, I kind of gave up and just resorted to using the umbrella term "String Suite" to settle the naming issues, so in the end I would say it is absolute music, but also contained some programmatic elements in the music. I think that was one of the biggest mistakes about this work, as I wasn't sure of the intentions from the get-go and that led to a piece that had 5 different movements, almost like separate pieces, with no connection to each other and feeling like it was just 5 separate works just connected for the sake of making it a multi-movement work.

12 hours ago, Joshua Ng said:

I think that was one of the biggest mistakes about this work, as I wasn't sure of the intentions from the get-go and that led to a piece that had 5 different movements, almost like separate pieces, with no connection to each other and feeling like it was just 5 separate works just connected for the sake of making it a multi-movement work.

 

You could just call them etudes lol. I never know the intentions of my music before writing or really plan stuff and it turns out unique. Just keep writing, reflecting, and listening. I also don’t follow structure rules ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

12 hours ago, Joshua Ng said:

Thanks haha

 

To be honest I really wasn't sure about the intentions throughout the composing period. I was originally going to make this programmatic, and it was going to be about the different emotions of humans , but when I began to have movements of the piece that was similar in mood to each other I started running into various roadblocks in that concept and tried to find other ways to make it programmatic such as depicting the stages of life or even food. But in the end, I kind of gave up and just resorted to using the umbrella term "String Suite" to settle the naming issues, so in the end I would say it is absolute music, but also contained some programmatic elements in the music. I think that was one of the biggest mistakes about this work, as I wasn't sure of the intentions from the get-go and that led to a piece that had 5 different movements, almost like separate pieces, with no connection to each other and feeling like it was just 5 separate works just connected for the sake of making it a multi-movement work.

 

I think when you embark on any kind of work, you need to be clear from the start what you want to achieve. Credit to you for seeing it to the end and that for me is a positive sign of your tenacity. Many, including myself at times, will start a project only to abandon it when things get difficult. 

My honest advice however at this time is to recommend making music on a smaller scale for a reduced ensemble. A suggestion I always make to a novice is to start with two parts only with the objective to achieve a clear and meaningful interaction between the upper and lowest voice. That is, after all, the basis of all good music. Once you have achieved reasonable skill at doing that will you be better placed to consider additional instruments. 

Just now, Eickso said:

You could just call them etudes lol. I never know the intentions of my music before writing or really plan stuff and it turns out unique. Just keep writing, reflecting, and listening. I also don’t follow structure rules ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

 

Oh haha that's true

1 minute ago, Markus Boyd said:

I think when you embark on any kind of work, you need to be clear from the start what you want to achieve. Credit to you for seeing it to the end and that for me is a positive sign of your tenacity. Many, including myself at times, will start a project only to abandon it when things get difficult. 

My honest advice however at this time is to recommend making music on a smaller scale for a reduced ensemble. A suggestion I always make to a novice is to start with two parts only with the objective to achieve a clear and meaningful interaction between the upper and lowest voice. That is, after all, the basis of all good music. Once you have achieved reasonable skill at doing that will you be better placed to consider additional instruments. 

 

Ah I see, yea I agree with you. I found myself being much more comfortable with chamber music than orchestral works because of that. Do you have any suggestions on like for example the transitions in the piece? Because that was actually the other big flaw in the piece, where I had loads of ideas but found it hard to connect them. I would say my transitioning is better now but I was never able to come up with a transition when I was composing this