Piano Quartet Allegro: Exposition Thematic DEMO

    Well, I thought posting my demo for the PQ Andante was helpful, and \i am superstitious regarding composition so...

Here it is.   

As with all things chamber music, it didn't come easy.   At first I wanted C Major, but my mind was insisting on minor, which will work fine with a C minor, \G major \ C minor key plan.

The music:

First off, this is a demo of the themes, not a piano piece.  I do believe this is only playable in parts by the 6-fingered man!   The first theme is the "HEROIC" mode A theme, which I rather like, though I recognize it's a bit prosaic.  When I set it to the accompaniments, it worked well.   The "soft" B theme is a rather tranquil romance/nocturne type. I was very focused on breaking the rhythmic pattern of the A theme here.   It should sound quite nice with long value notes from the strings--the arpeggiations are a stand in.  The repeat of the b theme begs for some elaboration, but I can do that in the actual composition phase.  

   The modulation back from F to C minor drove me nuts for whatever reason, but it is pretty close to good now.    I figure I have about 4-to 4.30 min for the exposition, so I will have to be very strict with the material--I would like a few motivic digressions along with the standard passing of the melodic material around....

   This movement will be a modified sonata form.  Once the exposition is done, I will work on the development.   Likely a third theme will be involved either here or in an extended coda...  

  The accompaniment figures are trials only.  I know there will be HUNDREDS of alteration, deletions, changes in the next 2 months or so.  But generally, the idea is to increase the tension/intensification as the movement  goes on. The allegro will be through-composed--NO repeats    I want the audience to be a bit winded at the end, and the chorale-like andante seems like a welcomed relief, not a bore.

  This will be the first piece composed with the Vienna symphonic library SYNCHRON-ized  solo strings and Steinway D-274.  I'm excited to get going.    I want to work on some countermelodic material and develop and detailed movement form roadmap--then its GO time!

                                                                                  Any comments are welcomed!

(PS: the DEMO is done with Garritan's Yamaha CFX "lite" sample library--quite an improvement over their stock sample.)

Hi @Rich,

I think the tempo can be quick to feat the Allegro and the heroic style!

The chord in b.9 has a potential to build to A major in the development.

The Neapolitan chord in b.37-38 and other places should have the C# replaced by the Db!

On 10/15/2023 at 12:28 AM, Rich said:

 The modulation back from F to C minor drove me nuts for whatever reason, but it is pretty close to good now.

For the modulation from F major back to C minor, maybe you can have the diminished seventh chord in b.67 resolve to D minor, then move the chord to D-F-Ab diminished chord and hence move to C minor smoothly to a dominant seventh of C minor. Or you can, like what Beethoven did in the first movement of his op.10 no.1, by replacing the F major chord with an F minor one and also moves to C minor smoothly.

Thx for sharing.

Henry

Thanks Henry!

  I will try out your modulation suggestions.  I am not near a keyboard right now....ahem....

   Yes, I am toying with a little motivic digression in the exposition right now----AT THE MEDIAL CESURA!!!!----, and there are multiple key possibilities--in fact, I need to parse down my options!  I will try  out your A major   (the V of V...of V!)  C----G---D--A!!

  I might click up the tempo a tad 60--65.  Don't know yet.--or maybe have multiple tempos...

  I have to be careful to not speed it too much.  The big finish with 16ths can't sound cramped or muddled.   The beat is on the 8th notes after all.

   My accidentals markings are out of control right now--which is a good thing, in that I am ranging all over the place--loosening up a great deal.

  Things are much more intentional and focused.  I'm having some fun.  I just wish I would win the lottery so I could compose full time...

All I wanted to say is that I enjoyed your work so far. I look forward to hearing more once you progress with it. 

Many thanks 🙂 

1 hour ago, Markus Boyd said:

All I wanted to say is that I enjoyed your work so far. I look forward to hearing more once you progress with it. 

Many thanks 🙂 

 

Markus--

    Thank you-- I remember your own Piano Quartet as I am writing.  I would be happy to have the interplay of voices that you achieved!

             I am working hard and happily--so far.  In the "rough draft" stage, and at the midpoint of the exposiiton. While I expect significant revisions, I should be finished around mid to late December.  Not shooting for a masterpiece, but just a solid Piano Quartet movement in the early romantic style.  So far, so good.

  That said, I am gettng about 1.5 minutes a week of completed music!  Uggh.   I'm so busy with activities focused on staying alive and housed---work!---that I am forced to be a WEEKEND WARRIOR, mainly.

                    I will say composing with the Vienna solo strings and Steinway is a positive joy---the strings' articulations are wonderful.

  Thank you again---compliments and encouragement--especially from 'OUT OF THE BLUE" go a long way to keeping me pushing on...

10 minutes ago, Rich said:

Markus--

    Thank you-- I remember your own Piano Quartet as I am writing.  I would be happy to have the interplay of voices that you achieved!

 

             I am working hard and happily--so far.  In the "rough draft" stage, and at the midpoint of the exposiiton. While I expect significant revisions, I should be finished around mid to late December.  Not shooting for a masterpiece, but just a solid Piano Quartet movement in the early romantic style.  So far, so good.

  That said, I am gettng about 1.5 minutes a week of completed music!  Uggh.   I'm so busy with activities focused on staying alive and housed---work!---that I am forced to be a WEEKEND WARRIOR, mainly.

                    I will say composing with the Vienna solo strings and Steinway is a positive joy---the strings' articulations are wonderful.

 

  Thank you again---compliments and encouragement--especially from 'OUT OF THE BLUE" go a long way to keeping me pushing on...

 

Ah yes, I should upload the finished product of that sometime here. 
 

feel free to message me privately if you want to have some personal input on your work in progress. I appreciate these things can otherwise be lonely endeavors! 
 

best wishes…