Greg's Gazebo

[Szykneij]

Figured it out, done, and it works (not the entire first minute, but the beginning, basically). At 2'25" right now.

Greg, just an observation from a non-composer -- You seem to have a bit of a focus on clock time (seconds and minutes) instead of  measures, phrases, motifs, etc. Perhaps if you forget about the clock completely and concentrate more on shape and flow, your creativity will be more unfettered.

[ibanezmonster]

Greg, just an observation from a non-composer -- You seem to have a bit of a focus on clock time (seconds and minutes) instead of  measures, phrases, motifs, etc. Perhaps if you forget about the clock completely and concentrate more on shape and flow, your creativity will be more unfettered.

The reason why I'm looking at the clock is because of the 10-20 minute requirement. I just like to see my progress.
Oh, I'm definitely paying attention to those aspects. In fact, that's pretty much all I did today... barely any progress time-wise overall , but now I have a better sense of where it's going, at least.

The one "flaw" that will just have to remain is that the two sections don't really complement each other well. Then again, I don't think that critically of a work by a famous composers, so it's okay, I guess.

I say I wouldn't post a preview, but here it is:
http://www.mediafire.com/?r20fii5r4hqqikc
(also note that the last bar is under construction). Anyone catch any references? 

[ibanezmonster]

And never mind that clarinet note that gets cut off... 

[ibanezmonster]

Well, this is interesting...
first of all, if anyone can think of ideas for a solution to this: playing back music I've written without hearing the music I've erased following it in my mind. How do I forget the music as soon as possible, without waiting a really long time (because I don't have the time to wait)?

Explanation:
I finally ran into a real "block" again. However, I have confirmed more strongly than ever that what the reason for the block was that when I erase a section of music that I've replayed many times, it gets stuck in my mind, and when I try to "write over" it, I can't, because the only thing that comes to mind is the music I've just erased.

I know this because several of the projects I've dropped over the last 4 years I've picked back up and wrote over them after a long time had passed (just to see if I could, out of curiosity). Just now, I continued my original version of "Through the Rift of Dreams" that I dropped in March, due to a block- I broke past that block because my subconscious couldn't remember what to play back after that point. My mind was free to let the new ideas flow, apparently, and the few bars that follow sound good.

[ibanezmonster]

Figured it out.
I won't go into detail (unless anyone is interested), but I broke out of the block. If I run into another block, I'll use the same method...
good to know that I'm free to continue now, at least. 

[Karl Henning]

Figured it out.
I won't go into detail (unless anyone is interested)

Consider me interested : )

[ibanezmonster]

Heh... well... how should I explain this? 

I ended up erasing what I wrote yesterday. It fit in perfectly, but I just thought it was a boring measure.
However, this morning I reworked the measure and have been replaying it, and so far I like it and it fits in (because of the density, it may take up to a couple of hours to finish lol). That hasn't happened yet with my numerous attempts to get past this part.

I thought about this yesterday (about getting through blocks)... probably the method to do so is no method. It's like a Zen Buddhist thing. Tackling the problem only makes it worse. In fact, the note in the first chord past the block that actually got me interested was an accident. This is the best explanation I can come up with for now, Karl. 

[Karl Henning]

Hey, I understand the difficulty inherent in explanation : )

[ibanezmonster]

Minor update:
http://www.mediafire.com/?t9521n9f5149m5m

(the end consists of sketches I'll tweak or erase and silence I forgot to remove lol)

Very, very pleased with this piece so far. One thing I need to really think about is the structure, though. The melody at 2:21 changes the course of the piece a bit abruptly, at least in emotional tone. Tomorrow, I'll have to see if there is a way to make a smooth transition from the preceding bars into that melody. What's cool is that the two major fillings I've had to make have not only been successful, but they are the only reason why the music holds together at all in the first place; I had doubts before that I could fill in effectively, but I've proven myself wrong. This one might be a bit more challenging, though. 

[snyprrr]

Thanks again for your input! My 'beginning' 'middle' and 'end' chains now only need to be linked up. It's like having this big unwieldy thing which could fall apart when you're carrying it, haha.

