Consolation

Edit: I changed the structure of the piece a little bit after posting this on youtube and used the fast section as a sort of coda for the piece. The new final version is attached as an audio file.

It's been a while, Sam! But as always, your work is always great to listen to. I liked it!

15 minutes ago, bored_comedy said:

It's been a while, Sam! But as always, your work is always great to listen to. I liked it!

 

Thank you so much! 😊 That really means a lot to me!

Hi @ComposedBySam,

This indeed is a great consolation! Your music is always sensitive and emotional for me and this one is no exception. The beginning is really warm and I love your 7th notes and suspension. That modulation to C Aeolian in b.16 is beautiful. The second section in b. 28 is lovely! B.34 definitely reminds me Chopin's mazurka. I love your final version by having the initial part back before getting into the thunderstorm. For me the part lead to the agitated b.80 is a little bit abrupt but that's personal. For the ending I love your first version more (that is the YT section) since you have the initial section back and for me this will create a rondo form with the centre on consolation. Here I feel like the ending is a little bit sudden and I would like to have this agitation consoled as well!

But overall this is a lovely piece and thanks for sharing Sambuddha!

Henry

2 hours ago, Henry Ng Tsz Kiu said:

Hi @ComposedBySam,

This indeed is a great consolation! Your music is always sensitive and emotional for me and this one is no exception. The beginning is really warm and I love your 7th notes and suspension. That modulation to C Aeolian in b.16 is beautiful. The second section in b. 28 is lovely! B.34 definitely reminds me Chopin's mazurka. I love your final version by having the initial part back before getting into the thunderstorm. For me the part lead to the agitated b.80 is a little bit abrupt but that's personal. For the ending I love your first version more (that is the YT section) since you have the initial section back and for me this will create a rondo form with the centre on consolation. Here I feel like the ending is a little bit sudden and I would like to have this agitation consoled as well!

But overall this is a lovely piece and thanks for sharing Sambuddha!

Henry

 

Thank you so much for the hearfelt and thoughtful comment! I understand your view that the ending of the new version ends suddenly in a different key. Although I agree that the first version soothes the agitated section before ending the piece, actually while writing this piece I initially wanted it to end in tragedy after the passing of the storm, so I thought that by introducing the initial theme again, I am straying from my initial vision. I also felt like, incorporating the agitated section after repeating the initial theme solved the problem of the awkward abruptness with which the agitated section begins as you stated. Also the ending in a different key is actually a build up for the next piece I am going to write which is going to be an elegy in g sharp minor. Thanks again for giving such a lovely reply. I learn a lot from your replies! 🙂

I think this is a very well constructed piece, and I look forward to having a go at playing it!

The rubato really adds to the effect and the melancholy emotional impact.

Will have to check out more of your work!

I think the touch of a real pianist (did you perform it?) is superior at bringing out the important melody in high relief above the rest of the material.  It also seems to be more true to your intention as the composer.  The 2nd version also has many rubato tempo variations which feel very authentic and real too so I wonder whether this version was also performed by a human being but on a midi keyboard.  I also like the YouTube version better as I find the ending on A minor 9 more satisfactory and like the home key.  I personally didn't like some of the complicated figurations that occur in the middle of the piece as I feel they don't add any musicality to the really great main theme you've crafted.  I just feel like keeping things simple would have been more emotionally effective and homogeneous.  Thanks for sharing!

18 hours ago, PeterthePapercomPoser said:

I think the touch of a real pianist (did you perform it?) is superior at bringing out the important melody in high relief above the rest of the material.  It also seems to be more true to your intention as the composer.  The 2nd version also has many rubato tempo variations which feel very authentic and real too so I wonder whether this version was also performed by a human being but on a midi keyboard.  I also like the YouTube version better as I find the ending on A minor 9 more satisfactory and like the home key.  I personally didn't like some of the complicated figurations that occur in the middle of the piece as I feel they don't add any musicality to the really great main theme you've crafted.  I just feel like keeping things simple would have been more emotionally effective and homogeneous.  Thanks for sharing!

 

Thank you so much for the warm words! This actually isn't played by a real pianist and is just a midi playback. I made sure to add all the rubato and dynamic details manually because I thought that they were really integral in making this piece work. Your criticisms are valid but maybe if I had composed it all simple, it would have sounded too homogeneous? I don't know it's a matter of taste. But I do think you're right about the figurations not adding anything vital to this piece. Thanks again for taking the time to listen and comment 😊

On 6/30/2023 at 12:14 AM, ComposedBySam said:

This actually isn't played by a real pianist and is just a midi playback.

Isn't it interesting that we couldn't tell!

Sign of a master craftsman!

1 hour ago, Alex Weidmann said:

Isn't it interesting that we couldn't tell!

Sign of a master craftsman!

 

Haha! I do what I can 🙂 technology these days is fascinating 

On 6/14/2023 at 5:58 AM, Alex Weidmann said:

I think this is a very well constructed piece, and I look forward to having a go at playing it!

The rubato really adds to the effect and the melancholy emotional impact.

Will have to check out more of your work!

 

Thank you so much for the kind words! You wanting to have a go playing it means a lot to me 🙂