Greg's Gazebo

[Saul]

Flowers to Maria and chocolates to my mom-in-law Irina, thanks! ; )

I think they wouldnt fight about it, they will share! 

[greg]

Flowers to Maria and chocolates to my mom-in-law Irina, thanks! ; )

I would, except that would probably seem creepy. 

Seriously, though, as I've said a million times before, one day I'm gonna have to come up there and meet you guys. I'll bring my guitar and a small amp and we could jam together. 

[greg]

4 months later... 
Well, I guess you could say I have it pretty much figured out. I know what to do now.

The more I think about it, the more it seems to me like writing is more of a matter of concentrating on what you want to express. The "concentrating" part is possibly the hardest, as well. It's just keeping your eye on the ball. It's way harder than it sounds, since anything can be a distraction- when you're successful, you know it because you're so glued to it that you just can't tear yourself away.

You can't force concentration, either, because that's exactly what kills it best. I feel like I'm finally starting to write a good opening for an orchestral piece after 3 years of trying. Of course, what killed my concentration was me deciding to set up a specific time to write- maybe an hour or so, and then I had to stop and go to work or something. This just makes the subconscious feel uneasy and it's impossible to concentrate this way.

I guess the method would be: "if you kinda have an idea of what you want to write, just relax and let it happen." 

[(poco) Sforzando]

I would, except that would probably seem creepy. 

Seriously, though, as I've said a million times before, one day I'm gonna have to come up there and meet you guys. I'll bring my guitar and a small amp and we could jam together. 

Stop in New York on your way to Boston and I'll treat you to lunch.

[greg]

Stop in New York on your way to Boston and I'll treat you to lunch.

Sounds like a plan. 
Though it would be quite a while until I'd be able to...  but if I can someday, I'll let you know. 

[karlhenning]

4 months later... 
Well, I guess you could say I have it pretty much figured out. I know what to do now.

The more I think about it, the more it seems to me like writing is more of a matter of concentrating on what you want to express. The "concentrating" part is possibly the hardest, as well. It's just keeping your eye on the ball. It's way harder than it sounds, since anything can be a distraction- when you're successful, you know it because you're so glued to it that you just can't tear yourself away.

You can't force concentration, either, because that's exactly what kills it best. I feel like I'm finally starting to write a good opening for an orchestral piece after 3 years of trying. Of course, what killed my concentration was me deciding to set up a specific time to write- maybe an hour or so, and then I had to stop and go to work or something. This just makes the subconscious feel uneasy and it's impossible to concentrate this way.

I guess the method would be: "if you kinda have an idea of what you want to write, just relax and let it happen." 

I couldn't really say how it might be best for you to proceed . . . the thing is (I think) to get oneself in the habit of writing . . . write a minute of music every day, at whatever time of this or that day, you like, and even if you wind up throwing that minute out. Cultivate that habit, so that when the time arrives to "relax and let it happen" (which is the right spirit), you're ready. "The readiness is all."

[greg]

Cool. I'm trying to do just that. As long as I don't force myself, I think I should be able to write something satisfying.

[karlhenning]

Cool. I'm trying to do just that. As long as I don't force myself, I think I should be able to write something satisfying.

Or, if on this or that day you feel that it's forcing yourself, do something "mechanical" . . . Reduce part of a string quartet for piano, arrange a Chopin Prelude for clarinet quintet, take a melody from anywhere and play with its contrapuntal possibilities.

[greg]

Or, if on this or that day you feel that it's forcing yourself, do something "mechanical" . . . Reduce part of a string quartet for piano, arrange a Chopin Prelude for clarinet quintet, take a melody from anywhere and play with its contrapuntal possibilities.

Yes, exactly. Anything to stimulate the need to write- often, just studying scores, or specific musical ideas. What I'm looking for is a style that is somewhat melodic and motif-based, heavily gravitating towards the bass register, more in the p-mf range of dynamics, thick (but not muddy), contrapuntal, and with stuff such as light cymbal rolls, tubular bells, and bowed vibraphone in the background as orchestral ornamentation- not to mention many other details I've discovered that I would like to include. It will be interesting to see how that turns out. 

[karlhenning]

Studying the scores often is good, too, of course. But the key (I think) to the daily exercise is the physical act of setting pencil to paper, the motor habit and its connections to your musical mind.

[greg]

Studying the scores often is good, too, of course. But the key (I think) to the daily exercise is the physical act of setting pencil to paper, the motor habit and its connections to your musical mind.

Kinda like the habit of going to GMG and clicking "new replies." I can't stop! 

[karlhenning]

I can stop anytime . . . .

[greg]

Well, here's a sketch of the beginning. No dynamics added yet, although they are extremely important (the first note will "crescendo from nothing" (a modernist idea))...

When I typed it in, I thought it would possibly sound awful, but it turned out to be quite the opposite!

[rappy]

Is there a link to Mahler's 10th? 

[greg]

It's that obvious, isn't it? 

[rappy]

Definitely!

[Luke]

Yes, exactly. Anything to stimulate the need to write- often, just studying scores, or specific musical ideas. What I'm looking for is a style that is somewhat melodic and motif-based, heavily gravitating towards the bass register, more in the p-mf range of dynamics, thick (but not muddy), contrapuntal, and with stuff such as light cymbal rolls, tubular bells, and bowed vibraphone in the background as orchestral ornamentation- not to mention many other details I've discovered that I would like to include. It will be interesting to see how that turns out. 

Heard any Gavin Bryars, Greg? Might not be your cup of tea but the sounds you are talking about are the sort of thing that saturate his music. Bryars' music is my guilty pleasure - I find him absolutely fascinating, even though from work to work there is not a huge amount of variation, and I have more discs of him than of any other post 1950 composer (about 25, I guess, largely thanks to his superb own label, GB, which puts out plenty of stuff) and there's a brand new disc of his percussion music, which I got only last week, which I think you would love to hear for these kinds of sounds - it's called New York, and I reckon you might find it worthwhile to give it a shot.

[greg]

Never heard of him, but the "New York" clip is similar to what I have in mind.

http://www.amazon.com/Gavin-Bryars-New-York/dp/B0045F9U8E/ref=sr_1_cc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1288040789&sr=1-1-catcorr

[greg]

Should I be able to finish this piece by May?

I have, basically, half a year and I expect it to be around 18 minutes long (I have the first minute written).
I think it's best that I only write when I feel like it- no, that's probably the only way. I think I'll be working at Lowes for at least 2 more months, which means little energy to work on anything constructive. Half of the time, when I'm home, I just feel like sleeping and then doing something completely novel so I can work off the depression that working there causes. Writing music or studying anything does not help at all.

Then, if I start work as a full-time programmer, I will have less time, true... but I should have a lot more energy for composing, since that type of work is closer to fun than work, to me. I also say "May" because I want to go to school in May, and I just won't have any time to compose at all for 4 years.

[Scarpia]

Should I be able to finish this piece by May?

I have, basically, half a year and I expect it to be around 18 minutes long (I have the first minute written).
I think it's best that I only write when I feel like it- no, that's probably the only way. I think I'll be working at Lowes for at least 2 more months, which means little energy to work on anything constructive. Half of the time, when I'm home, I just feel like sleeping and then doing something completely novel so I can work off the depression that working there causes. Writing music or studying anything does not help at all.

Then, if I start work as a full-time programmer, I will have less time, true... but I should have a lot more energy for composing, since that type of work is closer to fun than work, to me. I also say "May" because I want to go to school in May, and I just won't have any time to compose at all for 4 years.

I struggle to find any clue that you want to compose music.