Is this WIP Orchestra piece engaging so far?

Hello,

I have been pretty in the mud on this piece I am writing. I had good steam, but fell off a bit. I really like this concept of romantic/Mahler but messed up, and I like the material I have here. I am going to pick it up to start working on it again for a call for scores I want to submit it to, but I just wanted to ask for some of your thoughts before I get into again!

Score: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/qc63mx6he5pmvk4yt0cyn/01-Full-score-Sketches-to-Get-Me-in-the-Mood-of-Orchestra.pdf?rlkey=pky0orqwjilgwpa7hvryogd2r&st=tnmyoyex&dl=0

Audio: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/zqukrchsclku4ks013755/Orchestral-Sketches-Version-7.19.24-WIP-Piece.mp3?rlkey=ut6qrhh3exlfejca6rh6yl2ix&st=mx2dxwhl&dl=0

Check your woodwind registers .... i.e., Oboe, Clarinet ....

Mark

13 minutes ago, MJFOBOE said:

Check your woodwind registers .... i.e., Oboe, Clarinet ....

Mark

 

 

Hi,

I’m a clarinet player. But, for oboe, yes it gets a bit high. It is meant to be obnoxious, though, so the register should be fine?

Hi @Eickso!

I for one like it.  I wouldn't really call it Mahleresque per se, but I definitely understand what you intend here.  It's kind of an original way of using microtonality, since I don't think this is meant to be humorous.  If it were humorous, it could be compared to the likes of P.D.Q. Bach or Mozart's "A Musical Joke".  But I don't think that was your intent here.  I like the theme you have.  I think this could be combined with your minimalist approach you usually employ in your music.  I can imagine some really cool micro-tonal ostinati!  But maybe you don't want this to be upbeat?  Seems like you deliberately try to make this as heavy, pesante and labored as possible.  Maybe there's no room for a lighter texture in this kind of music.  Thanks for sharing!

35 minutes ago, PeterthePapercomPoser said:

Hi @Eickso!

I for one like it.  I wouldn't really call it Mahleresque per se, but I definitely understand what you intend here.  It's kind of an original way of using microtonality, since I don't think this is meant to be humorous.  If it were humorous, it could be compared to the likes of P.D.Q. Bach or Mozart's "A Musical Joke".  But I don't think that was your intent here.  I like the theme you have.  I think this could be combined with your minimalist approach you usually employ in your music.  I can imagine some really cool micro-tonal ostinati!  But maybe you don't want this to be upbeat?  Seems like you deliberately try to make this as heavy, pesante and labored as possible.  Maybe there's no room for a lighter texture in this kind of music.  Thanks for sharing!

 

Hey! Thank you! I really only tried to mimic Mahler in like 2 of the sections, but yes - I am trying to do something different. I do not think this specific piece has room for jokes. You could interpret the loud chirping as a joke, but it is more meant to be something upsetting that is interrupting the pretty melody.

I am having fun and feel most called with this work to create something romantically-aligned, but in order for it to be done my way it needs to have this extended harmony. It is the only way I feel I can insert "me" into this type of music faithfully. There is so much more emotion I can convey in any given section by throwing in quarter tones or hiding major chords amongst a pile of oobleck. Like, that final build to the messed up major chord being blasted by the bass instruments is one of my favorite things I have composed, and it works because we expect a major chord to sound a certain way. I think it is amazing how something as simple as lowering a pitch by -25 cents in a major chord can make you completely uneasy.

I am definitely actively trying not to be super contemporary in my writing and am working to pay homage to romantic era music. The sweeping lines, bigger focus on counterpoint, and orchestration is really what my push here has been. 

I appreciate your words of encouragement. Hopefully I will be able to share a more complete version in a few months!

I don't know the skill level you expect from your musicians and/or if this is an academic exercise ... most musicians, in the most extreme range of the Oboe, would go a bit mad playing this.   As for the clarinet part I cannot comment .... although I would imagine a similar perspective.

Mark