Lucia's Waltz (revised and hopefully improved)

[MarkMcD]

The revision is posted in my last post on this thread, but for convenience, I will also post it here.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wm81irdoqmrxb1k/Lucia%20rewrite.mp3?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1oz3r3ht7wwc8g8/Lucia.pdf?dl=0


Hi all,

I thought I might try sharing another piece, again a traditional classical style (that's just my thing), this time something with a bit of orchestration and featuring the piano.

Although I am reasonably pleased with how this one is at the moment, again it has it's faults, for example I'm not sure about the repeated sections, although the writing for the piano is elaborated differently each time, I'm not sure how obvious this is.  Also I'm not sure if the ending is a bit too abrupt.  The mixing is not good either, but since that makes no real difference to the composition of the piece, I hope it wont spoil the listening too much.  Again, any thoughts are welcome.

The Lucia in question it Donizetti's Lucia Di Lammermoor.  The piece is not based on any part of Donizetti's masterpiece, it's just an imagining of how a ballroom scene might go if she where to waltz off to the dance with the blood still on her hands.

A ver lo que pasa

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ygzsqhdbd1tgf9l/Lucias%20Waltz.mp3?dl=0

Mark

[MarkMcD]

OK, message received, have a happy New Year 2017.

[The new erato]

OK, message received, have a happy New Year 2017.

To you too. You must realize, however, that most of us are backlogged with listening to stuff we have paid good money for, at least for my part. And I have an expensive stereo not hooked up to the net, and don't enjoy music from my PC inbuilt speakers.......

[MarkMcD]

Nice music room (horrible carpet, sorry )  No, it's ok, I understand, people have much more important things to do, especially at this time of year, however, people are here posting and browsing threads posted both earlier and later than this one, the figures are visible, so you do tend to think that, well, my work must be a pile of pooh so......... ce la vie.

To be honest, I'm very new to forums, they can be quite intimidating things.  I've been tinkering with composition for years solely for my own entertainment, but I have no formal training and I'm trying to learn and teach myself.  I really don't know any musicians I can show my stuff to, just to see if they thought I had any talent for it, so I joined a couple of forums to see if I could get some feedback.  I had  2 replies to my first piece 4 minuet piece a couple of weeks ago (not bad ones either really) but none to this 3 minute piece.  In those circumstances, what can you take from that?...  Don't give up your day job LOL.

It's ok, I know my stuff is not modern enough to be taken seriously, I never wanted to become the next Stravinsky, I just wanted to know if I had anything worth a word or 2.

Anyway, enough whining, the world didn't end so all's well.
Thanks at least for taking the time to write something, I do appreciate it.

[TSWO]

I gave it a quick spin, it sounds interesting and surelly has that "blood on hands" quality you were intending.

Merry Xmas!

[Florestan]

It´s not bad. I quite like the in-your-face, ostinato, maddening (pun) waltz rythm. I would have liked the flute to be more prominent, maybe even out of tune with the main theme --- it would have greatly enhanced the madness effect.

Happy New Year 2017 to you too!

[(poco) Sforzando]

Nice music room (horrible carpet, sorry )  No, it's ok, I understand, people have much more important things to do, especially at this time of year, however, people are here posting and browsing threads posted both earlier and later than this one, the figures are visible, so you do tend to think that, well, my work must be a pile of pooh so......... ce la vie.

To be honest, I'm very new to forums, they can be quite intimidating things.  I've been tinkering with composition for years solely for my own entertainment, but I have no formal training and I'm trying to learn and teach myself.  I really don't know any musicians I can show my stuff to, just to see if they thought I had any talent for it, so I joined a couple of forums to see if I could get some feedback.  I had  2 replies to my first piece 4 minuet piece a couple of weeks ago (not bad ones either really) but none to this 3 minute piece.  In those circumstances, what can you take from that?...  Don't give up your day job LOL.

It's ok, I know my stuff is not modern enough to be taken seriously, I never wanted to become the next Stravinsky, I just wanted to know if I had anything worth a word or 2.

Anyway, enough whining, the world didn't end so all's well.
Thanks at least for taking the time to write something, I do appreciate it.

No, please don't worry, I'm in a public café now but will listen when I get home. I have no problem with people posting their stuff so long as they're not pretentious about it. It would help me more if I could see your score.

[MarkMcD]

So now I feel a little sheepish, I didn't mean to "demand" that people should listen (although it is hard to take a different meaning from what I said, I will admit) but I am hugely grateful.

