Mini Cello Sonata

movement from a piece im making about family life and struggles.

commented

Nah, I'm just kidding. Very interesting orchestration! Reminds me of Nordic music, like Atterberg or the metal cello quartet Apocalyptica. Good harmonies! Does the xylophone have a programmatic meaning?

2 minutes ago, Theodore Servin said:

commented

lol

2 minutes ago, Theodore Servin said:

Nah, I'm just kidding. Very interesting orchestration! Reminds me of Nordic music, like Atterberg or the metal cello quartet Apocalyptica. Good harmonies! Does the xylophone have a programmatic meaning?

thanks do u have any songs by atterberg or metal quartet apocalyptica you think I'd like? no the cello is a character though, my dad. Put him through a lot in my mentally ill days. The transformation is kind of like a renewed perspective on our relationship and family life

On 9/21/2021 at 5:14 PM, Left Unexplained said:

thanks do u have any songs by atterberg or metal quartet apocalyptica you think I'd like?

In terms of cello music, Atterberg has a beautiful Cello Concerto in C minor, one of my favorites in the genre and among his oeuvre. Apocalyptica has some beautiful songs like "Farewell" or "Psalm" (the latter being for solo cello)

Another piece you might find interesting is the 2nd movement of Rachmaninoff's String Quartet no. 2: 

I know these aren't super similar to your piece, but they just reminded me of your piece. Interestingly, they (along with your piece) are all in C minor 🤔

Although I like this piece and the expressiveness you exhibit in the cello, I question whether the "motor" underneath it (the xylophone and string ostinato) is really necessary.  Seems to me like you're almost trying to create a hip-hop beat or a Danny Elfman-ish movie intro sequence out of it and something as simple as a repeating piano chord might be enough to give the cello solo a rhythmic context.  It's like it's marking time and metronomically keeping the beat steady there and it seems unnecessary.  In my opinion this could gain from being simpler, although if you intend for it to be cinematic then you should probably keep it as is.  Thanks for sharing!

57 minutes ago, PeterthePapercomPoser said:

Although I like this piece and the expressiveness you exhibit in the cello, I question whether the "motor" underneath it (the xylophone and string ostinato) is really necessary.  Seems to me like you're almost trying to create a hip-hop beat or a Danny Elfman-ish movie intro sequence out of it and something as simple as a repeating piano chord might be enough to give the cello solo a rhythmic context.  It's like it's marking time and metronomically keeping the beat steady there and it seems unnecessary.  In my opinion this could gain from being simpler, although if you intend for it to be cinematic then you should probably keep it as is.  Thanks for sharing!

 

interesting.. Thats not something I stopped to question. I just thought im building up to something better add something consistent to give it structure. I wish we could work on a daw like google docs or something.

1 hour ago, Theodore Servin said:

 

I know these aren't super similar to your piece, but they just reminded me of your piece. Interestingly, they (along with your piece) are all in C minor 🤔

 

I love the first apocalyptica one and the Rachmaninov piece!

Love it. The percussion especially gives it an almost cinematic vibe but one which helps the progression of the piece. I'd love to hear this live.

Are there going to be other movements? Your writing is really effective.

aMC

Agree, it's very nice.   Although I could like it stylistically to a couple of composers I won't. Very lyrical, emotionally warm. Superb harmony. My only problem with it was the drum underpinning the main beats which gave it a funereal feel.

On 9/25/2021 at 3:42 AM, aMusicComposer said:

Love it. The percussion especially gives it an almost cinematic vibe but one which helps the progression of the piece. I'd love to hear this live.

Are there going to be other movements? Your writing is really effective.

aMC

wow thanks! Yes its the second movement of a piece for my dad.

On 9/26/2021 at 4:57 AM, Quinn said:

Agree, it's very nice.   Although I could like it stylistically to a couple of composers I won't. Very lyrical, emotionally warm. Superb harmony. My only problem with it was the drum underpinning the main beats which gave it a funereal feel.

thank u so much. what would be your alternative to the bass drum, different beats or none at all?