The Blue Petal Waltz

I was rummaging through my bag of misfit music and thought someone might enjoy this short little waltz I composed a few years ago.

It was from back when I was learning my DAW (Sonar 8.5.) I've never updated Sonar because it never crashes and just works really well. Like the old saying goes; "If it ain't broke don't fix it".

It was very frustrating for me learning all the techie stuff in Sonar and I still barely know what I'm doing.

Anyway, enjoy!

-Rick

1 hour ago, epii said:

I was rummaging through my bag of misfit music and thought someone might enjoy this short little waltz I composed a few years ago.

Well, apparently I'm that someone ✋.

The first part is very relaxing, and is that a modulation you did in 1:18? My ear isn't great, I can't really tell 😅. The 1:22 part caught me off guard but I really enjoyed it! 

Maybe the ending was a bit abrupt but I'm not really an expert so don't listen to my critics like they were a sure fact 😅.

Hey this is a really great, quaint little waltz!  It starts modestly and softly, growing gradually into a full orchestral texture.  Some really great line cliches (where voices move gradually by stepwise motion) and timbral colors that I'm not sure what instrument is playing (are you using some kind of synth at 0:42 or are those just flutes in a new register?)  I love the tuba which you use to give this a more broad and funny kind of character.  The melodies are really inspired and the ending doesn't leave me hanging.  I think the flutes at the beginning sound like a hurdy-gurdy!  LoL (Edit:  I think I meant to say calliope or like a circus organ)  I think maybe you intended it that way.

I used to work with Cakewalk Home Studio back in the day and I used a Yamaha XG midi soundbank for my sounds.  Your sounds sound quite different from anything I've heard from a modern DAW or producer so I'm wondering what you're using to create this.

BTW - I've listened to some of your other pieces and I can definitely hear the brightness expected from a Beatles inspired artist!  Great job and thanks for sharing!

Anto21,

Thank you, I'm glad you like it.

You asked: "is that a modulation you did in 1:18?" By modulation I'm assuming you are referring to the key change. So I guess the answer is yes, it is a modulation.

I like that what immediately followed caught you off guard. I remember getting stumped as to what to do there, so I guess it kind of caught me off guard too.

I'm mostly a Beatles guy but I also love classical music. The Beatles had all the musical sensibilities of the classical masters of long ago and seemed to distill those principals into bite-size easily digestible chunks. I know that this little attempt at a waltz on my part is short but that's probably due to my musically short attention span having grown up on pop music.

Thanks again!  🙂

-Rick

PeterthePapercomPoser,

Wow! Thanks a lot. Those were very thoughtful and kind words. I'm glad you like it.

As to my Beatles obsession, yeah, I'm hopelessly addicted to their music. Listening to Beatles music is always another day at school for me.

And you are correct about the "flutes" sounding synth-y. It's actually an old mellotron virtual instrument. And correct again; yes, it was intentional. I tried using the flutes contained in my old East/West Gold library of which all other of the parts are from, but I didn't like the sound.

You just missed it by a hair with the hurdy-gurdy!

At the 1:43 mark I was kind of inspired by the original theme song to the old "I Dream of Jeannie" TV show, not the later more recognizable theme, although I love that too.

It's even in the same key which is probably why I got pulled in that direction as I have perfect pitch and it must have triggered some memory while I was fiddling around with instrument sounds. Check it out in this YT video at the 38 second mark! It's pretty funny! I guess I unconsciously ripped it off.

And also compare the melodic phrase at my 58 second mark to the video's 49 second mark. I think the key here is off by a half step but apparently close enough for another trigger... Wow! I'm a musical pack rat! *hehehe*

Thanks again!

-Rick

Hi @epii,

Again that's another beautiful piece by you! The sound are really lovely and festive here!

I really love that C sharp minor passage in 2:30 as it's my favourite key!

Even though you don't know modulation theorectically, you must know it well practically. Your modulations are always smooth with great effect and reason! I utterly love them!

5 hours ago, Anto21 said:

The first part is very relaxing, and is that a modulation you did in 1:18?

Yes it's a modulation from A major and Bb major, and I agree it's very beautiful there!

Thanks for sharing and I enjoy your recent active participation here with all these high quality music! Thank you!

Henry

Henry,

You are doing wonders for my self confidence!

Glad you like it.

C sharp minor is indeed a great key. I also love the keys C minor and F sharp minor on piano.

YC is fortunate to have someone as musically trained as you, and of course many other musically trained composers here at YC.

I've been told I should have gone to a music conservatory but that would be like placing a 3rd grader with basic arithmetic skills into a college level calculus course.

For the record, I love mathematics... it's just that it hates me.

The best I can muster for other peoples' stuff is "Uhhh that sounds good". I suppose I could fake my way to critiquing arrangements but I can't articulate my ideas as well as someone like you. Just know that I really do appreciate a REAL composer's comments and opinion.

"A major and Bb major" you say?... I didn't even know that! *hehehe*

-Rick