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Old Jul 7 2008, 2:42 PM
Antiatonality Antiatonality is offline

Intermediate Composer
Group: Members
Joined: 25-June 08
Posts: 186
Member Number: 5002
I listened to all three movements. I didn't have time to comment on the third, and I'm trying to reserve some of my comments until I've heard everything (to see how ideas are expanded and laid out).

I'm certainly not trying to be critical with my commentary on the linear content. It's probably mostly my preference for simplicity and clarity in the exchange of more important material. On my first two listens (I try to listen to something at least twice before commenting), the thing that really left me wondering what you were trying to do might all boil down to the complexity of the moments in which I may have had an unfulfilled expectation.

A more keen ear for tonal nuance might be lacking, but from an outside perspective, I don't imagine that's what is as relevant to the piece. Some things work, others don't, and no one will ever agree on which do and do not work. That's the beauty of music. I don't necessarily think you need to change anything. The fanfare doesn't seem to give me something to hold onto, and when you have a broad pallet of ideas to pool from, I don't know, maybe I expected something simpler.

I think your harmonic content is great. I almost get the impression (and some of this impression is from your tutorial on creating melody from pre-established harmony) that you have built some of your melodies from the harmony. Your pitch content may be intricate and intentional, and I have no doubt that you have good justification for those decisions. From an outside perspective, from the standpoint of listening for some of the things you employed in creating this work and how they work with the basic fundamental musical aspects, the linear material felt as though it didn't cohesively bond with the overall movement. I heard patches of brass fanfare and a clever woodwind orchestration (keep in mind, I'm writing from memory on this, so correct me if I mispeak).

Don't get me wrong, much of what I'm saying is simply explaining why it didn't reach me the way it reaches you. This doesn't mean I think you should change anything. You might just want to know, though, what doesn't work. I think your technique is great, you're obviously a professional and your work demonstrates your abilities. It may just be preference, but I thought I'd offer it up for your consideration. Simplicity, for me, is just as important as complexity. Everything feels so complex, and you lose me in the process if you don't give me something to hold onto while you take me where you want to go... if that makes any sense.
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