This time, by desire - Large Orchestra + SATB

All feedback welcome. Enjoy the journey 

Hi @Symphonic!

I feel like I would understand the piece better if there were a real choir singing the words for me to hear.  Without that critical element, I am very often at a loss for what to listen for in your music.  There is so much seemingly empty space in it that it requires a lot of patience from the listener.  You know how they say you can tell if a movie is going to be a hit from the first 15 minutes of its runtime?  I feel like your piece takes a long time to get started.  It would be great to get a summary of what the piece is supposed to be about, the meaning of the title and/or the written out lyrics for the listeners to be able to read along with the music.  There is also an extremely big difference between the sections of music.  The moods range from calm and serene to menacingly intense.  I don't know if this is because of the meaning of the words and you're trying to do some word painting or something.  But musically I feel like the differences are so extreme as to cause a kind of whiplash between the moods and emotions of the sections.  But maybe that was your intent?  The orchestration does have quite a bit of use of unique techniques and tone colors including sul tasto and harmonics from what I can hear.  It would also be nice if you included the score PDF which would also solve many of the problems I mentioned above about the listener not knowing the lyrics and the meaning behind the piece.  I really like the section around the 25 minute mark - it might be my favorite part of the piece.  I wish I knew better how to interpret the mood.  I don't know if the piece is meant to be like a lament or mournful - it certainly sounds like it sometimes.  Thanks for sharing!

3 hours ago, PeterthePapercomPoser said:

Hi @Symphonic!

I feel like I would understand the piece better if there were a real choir singing the words for me to hear.  Without that critical element, I am very often at a loss for what to listen for in your music.  There is so much seemingly empty space in it that it requires a lot of patience from the listener...

 

I was going to say the same thing here, @Symphonic! I can appreciate the artistic ideas that are included throughout this piece. However, not everyone out there is so imaginative as to stick around throughout, what would appear to them as, monotonous in nature, when in reality it's not that at all. It's just that the average Classical music listener won't really pick up on the facts of what work this piece has put into it, unfortunately. 

Maybe still use the ominous, detached and suspenseful opening section, but keep it brief. Then provide the audience of the score something to nibble on for a little while that, without providing too many clues, will give some anticipation as to what's to follow the introduction section of your music. 

That way, engagement continues, and you're happy, audience is happy, and everyone has an all around good time, feeling the emotions that you're attempting to portray here! Otherwise, the writing itself is good, the voicings within the chords are used very creatively, and despite what the rest of the world would see, I can see what you're doing here, being your peer in composition. 🙂

Just keep in mind that people have the attention span of a dead leaf, nowadays... Gotta hook em' in to catch em'.