Caprice for Solo Violin No. 1

3 hours ago, Quinn said:

I find this comment difficult to understand - for several reasons. One is, unless this was played live, one's tied to the sampled articulations available. As for monophony, the harmony is well implied in the melody as is often the case with a melody instrument. 

Why does one have to "push boundaries" or try to outdo the likes of Beethoven or Mozart or Adams? If that was an essential requirement of the competition it should have been stressed. On the strength of what you've said here, a goodly chunk of what's submitted here generally would be carp (typo) which in most cases it isn't, especially for the many beginners or those of limited experience. How many compositions presented here aren't in normal rhythms and diatonic? You won't find many. (I know all mine are 4/4 but that bears no relation to what happens in the score.

I'd personally be happier if music wasn't turned into a combative sport but understandably some creators like a challenge. It depends on why we practice our art. It's why I rarely join in. I'm always open-minded to criticism good or bad but constructive, in regards to balance, development, scoring is always helpful because I'm open to revision. So one has to accept that judgement is only opinion - as when someone submits a piece here and asks for feedback.

What's also confused me is [edit] I can't reconcile [/edit] "What I see...." with "I have not listened to the track." Try listening to it.

Cheers.

 

Nobody has to push the boundary by any means. In the nature of competition, how would you determine which piece to choose? What other way can we find distinction to choose the “Number 1” composer in a pool?

My question: how would this piece compete with two full orchestral scores in a competition setting (one of them being a 13 minute exploration of dozens of timbres, rhythms, and musical moments)?

Perhaps it was a flaw in the competition to leave things so open, but we were asked to write what inspired us from the provided tracks. This guy did that, and that is what is important. He also is proud of his music and enjoyed writing it! Nobody is criticizing this aspect!

What is also important the tantrum I have read in this whole thread because he was not a winner. I explained many reasons why his piece may have not been chosen *in a competition*. I also explained the way he handled the outcome was negative. He is no better than other composers and should find happiness in himself and his writing. He does not need to be a winner to write music that satisfies him. He is the one who submitted to competition where his piece was going to be ranked. His piece was ranked. He did not like the results and criticized the process. He came to vent, chalk his music up as a masterpiece, and get mad at the judges. I explained his piece did nothing in it to compete or bring out his unique voice.

Nobody has commented on this being a “bad” composition because that would be unproductive. There is some real feedback in this thread and generally there is support from the peers saying things like “I actually did enjoy your piece.” He just didn’t write music that could compete, and you can’t flaw me for recognizing this when the piece was submitted to a competition meant to decide a “winner.”

(Keep in mind, I say all of this while also having lost the same competition. There is also some conversation of the comments from judges being too harsh; a competition can be a learning experience for personal growth. You do not have to listen anything anyone says if it goes against how you feel and doesn’t meld with you to grow. If you would like to become a composer that wins competitions, some of the harsh criticisms probably stand some merit. The comments are all pick and choose in how you want to move forward. But yes, some probably could be more productive and supportive.)

P.S. I am always offended when people come to reply to me and only choose parts of what I have said to reply to. There were 3 more paragraphs in the message you replied to and some of them had addressed exactly what you said. I would love to have a conversation, but please do not respond again unless you can respect the entire message I wrote explaining my thoughts.