Balkan dances

This is the score both on musescore and YouTube

https://musescore.com/user/53049012/scores/11716984
 

By the way, this is for a large orchestra and is a multi piece
 

Hello @Fruit hunter!

The first thing that I notice when I listen to this is that it actually seems to be in 5/8 not 7/8 in the beginning.  The melody repeats a group of three 8th notes followed by a group of two.  The first phrase you have fits squarely into 3 measures of 7/8.  But it would make much more sense in 5/8 - with three measures of 5/8 followed by one measure of 3/4 - a nice 4 measure phrase which is how I think any average listener will perceive the music without looking at the score.  Also, in 7/8 it would be really unnatural and awkward for the orchestra to play and the conductor to conduct.  You should let the rhythm of the melody decide the meter and changes in meter as that is the most natural and musically assertive aspect of the music.

But besides that the piece certainly has quite an otherworldly flavor.  I am not familiar with Balkan music so can't judge it in that respect.  There are many quite bombastic sections of the piece, but they are nicely contrasted with slower and more charming parts.  I like the theme of the repeated ascending 8th notes at 5:09 and wherever that re-occurs - that's probably my favorite part of the piece.  Some parts of it with the heavy percussion in the latter part of the piece remind me of Stravinsky.  I thought the ending was a bit corny with the simple orchestral unison V - I cadence.  I might be biased though because I love unusual endings.  Thanks for sharing this intense piece!

Quote

15 minutes ago, PeterthePapercomPoser said:

Hello @Fruit hunter!

The first thing that I notice when I listen to this is that it actually seems to be in 5/8 not 7/8 in the beginning.  The melody repeats a group of three 8th notes followed by a group of two.  The first phrase you have fits squarely into 3 measures of 7/8.  But it would make much more sense in 5/8 - with three measures of 5/8 followed by one measure of 3/4 - a nice 4 measure phrase which is how I think any average listener will perceive the music without looking at the score.  Also, in 7/8 it would be really unnatural and awkward for the orchestra to play and the conductor to conduct.  You should let the rhythm of the melody decide the meter and changes in meter as that is the most natural and musically assertive aspect of the music.

But besides that the piece certainly has quite an otherworldly flavor.  I am not familiar with Balkan music so can't judge it in that respect.  There are many quite bombastic sections of the piece, but they are nicely contrasted with slower and more charming parts.  I like the theme of the repeated ascending 8th notes at 5:09 and wherever that re-occurs - that's probably my favorite part of the piece.  Some parts of it with the heavy percussion in the latter part of the piece remind me of Stravinsky.  I thought the ending was a bit corny with the simple orchestral unison V - I cadence.  I might be biased though because I love unusual endings.  Thanks for sharing this intense piece!

 

 

Thank you for reviewing this. I did this a few years back so yeah also I got heavy influences from the Moldau to including the V-I ending thank you for letting me know. I’ll definitely use your tips later in composition.