Beginnings of a new piece for symphony orchestra?

Hi all!

This tune suddenly popped into my head this morning, just as I was waking up.

Am hoping you can tell me it's original, and not just something I've half remembered from somewhere?

Any ideas about how to develop this further are very welcome!

Not sure if this should be the climax of the piece; or the opening? 

Hey @Alex Weidmann,

It sounds grand and promising! I don't think it's from other music!

14 hours ago, Alex Weidmann said:

Any ideas about how to develop this further are very welcome!

For me I would leave the D major ending at the very end of the piece like the ending of a Dorian Mode piece in a Renaissance setting. But other than that, it's up to you!

14 hours ago, Alex Weidmann said:

Not sure if this should be the climax of the piece; or the opening? 

It depends on how you conceive your piece's structure, like you can have a climactic opening, and anti-climactic middle section and an even more climactic ending, or just a quieter opening with climax after it!

Thx for sharing!

Henry

Thanks Henry. Good to have you back! 😀

That's not a happy face! LOL

I just meant you seemed to go on hiatus for a while.

I imagined you were busy writing your next masterpiece!

12 hours ago, Alex Weidmann said:

That's not a happy face! LOL

I'm touched.

12 hours ago, Alex Weidmann said:

just meant you seemed to go on hiatus for a while.

I imagined you were busy writing your next masterpiece!

Not so, in fact I work little on my works these few months becoz of my full time "work"! Now I have more time on my real works! Thx Alex!

Henry

hi @Alex Weidmann!

I like your new idea.  I think when writing for many instruments in midi it is easy to produce a rendering where it sounds like the instruments are all playing too loud and the whole orchestra is screaming.  I think you can prevent this by balancing the instruments dynamically by having a clear idea of foreground and background material and using the full dynamic range of the orchestra.  I can tell some parts of this are meant to be quieter than others by their character, but they are perceived by me as being played at the same intensity.  Thanks for sharing!

Have made a little update to this now, with a primitive score.

I've added new embellishments to maintain interest.

May try thinning down the harmonies in the strings, since they sometimes overlap the melody. 
Also needs a more powerful sound from the bass instruments, as it's quite lacking in depth atm. 

Hi Alex,

5 hours ago, Alex Weidmann said:

Also needs a more powerful sound from the bass instruments, as it's quite lacking in depth atm. 

I think they are already powerful enough with the horns! Maybe for more depth you can add some trombones?

5 hours ago, Alex Weidmann said:

May try thinning down the harmonies in the strings, since they sometimes overlap the melody. 

I think maybe it's just the dynamics issue but not the thickness of the strings.

Thx for your update!

Henry

On 1/9/2025 at 5:34 AM, PeterthePapercomPoser said:

I think when writing for many instruments in midi it is easy to produce a rendering where it sounds like the instruments are all playing too loud and the whole orchestra is screaming.  I think you can prevent this by balancing the instruments dynamically by having a clear idea of foreground and background material and using the full dynamic range of the orchestra. 

I took your advice, and made a more realistic rendition. Think the dynamics are working better now?

I used higher quality sample libraries, and made slight tweaks to the score. (This is a performance score, hence the strange note lengths and dynamic extremes.)

Have to think of a second subject now, to extend the piece. Think I may go with an atmospheric vibraphone and glockenspiel duet, with some tomtoms using feathered beaming. 

3 hours ago, Alex Weidmann said:

I took your advice, and made a more realistic rendition. Think the dynamics are working better now?

I used higher quality sample libraries, and made slight tweaks to the score. (This is a performance score, hence the strange note lengths and dynamic extremes.)

is definitely a big difference from the first file up above!  It starts very quiet and blossoms into louder section with the harmony taking a backseat to the melodic voices.  Very nice!  And there are also nice places where the music withdraws a little from getting too loud too quickly like around the 2 minute mark.  Thanks for sharing your progress!

3 hours ago, Alex Weidmann said:

Have to think of a second subject now, to extend the piece. Think I may go with an atmospheric vibraphone and glockenspiel duet, with some tomtoms using feathered beaming.

Sounds like a good idea!

On 2/9/2025 at 6:32 PM, PeterthePapercomPoser said:

Sounds like a good idea!

Here's what I came up with.

I've no idea where it will go next! Maybe a return to the opening theme; or perhaps just more development?