Jon, about the creativity issue, I think what it is is that you tend to get caught up with what you are trying to do with the piece, rather than what the piece is actually doing, or where the piece wants to go. See what I'm trying to say? It's almost like you are trying to pull and tug the piece in a certain direction, when sometimes, it really wants to go somewhere else. I've found this in my older music, it was something I would struggle with constantly. But through doing it over and over again, I've realized that being a composer, you're working
with your material, and notes and rhythms,
not commanding them or forcing them.
I really wanted the piece to go somewhere outside of the desert landscape, maybe inside the man's mind for a second, maybe he dreamt of his home or his family or something, but it seemed that you got stuck in the whole desert thing. Oh well.
Ok...here is my piece. It is simply called: 'Superhero Movie Suite'. The mp3 is only 8'20" long(the real thing probably closer to 9), and follows scenes just like a regular, big-budget Superman movie would. Here are the program notes that would accompany the piece in the concert program:
---The music is based loosely off of a John Williams movie score, like Superman and Raiders of the Lost Ark. There are three total themes, that of the Villain, the Hero, and the Love Interest. Scenes are depicted by the music. Here is a summary of the music, and what scenes are implied.
At his secluded desert lair, the Villain is presented, in his ugly and evil countenance, and his theme is twisting, dissonant, yet surprisingly regal and military. He must have been a general or a leader in war. He is rallying troops together, and then gives a word to attack! The troops attack a group of unsuspecting visitors who have no way to fight back. The battle climaxes to a dissonant fury, then stops! Suddenly, the Hero bursts onto the scene, with his triumphant fanfare. His theme is rooted with a perfect fifth, then gets a little dissonant, as he battles the Villain’s men in defense of the people. The music gets a little silly here and there, as the Hero’s humor shows through how he fights. But more troops show up, as the music brings us back the Villain’s theme. The Hero is over-powered, succumbs to the many troops, and is taken captive. Meanwhile, at the General Workplace, Love Interest works and misses her beau, who is secretly the Hero. She ponders his absence and is suddenly disturbed, as the Villain breaks in, injuring co-workers and creating a mess, only to whisk Love Interest off to his lair, keeping in mind that Hero is in love with her. The music takes us back to the lair, with the signature single bass notes, then the Villain’s theme, crescendoing to the final battle, where the Hero has broken from his chains and delivers some final blows to the Villain, who escapes badly wounded. As we hear the string section twirl us into a fanfare, the Hero and the Love Interest are reunited. They whisk off into the sunset, both victorious and happy.---
And, here is the mp3 and the pdf score to my
Superhero Movie Suite! (the quality is pretty cheesy...)
Superhero Movie Suite mp3