Thank you TSWO and Florestan, I take what you mean about the flute, I did try to have it a bit discordant but the mixing is terrible, I will try again.  The waltz rhythm being so prominent and intense throughout was meant to add to the insanity theme, so I´m glad you picked that up.

Sfarzando, thank you too, I hope you're having a pleasant coffee break.  I will see what I can do about uploading the score.  I'm using Sibelius, so it should be quite straight forward.

Thanks again, I will try to be less petulant next time.  Feliz Navidades para todos.

[MarkMcD]

Here´s a like to the score for Lucia's Waltz, and one for La Marioneta, just incase anyone´s interested.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ng2yi80dsclkxg4/Lucia%27s%20Waltz.pdf?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/p4rcspsn1i1ewt2/La%20Marioneta.pdf?dl=0

Oh, and by the way, TSWO, I listened to the link in your reply for your 1st orchestral suite, I liked it a lot, we'll probably hear it on next years Strictly Come Dancing!

[Sergeant Rock]

Hi all,

I thought I might try sharing another piece

I love waltzes, and yours is no exception. As others have pointed out, it captures the mood and madness of Lucia. Thanks for letting us hear it. Most enjoyable.

Sarge

[Cato]

So now I feel a little sheepish, I didn't mean to "demand" that people should listen (although it is hard to take a different meaning from what I said, I will admit) but I am hugely grateful.

Thank you TSWO and Florestan, I take what you mean about the flute, I did try to have it a bit discordant but the mixing is terrible, I will try again.  The waltz rhythm being so prominent and intense throughout was meant to add to the insanity theme, so I´m glad you picked that up.

Sfarzando, thank you too, I hope you're having a pleasant coffee break.  I will see what I can do about uploading the score.  I'm using Sibelius, so it should be quite straight forward.

Thanks again, I will try to be less petulant next time.  Feliz Navidades para todos.

Patience, child!  0:)  I understand the excitement: when one has completed an artwork, one wants to know from others: "Is it as good - or as great - as my mind tells me?" 

Give us a chance!  This is a worldwide forum: some members are asleep right now!   

And let's see the score: MIDI performances sometimes smear details which the imaginary ear can emphasize!

I will listen to it tomorrow, when I will have a surprise for (almost) everyone here at GMG! 

[(poco) Sforzando]

So now I feel a little sheepish, I didn't mean to "demand" that people should listen (although it is hard to take a different meaning from what I said, I will admit) but I am hugely grateful.

Thank you TSWO and Florestan, I take what you mean about the flute, I did try to have it a bit discordant but the mixing is terrible, I will try again.  The waltz rhythm being so prominent and intense throughout was meant to add to the insanity theme, so I´m glad you picked that up.

Sfarzando, thank you too, I hope you're having a pleasant coffee break.  I will see what I can do about uploading the score.  I'm using Sibelius, so it should be quite straight forward.

Thanks again, I will try to be less petulant next time.  Feliz Navidades para todos.

First reaction on just a quick perusal of the score: I think you could do more with your flute writing. The flute is the most agile and virtuosic instrument in the orchestra, capable of all kinds of intricate figuration. If insanity is your theme, this looks rather tame compared to what a good player can do.

More later.

[MarkMcD]

Thanks Sanantonio for your words of wisdom,

I stopped doing it solely for my own entertainment as it were, because after such a long time tinkering, there comes a time when you think, "does anyone else think it's not bad, or is it just me"?  I suppose I might be a bit of an unusual amateur musician in as much as I don't know any other musicians, I've never played in an orchestra, or, being a pianist, with an orchestra, none of my friends are musicians and my partner has no real interest in classical music.  I was just curious, you know?

I was never going to stop, even if people said it's crap, go away!  I LOVE music of all kinds (except R n B, or what passes for R n B these days, as it's really not Rhythm and Blues by any stretch of the imagination)!  I know this probably sounds a bit drippy, but it's something that I have to do  because it's in my head and it wants out, and it gives me enormous pleasure.

My biggest misgiving about posting something was that I know my stuff is not "Modernist" and as such, doesn't really interest a lot of serious classical enthusiasts.  I am working of updating my approach, but anything atonal really doesn't appeal to me.


Thanks also to Sarge, I'm so glad you like it, I do tend to write a lot in 3/4 or 6/8 time, not always strict waltzes like this, but it does appeal to me for some reason. 

[Florestan]

I am working of updating my approach,

That would be a very big mistake. Stay true to yourself.

but anything atonal really doesn't appeal to me.

