OK here's a string quartet

Alright, here's another one of my compositions. This one is more of a WIP. It is the first movement of a string quartet that I have been working on for a while. The main theme is bright and bouncy, then the second theme comes soaring in on the viola and then the cello. Feel free to leave any feedback/constructive criticism below,  no matter what it is. There aren't any bowings and the score isn't pretty, and it won't be until I have finished with the actual notes. Also I am aware that musescore's playback here is pretty inconsistent, but if you have any feedback about dynamics and such, let me know!

I think that I will probably make it longer. 3 minutes is too short for a first movement, and there is a lot of potential material to add where the main theme return in major.

Edit: For some reason, the viola is really soft in musescore. That explains the occasional fortissimo in the viola part so that it sounds at least as load a mezzo piano in the violin. Musescore needs to respect the viola more... 😤😤😤

However, it can be helped by adjusting the levels in the mixer.

BTW I just wanted to say that with only being here for 2 days, I really love this community and can relate to it a lot. Thank you guys!

StringQuartetinDMinor.pdf

Hi @Musical,

To be honest I really like your attempt on String Quartet! You are trying different things here: those pizzicato, beautiful melody for the viola starting in b.22, interactions between the instruments instead of having the first violin as the sole soloist, dancing style, texture in b.72.

3 hours ago, Musical said:

I think that I will probably make it longer. 3 minutes is too short for a first movement, and there is a lot of potential material to add where the main theme return in major.

For me I think at least there can be a return to D minor before going to D major in b.132, and there can be something like brightening the mood from minor to major. Maybe the texture in b.76 can be reintroduce before the turn to D major! That beautiful viola theme in b.22 can be recapitulated in the D major section by the cello. Some all pizzicato passages will be funny as well! 
 

3 hours ago, Musical said:

For some reason, the viola is really soft in musescore. That explains the occasional fortissimo in the viola part so that it sounds at least as load a mezzo piano in the violin. Musescore needs to respect the viola more... 😤😤😤

Violists always suffer from discrimination EVERYWHERE LoL!! But it’s such a beautiful instrument!!

3 hours ago, Musical said:

BTW I just wanted to say that with only being here for 2 days, I really love this community and can relate to it a lot. Thank you guys!

 

We are happy that you have joined! Feel free to enjoy YC! Thx for sharing your work!

Henry

Hi @Musical!

I think this is quite a coherent movement!  I love how it starts in the minor mode and proceeds to become brighter and ends in the major mode.  I think some of your accompanimental figurations (like the triplets especially) are quite influenced by Ravel's famous String Quartet.  I love it when the Cello comes in playing it's tonic pedal drone!  That is such a cool effect and harmonically well executed!  It gives it a certain folk music flair.  As far as dynamics you seem to already be knowledgeable about how to get Musescore to balance the instruments more effectively.  For me, the Cello at measure 53 sounds too loud to be realistic on pizzicato.  But I like how you decrescendo and switch to arco in that phrase.  The bouncy main theme is well contrasted by the songlike and lyrical secondary theme.  Thanks for sharing this entrancing piece!

Peter

Thanks for your suggestions @Henry Ng Tsz Kiu, @PeterthePapercomPoser!

I like your ideas, Henry. I will try them out. You definitely have more experience than me in the organization of a piece. I haven't had any formal training yet lol.

I'm sure I was very heavily influenced by Ravel's string quartet, as it is one of my favorite pieces. I even had it as my morning alarm for a while. I've since worked on the balancing for the piece, and thanks for the feedback there.