Originally Posted by LDunn

It's a difficult one, this.

I didn't enjoy it, and I think it was because, modally, it never moved from its ground: the sort of major-minor stuff around F. Always was there. And you did interesting things, rhythmical shifting and what have you, but ultimately I was left rather uninspired, the piece having tried to take me somewhere, but in doing so smothered me a little bit. I'm talking in extremes, but its the kind of piece that is so homogeneous that it makes you want to cough and get a drink of water afterwards.

I'm not against homogeneity, Messiaen (apart maybe from Turangalila, which is far more conventional) does it wonderfully, but he does it with a kind of colourful finesse and conviction. With your piece, I got the feeling you had chosen to stick to some notes, and stuck to them. You had forced all of your ideas to fit this mould of your notes, resulting in a tiger in an F major-minor cage. Messiaen is stuck in the cage of his style, and what a beautiful style that is, that infinitely detailed, ever expanding vision.

Perhaps its an Obscene Obsession with this pitch world. Who knows? But ultimately, as I've said, the piece itself is tedious to me, and I'm reminded of Schumann (paraphrased): A good title will not save a poor piece.

I'm sorry if I've been harsh, but you've put so much effort in, I feel I should give a valid comment.

L.