"Lamentation" for Orchestra, by Kyle Hilton (Updated score / Repost for re-review)

Revisited this piece, after a few weeks off of messing with it. That always seems to give me a fresh perspective on things I've written, and helps me to identify areas where improvement could be made. I feel confident in saying that if I were to forget this piece, and return to it again, that I'd be happy with how it is in it's current state. As always, if there are any areas where someone with more expertise than I have is able to identify an issue or mistake, I'm all ears for the feedback! 🙂 Thanks, and I hope you all enjoy my little heartfelt piece of music.

Lamentation_-_Kyle_Hilton_UPDATED_with_Spitfire_Labs_VST3_Audio.pdf

Hello Kyle,

Happy new year to you and sorry for the late reply, this piece is not bad at all especially for the style it's written in; it has a really modern and minimalist feel to it, not unlike Hans Zimmer's scores. You bring a lot of rhythmic interest to the work with the overlaying of different parts, and the orchestration sounds quite cinematic(though there are a few odd bits with the sax). My only concern is that the entire work feels quite uniform in it's atmosphere. Though there are some moments where you bring light into the work(at 3:43 for example), I believe you could feature a contrasting section which truly celebrates the life of the individual. Maybe developing a melody in the major key could help. 

Anyways, this would fit great in a end-of-the-world type soundtrack, and I could already picture Nicholas Cage starring in it. Keep me posted if you ever do a collab, I'd be very curious to hear this work featured in a short film.

3 hours ago, Mooravioli said:

Hello Kyle,

Happy new year to you and sorry for the late reply, this piece is not bad at all especially for the style it's written in; it has a really modern and minimalist feel to it, not unlike Hans Zimmer's scores. You bring a lot of rhythmic interest to the work with the overlaying of different parts, and the orchestration sounds quite cinematic(though there are a few odd bits with the sax). My only concern is that the entire work feels quite uniform in it's atmosphere. Though there are some moments where you bring light into the work(at 3:43 for example), I believe you could feature a contrasting section which truly celebrates the life of the individual. Maybe developing a melody in the major key could help. 

Anyways, this would fit great in a end-of-the-world type soundtrack, and I could already picture Nicholas Cage starring in it. Keep me posted if you ever do a collab, I'd be very curious to hear this work featured in a short film.

 

Man, having someone be excited to collaborate with me would be a dream-come-true! lol 

I don't have as many connections as I used to have, back when I was a musician full time. I've clearly abandoned that career path, and haven't spoken to many of the individuals that I knew who "knew a guy" since then. (it's been 7 years). 
Although, one of my old band directors, who has since obtained his Masters Degree, stated that he would like to try to help me with getting an ensemble together to play this piece, in addition to my other piece "The Long Arctic Midnight". I told em' he'd have to find some trumpeters who could perform it for me, because I picked up my horn the other day and realized that my range is significantly diminished, as well as my endurance. 7 years really does a number on you I suppose. 

But that's about where its at, currently. I'd love to either have it recorded, or, receive a request to write for a B - grade film score, or, for another project someone is working on. I believe the sounds from MuseScore mixed with Spitfire VST3 (used in the recording above), are able to allow digital music to "come to life" so to speak, in a good enough way where It would actually be feasible to use it in those contexts. 

I've heard Konkact is also quite good at emulating real orchestral sounds, but it is pricey as you might expect. Though, have a listen to Blake Robinson's Synthetic Orchestra. It is very impressive how "real" synthetic instruments can sound nowadays.

Hope you find players sooner or later for your piece, then you'll be able to get a nice live recording instead. 

Hi @UncleRed99,

I must have said the opening violin melody really touches me! I love your gradual brigtening of the piece by inviting more and more instruments to join to create a great aura for the piece. The piece sounds very broad to me with a lot of space with your accompaniment. 

The horn melody in b.37 is absolutely amazing, as well as the decreasing of volume after it. I love the dissonance you use so much in the piece which adds much flavour to the music.

Starting from section F all the G naturals would be F double sharps since it enters G sharp minor. I love the polyrhythms you use here which makes the texture thicker and fuller! Overall you really have great orchestration skill which portrays the lamentation! I have made a lamentoso myself but it's for String Sextet so it's completely different stuff LoL!

Thx for sharing! I love this very much!

Henry