Adieu mon frere

[Ian Moore]

I wrote this piece for piano and oboe several years ago. I would like to know what you think. Especially about the difficulty of the oboe part.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ2NtcppXos

[jochanaan]

I wrote this piece for piano and oboe several years ago. I would like to know what you think. Especially about the difficulty of the oboe part.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ2NtcppXos

Challenging, but not beyond what, say, I could play--although I might take the tempo a little slower than the oboist in this recording.  I like it when performers of contemporary music focus as much on tone and phrasing as technique.

[Ian Moore]

Thank you for your comments.

[Karl Henning]

What else have you been writing, Ian?

[Ian Moore]

I have written many pieces but I am only now uploading extracts onto the internet.  I don't like uploading whole pieces; shortish extracts instead.  You may like Chantefables http://youtu.be/EgpBhfnTJpA

[Ian Moore]

I have updated my video with a playlist.
adieu

[Dax]

It does seem as though you have been asking the same question on several other music forums, for example:-

http://www.talkclassical.com/33002-adieu-mon-frere.html

http://artmusic.smfforfree.com/index.php/topic,3920.msg20936.html#msg20936

http://www.mqcd-musique-classique.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7303

I imagine that Chris Redgate has already answered your question hasn't he? I'm intrigued as to why you're publicising the same brief extract in so many places.

[Ian Moore]

Why are you called Dax on this forum and Autoharp on the other forum?  Also, your comment is exactly the same.

[Dax]

I can of course call myself any name that I like on any forum, as can you. My comment is indeed exactly the same - as is your question on different forums.

But lets keep things sensible: here's our exchange from

http://artmusic.smfforfree.com/index.php/topic,3920.msg20956.html#msg20956

which may interest other GMG members.

from: Ian Moore on July 27, 2014, 08:06:02 pm
I don't understand what you mean about Christopher Redgate answering my question.  I made a suggestion to the administrator of this forum for there to be a 'members own composition thread'.  I would like to know how people feel about music. I would like everyone to explain their own music.  It is interesting to me and I hope to others. I am sure that you are a member of more than one forum. What does it matter?  Surely, everyone would like show their work to the biggest number of people possible so that I can gather information about my music and hopefully kind comments.  I don't think that this is strange. I am also a member of Facebook.
If you read the questions and the comments on those websites, you will see there is a different focus.  For example, the talk classical forum dissected the notation.  They talked about over using accidentals.  Whereas the French forum, concentrated on the emotional impact of the music. They called it humorous which I could understand at first. This is feedback from a small number of people. Obviously, the larger the group of people the better the feedback.  If I was plastering my music on every website possible day after day, I could understand your apparent indignation.  Forums are helpful to composers like me.  It is a real opportunity to directly speak to real people.  I am obviously keen to help people get involved in my music.  Sometimes, I may be too keen and I apologise for that.
The extract is so short because I want to protect my rights as a composer.  It also marks a natural break in the music- the piano starts immediately afterwards. Thirty seconds is very short and I will allow a longer viewing at a later stage when I get feedback I require. I have answered all of your questions can you answer mine, please.  What do you think of my piece?  I have received feedback about notational issues, title, emotions...the choice is yours.

Gosh, Ian, calm down! I am not indignant.
It's not really apt to comment on the music of such a short extract other than to note that it's an arresting and effective opening. However there are a number of technical matters, concerning both the notation itself and how the dots are to be performed.
For example, the recording that you posted seems to indicate that the dynamics you have written could be questioned by those whose comments you seek. Either because they may be impracticable, or as Black suggests, overwritten. Chris deviates considerably from them in any case. How do you feel about that? (He also plays a wrong note on line 3).
The oboe is less suitable for fluttertonguing than most other wind instruments - although there are some players who've managed to get round the problem - they tend to be people like Chris, but even he would find a fluttertongue at a quiet dynamic (p) a problem. Or would he? You would have to ask someone as good a player as he, hence my comment. Judging by his performance, I could confidently guess the answer to that and other questions.

