Hi all, I'm new here and already loving the boards!
I'm a pseudo composer (graduated college 6 years ago in composition) and thought I'd post some of my music here and get some feedback. I haven't been doing much music since I graduated simply because it wouldn't put food on the table. But I finally decided late last year that I've had enough, am too musically deprived to stay in the corporate world, and hence am applying to grad school this year.
Anyway, I figured that since I'm getting back into things, I really should get some real feedback as what people think about the stuff I've done so far. I've gotten feedback before at concerts and all but all I get I get a nice and vague comments. I'd really prefer some brutally honest remarks. I don't expect my music to please everyone, but I like it to be generally palatable, have some form and interesting bits as little surprises. Most importantly, I like to make people smile or even laugh. There's a lot of classical music out there I find funny - I grin a lot at concerts and I think people look at me weird 'cos classical music's supposed to be 'serious'.
So yes, please be brutal and tell me what you really think of the music. Parts you like/ dislike, what's typical, what's not, who my style reminds you of etc...feel free to kill my ego! >:D
Here's the link to some of my music: http://organ.posterous.com/tag/audreyscompositions
Thanks in advance folks!
Welcome to GMG, Audrey! I shall enjoy checking your site out.
(Is that nice and vague enough? 8) )
Quote from: TheManualWorker on June 16, 2009, 06:58:48 PM
I'm a pseudo composer (graduated college 6 years ago in composition) and thought I'd post some of my music here and get some feedback.
Hi! I've enjoyed listening to your compositions on your website. I have to take issue with your statement--you're not "pseudo composer", you're a composer--that isn't "pseudo music" you've written, it's the real thing. I like your band pieces a lot. They would both be enjoyable to play and appreciated by the audience as well. Maybe others will volunteer to kill your ego with brutal critiques (although I sort of hope not), but I'll just be telling you some specific things I liked. In Aurora Borealis, I liked the way the low brass seemed to be pressing the music up from below, sending the higher voices up into those wispy tendrils of light. (I'll be going to Alaska in a couple of weeks for the first time, and if I can figure out how to do it, I'll download your soundtrack onto my I-phone so that I'll have the audio to go with the cosmic light show.) In Dots and More, I really appreciated your knowledge of the genre of cartoon music--I've always been a big fan, especially of the old Loony Tunes music. You've captured the spirit of the old cartoon music and done some new things at the same time. I'm looking forward to seeing/hearing more compositions on your site.
Thanks for the kind and specific comments secondwind. They are much appreciated. I consider myself a pseudo composer since I'm not professional nor do I actively market my work. I just really do it cos I like it and am happy to give stuff away for free.
Aurora Borealis was inspired by an astronomy lesson. I'm glad u liked the orchestration, yes it was quite intentional. I could give your a whole narrative on how each part worked but I won't bored you. heh. I just hope it fits the real thing! As for dots and more, credit goes to a professor who's a percussionist. He brought me into the percussion room and showed me all the different instruments I could use for sound effects and it worked. :)
k a rl h e nn i ng >> your vagueness doesn't even reference the music... ahhh...
Hi again, Audrey,
The short film, Consequences, was pretty grim, but I thought your music for it was quite effective. It's amazing how much we rely on the soundtrack of a film to tell us how we ought to feel--just try watching a movie with no sound sometime, and even if there's no dialogue (so you're not missing important information), you may find yourself wondering what is happening in front of you and how you're supposed to feel about it.
Are you working on new compositions?
Thanks 2ndwind. I haven't written anything in the last 1 - 2 years but hopefully will start again in the later 1/2 of this year or next year if i make it to grad sch! I'm learning a new instrument now (pipe organ) and that pretty much takes up the little time I have.
Good luck with your new instrument. Organ sounds like a real challenge to me, but what glorious things it can do! I'm in Alaska now, but no Aurora Borealis--duh, it's summer! What was I thinking? This is the time for the midnight sun, not the northern lights. Still, a great place to visit. We spent the last two days in Denali Park--worth at least a symphony. Put it on your must see list, and when you come, get as far into the park as you can, for as long as you can. And let me know when the Denali Symphony will premiere!