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Old Apr 27 2008, 2:04 AM
Justin Tokke Justin Tokke is online now

Starving Composer
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Well, I listened to it, and if your intention was to imitate Mahler, you have succeeded. However, it wasn't completely Mahler. There were a few spots like where there are running 16ths that actually sounded very Brahmsian, and the sole harmonics just standing in the middle of the piece. In fact, harmonics in general are quite rare in Mahler's "solo strings" pieces or movements. The harmonic language and orchestration are clearly lifted from Gustav; the melody changed hands every two to four bars, there is a lot of divisi (some would say excessive), there's excitement and progressive tonality so quintessentially Mahler. So props to you on that side.

Here's the down side: the ending. It killed it for me. Every thing was Mahlerian until that darned ending. Mahler has never finished a movement like that. It sounded way out of context because nothing like that happened before in the piece. It was nice on it’s own, but does not work here. If I were you, I would have kept dying out with the same material just before that ending/coda thing i.e. Mov. 4 of Symphony No. 4.

Don’t get me wrong you have a real gem of music here, and Mahler is my favorite composer. Its original material in the style of a master composer; some would call it pastiche. Fix that ending and I’d buy it for my string orchestra if I had one.
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