Black has made some relevant points: I, and no doubt others, await your answers with interest. All those accidentals? Unnecessary surely? Some would argue that using the kind of notation that you do denies the player any freedom whatsoever - "anti-human" even (!): they would no doubt argue that it would be possible to use a simpler, freer-looking notation and still get an equally intense effect. What do you reckon?

from Black
After listening a couple of times I found it rather intriguing and it made me wondering what would come next and what the piano part would be like. But looking at the score made me wondering why the notation should be so extremely complex and elaborate. Is it really necessary to put a dynamic sign under every note? Is it really necessary to give each bar a different lenght? You can not expect a musician play this as exact as the score suggests he should do. Only a computer can. So why won't you leave some to the performer?
If this sounds rather critical please note that it only concerns the notation and not the music itself.

[Ian Moore]

Thank you for replying to my initial question.  My questions are very similar but not quite the same and the nature of my question is very open. " What do you think of my music".  It's very difficult to rephrase that in a completely different way. I suppose I could be more specific. Composers put a lot of work into their compositions and is natural that they want people to listen and enjoy their music.  I haven't put any of my music on the internet until about a year ago.  Adieu has been on the internet for a whole year without a murmur from anyone.  Over the last month, I have put a lot of work into finding out why.  I have been asking a lot of questions and of course asking people to listen to the work. The whole challenge of getting people to hear it, think about and feedback to me about it is basically one process. Forums are incredible helpful in this way and I don't see anything wrong with it so long as you are willing to be a part of the whole forum community. Anyone can 'google' the responses that I have received and I would be glad for them to do that.  I am very interested in the real people and the their real responses to music.  You can tell from the music I write that I am not going to be a millionaire.  I take the integrity of the music very seriously.  I will be speaking to the pianist soon and I hope that I can produce a longer version.  The more feedback I get the more encouragement I receive to include longer versions of my music. I just don't like publishing all of my music with all of my score onto the internet. I don't think that's unreasonable.
Can I ask you a question? Do you write music?

[Dax]

How strange. No point has been answered.
Sorry, but your final question is not relevant!

[amw]

Adieu has been on the internet for a whole year without a murmur from anyone.  Over the last month, I have put a lot of work into finding out why.

Well the answer is pretty obvious imo. There's heaps of music out there—everyone and their dog is a composer. Every public space has a busker, every shop has a radio, every company you call to try to sort out a fee you shouldn't have been charged pipes something over the line while you're on hold. There's music in films, tv shows and advertisements. What's special about yours?

I follow about fifty people on SoundCloud. I'll look through the people they follow sometimes in search of more music I might like. If one of those people has posted nothing but extracts, I probably won't bother listening, unless they're a known quantity with commercially available CDs/downloads I can buy. Extracts just don't give enough information otherwise.

Music isn't anything special anymore, just a commodity. If a composer wants people to listen and enjoy they need to take on a role more akin to conservationist. Or write pop music I guess.

[Ian Moore]

Music isn't anything special anymore, just a commodity

It's a real shame but I think you're right. I think a lot of people believe that.

[Ian Moore]

I don't think many people take the time to delve into the music in much depth. It's either I like the sound world straight away or I move on. Some composer's music can take a long time to get into their world. I can think of a few composers who have grown on me over a number of years!

[Ian Moore]

For me, music will always be special. If a composer didn't think that their music was special then they should give up.  The problem has always been convincing others.

[North Star]

I don't think many people take the time to delve into the music in much depth.

And excerpts are not the way to do that.

[Ian Moore]

You make a fair point. I can see that people need more of the music to make a better judgement.  I will find a better solution.  I need to weigh up all of the options.  What is fair for everyone.  What about hearing all of the music but seeing some of the score?

[North Star]

You make a fair point. I can see that people need more of the music to make a better judgement.  I will find a better solution.  I need to weigh up all of the options.  What is fair for everyone.  What about hearing all of the music but seeing some of the score?

That would be an excellent choice, if you don't want to show all of the score.

[jochanaan]

Ian, could we have access to a complete recording?  I actually might be interested in playing this...

[Ian Moore]

I have just received permission from the pianist.  Hopefully, I can get a full recording up in the next few days.