Varied Gestures No. 2

The subtitle to this polytonal orchestral etude is 'A Repeated Query' since it is meant to portray a question asked insistently over and over again.  This piece with high harmonic density is meant to be an experiment in polytonality and variation.  This is actually a piece that I started many years ago in the sequencer.  I then copied it into a piano partiture on paper and extended it using variation techniques.

I am signed up to download the BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover Pack VST's but I have to wait two weeks before they allow me to download it, so this rendition was still made using nothing but the standard sounds from Musescore.  The instrumentation is a standard orchestra with Bb Bass Clarinet, Contrabassoon, no Trumpets, no Tuba, Glockenspiel and Celesta.  The percussion includes Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Woodblocks, and Tambourine.

Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoy!  If you have any constructive comments or criticisms please share!

This is an interesting piece. Can you walk me through your creative process here?

Additionally, are you seeking feedback for orchestral notation, or just for the musical structure of the work?

16 minutes ago, Tónskáld said:

This is an interesting piece. Can you walk me through your creative process here?

Thanks!  I created it originally to juxtapose different tonalities on top of each other and to use composite scales.  I like the layering of different tonalities and how cool they sound together.  That was the original idea behind it from many years ago.  But now when I picked the piece back up I also tried to apply some variation techniques to the piece to create more variety and interest.

20 minutes ago, Tónskáld said:

Additionally, are you seeking feedback for orchestral notation, or just for the musical structure of the work?

In what world would I say 'Oh, no!  I don't want feedback on the notation!'  LoL.  Yes - please.  Any feedback that you're willing to give would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks for showing such interest!

What an interesting "jolly jaunt"!  I loved the orchestration and various rhythms.  I did not find the repeated motif overused at all.  Please bring me to the merriment!

Mark

As others have said, interesting - and I was listening more to the overall effect than for theoretical points. It carries on very well. Difficult to comment on the instrumentation. The harmonic density didn't seem to be particularly dense and this is where musescore may have let it down. Having heard a few musescore scores here I've grown used to the upper strings being weak. That seems to be the case here. I could see the density building up in the score (notably bar 31) and sim, and at the end.

Certainly had a nice modern feel to it. 

Very colorful harmonically. I also enjoyed the syncopated rhythms. As Quinn said above, it is difficult to comment on the instrumentation owing to the quality of Musescore's rendering, though it is fairly well orchestrated, in my opinion.

You use the palette of dynamics here to great effect, and the final chord is extremely textured! I'm a fan. I had intended to provide remarks regarding the notation, but I don't think it would be very fruitful since Musescore has such limitations.

A fine work, Peter! Thank you for sharing.