Then avoid it like plague. If it doesn´t please you first, there is little chance it will please others.

[MarkMcD]

Hi Cato,

Thanks, I know, I know, slowly slowly catchy monkey lol.

I'll be a good boy, and also look forward to your surprise for all???
By the way, I posted a link to the score a little earlier so feel free if you would like to see it.


Sfortzando,

You're absolutely right, the flute is a bit wasted here.  Florestan also mentioned the flute part is not prominent enough, so it is something I will look at.

One thing I really do believe (at least as far as my work goes) is that it's a LOT of work before you can consider something truly finished, and I never rule out further revisions if and when the inspiration strikes me.

[MarkMcD]

Hi, Florestan,

The piece I'm working on is not atonal, I couldn't do something like that even if I wanted to, I just don't understand it, although it is a piece that is "less traditional", at least to my mind.

I started a thread on another forum after reading a comment on someone else's work, that in my opinion was really beautiful and extremely well written, however it was very much of the romantic era, very reminiscent of Chopin.  The comments were quite derogatory and the Composer in question (it really wasn't me) was very upset.  The general gist of the comments were that if something is echoing past styles of music, then it has very little value.  So I started the thread to try and defend against this type of thought process.  However, when I'd finished, I started to think, well could I write something a bit more modern, and so I started a new string quartet, just to see how it would go, and the more I work on it, the more I like how its sounding, so I'll see where it goes, although always in my own little way 

But I really do appreciate your words, thank you.

[Cato]

Hi, Florestan,

The piece I'm working on is not atonal, I couldn't do something like that even if I wanted to, I just don't understand it, although it is a piece that is "less traditional", at least to my mind.

I started a thread on another forum after reading a comment on someone else's work, that in my opinion was really beautiful and extremely well written, however it was very much of the romantic era, very reminiscent of Chopin.  The comments were quite derogatory and the Composer in question (it really wasn't me) was very upset.  The general gist of the comments were that if something is echoing past styles of music, then it has very little value.  So I started the thread to try and defend against this type of thought process.  However, when I'd finished, I started to think, well could I write something a bit more modern, and so I started a new string quartet, just to see how it would go, and the more I work on it, the more I like how its sounding, so I'll see where it goes, although always in my own little way 

But I really do appreciate your words, thank you.

Check your messages here at GMG: how wide is your listening experience? 

[Florestan]

I started a thread on another forum after reading a comment on someone else's work, that in my opinion was really beautiful and extremely well written, however it was very much of the romantic era, very reminiscent of Chopin.  The comments were quite derogatory and the Composer in question (it really wasn't me) was very upset.  The general gist of the comments were that if something is echoing past styles of music, then it has very little value.

If someone composed in the Chopin style as a professional composer, then those comments would probably be apt. But if one composes only for one´s pleasure, or the pleasure of their family and friends, without any pretension whatsoever to being performed in concert halls or recorded, things change: any effort toward a sincere artistic expression of one´s self is to be commended. But then again I am a huge fan of Romanticism myself and I do enjoy even genuinely Romantic fluff so probably I am biased.

But I really do appreciate your words, thank you.

You´re welcome. Do post more of your music.

[Cato]

If someone composed in the Chopin style as a professional composer, then those comments would probably be apt. But if one composes only for one´s pleasure, or the pleasure of their family and friends, without any pretension whatsoever to being performed in concert halls or recorded, things change: any effort toward a sincere artistic expression of one´s self is to be commended. But then again I am a huge fan of Romanticism myself and I do enjoy even genuinely Romantic fluff so probably I am biased.

You´re welcome. Do post more of your music.

I am reminded of the Piano Sonata #6 by Carlos Chavez done in the style of Mozart!

https://www.youtube.com/v/9AiRrz3Udks

[MarkMcD]

Hello again,

Just to answer Cato, my listening experience is not very extensive I'm afraid.  I have all the usual suspects, Mozart and Beethoven being my rather predictable favorites, then to Chopin, Schubert, Liszt, Berlioz, Donizetti, Rachmaninoff, a little Prokofiev from time to time, I'm not generally a huge fan of Bach, but then there are things I love about him too, the list of old masters goes on, but I haven't strayed too far out of that zone I have to confess.  Do we consider Philip Glass as a legitimate modern composer?  I have some of his work too.

I have to say that I loved the Carlos Chaves sonata in the style of Mozart, but I suppose to get away with having a successful recording of work like this, you have to be VERY good, and this is of that class.  But thank you for pointing out that there is still room for all in the world of classical music.

Mark