[ibanezmonster]

Haha, cool. I'll be interested to see how it ends up, as it is a really cool idea.

[snyprrr]

Haha, cool. I'll be interested to see how it ends up, as it is a really cool idea.

update:

actually WORKED (10% inspiration/90% perspiration) on this sequence, like a JOB, for hours on end, just having to redo section '4' over and over,... currently in section '6', probably out of 12 all together, but the second half should be easier than the first.

I may have a feeling like this is something really cool,... as I'm doing it, an inner world/life is being revealed, it's strangely meditative...

Anyhow, EVERYONE wants me to STOP THAT UGLY NOISE!! I can only work alone,... might have to go to the park,... that WOULD be truly Composer-like, haha, so tragic, ahh.

OK, daylight's burnin', got 'til 2pm...

[ibanezmonster]

How long is the sequence going to end up being?

[Karl Henning]

Will it become . . . vexatious? . . .

[ibanezmonster]

He's trying to do some Xenakis-type stuff on classical guitar. The idea I know about so far is something that sounds really cool, though difficult to pull off due to the limitations of the guitar (even though compared to other instruments, the guitar is one of the least limited).

[ibanezmonster]

I should mention that in my work, I'm spacing things out drastically, all for the good.

The ideas I already have are being more fully developed, which is how they should be. The result will be more of a solid piece which heads into different directions at appropriate times. It's kinda weird writing content "in-between." 

Oh yeah, and I also got to throw in the harp's "Thunder Effect" at one point around the beginning. The thunder effect is just the harpist slapping the low register correction: forceful glissando on the lowest strings, so all of the strings ring out in a cluster, and the force causes the vibrating strings to strike each other, creating an additional metallic buzz. Sounds great with a tam-tam stroke.

[snyprrr]

How long is the sequence going to end up being?

whew... just finished the linking... from the beginning to the link (around the middle) is @18-20 'measures' (if we count 4/4),... will begin going over the second half of the link now for rewrite...

I have flubbed it all the way down to a single, insistent, low E note... from which the next section proceeds...

... a few more days hopefully... once again, I'm burnin' 'alone' time, ack ...


I am so determined to get this section down,... it totally represents 'work' to me, and I will not be a spoiled brat (I hope!)... (Capt. Kirk:) must... finish... part... can't... let... it .... uh.... win...

I see the final form almost forming itself now...

... need... oxygen...

[Karl Henning]

We worry about you, little fella.

[Philoctetes3]

http://www.mediafire.com/?t9521n9f5149m5m

I really dug this, at least what I could pick up (nothing to do with you, more with software limitaitons). I especially liked the Ligeti-like strings that played over and in the background for the first minute or so. That you used the clarinet, which has one of my favorite instrumental sounds, was also a noted plus. The melodies were also lovely. My favorite part was the transition at 3:49, when all of the other sounds just dropped off abruptly, I felt that really worked well. Also, very good note passing amongst the instruments.

[ibanezmonster]

I really dug this, at least what I could pick up (nothing to do with you, more with software limitaitons). I especially liked the Ligeti-like strings that played over and in the background for the first minute or so. That you used the clarinet, which has one of my favorite instrumental sounds, was also a noted plus. The melodies were also lovely. My favorite part was the transition at 3:49, when all of the other sounds just dropped off abruptly, I felt that really worked well. Also, very good note passing amongst the instruments.

Wow, I'm really glad you're liking this. 
I'll be interested in what you think of the final version vs. this one, whenever I'm done with it. Mainly, I'm extending some of the sections, because I feel the piece would be better (more "solid") if they were drawn out a little bit more.

Right now, I'm trying to extend that Ligeti-ish section, but it's very difficult, because I'm mainly dealing with floating melodic fragments, while at the same time trying not to make it too abstract or too concrete to go in a different direction, because I still want it to connect to that Mahler-ish melody (the Mahler-ish melody I've laid out the blueprints for its development, but haven't filled it in- just one word for what it might be: damn  ).     

Anyways, back to work for me and syprrr.