Variations for a Friend's Birthday

A friend of mine was lamenting the fact that nobody has ever made something special for her, so for her upcoming birthday, I've written a set of orchestral variations on "Happy Birthday".  Variation II contains a figure based on scale degrees that spell out her birthdate, while variation IV contains an ostinato based on her initials.  Any comments or criticisms would be most appreciated!

48 minutes ago, Aiwendil said:

Variation II contains a figure based on scale degrees that spell out her birthdate, while variation IV contains an ostinato based on her initials.

LoL - be careful, someone looking through the score could try to steal her identity!

Great job with these variations!  They are anything but ordinary or banal and actually quite interesting!  From the moment it begins it hooks the listener - I love the trumpet fanfare and the flute and harp combination is great also.  Your fugato variation is also pretty good (but we'll see what the great fugue master of the forum @Henry Ng Tsz Kiu has to say about it LoL).  I like the minor string variation which is kinda modal sounding with the occasional Picardy 3rd.  The overall form is also solid with the most conclusive and final sounding variation at the very end - very well done!  Thanks for sharing!

Peter 

34 minutes ago, PeterthePapercomPoser said:

Your fugato variation is also pretty good (but we'll see what the great fugue master of the forum @Henry Ng Tsz Kiu has to say about it LoL).

What?🫣

Hey @Aiwendil,

I love the orchestrated version of the Happy Birthday! And the countermelody added in variation 1 is so energetic like in many of your previous pieces. 

2 hours ago, Aiwendil said:

Variation II contains a figure based on scale degrees that spell out her birthdate

Sad, my figure will be a boring D major chord LoL! But it’s quite innovative to use this method!!

For the fugato there’s a parallel fifth btw viola and 2nd violin in b.73. Also the key signature should be d minor? I really love the orchestration here! Maybe you can go into some more closed keys like F major and A minor! 

I love the Dorian favour in var. 5. And for bar.6 it’s so clever of you to change the melodic contour which change the mood to more contemplative! 

The ending variation is so grand and the climax is so well prepared with those flat key progressions!! Maybe you can quote one last time your friend’s motive at the end by the trumpet! Just like the end of the 1st mov of Mahler’s 6th when he quotes the Alma motive one last time at the end!

Thx for sharing! I love the orchestration and your variation treatment! And if the variation king @PeterthePapercomPoser approves I approve it hahahahaha!!

Henry

16 hours ago, PeterthePapercomPoser said:

LoL - be careful, someone looking through the score could try to steal her identity!

Good thing I didn't include social security number.

15 hours ago, Henry Ng Tsz Kiu said:

For the fugato there’s a parallel fifth btw viola and 2nd violin in b.73. Also the key signature should be d minor?

Good catch!  This one doesn't really bother my ear, but maybe I should see if I can "fix" it.  And you're right, that key signature should be D minor.

Thanks to both of you for listening!  Hopefully my friend will no longer have any excuse to say no one's ever made something special for her.