Concerto for Harp and Koto.

Hey hey,

This is the 2nd movement of a concerto I have been working on. The concerto is for a harp and koto (japanese style harp).

Please note that I don't actually know how to write for harp or koto, this started as more of an experiment for my program. So please keep that in mind when listening to it

I have been given some comments from friends and teachers, but any comments, advice etc is very welcome

Anyways I hope you enjoy it

while I think about it, sorry if the sound quality is not that good. my program is not the best.

First off, I don't know anything about the Koto. So I don't know how well the concept would work. But, since you claim that you don't know how to compose for the Koto as well, I think it would be wise to so some indepth study and research. http://www.kotonokoto.org/about.html

I will say the same about the Harp as well. Do some research on the instrument. There are some issues and challenges with the harp that you will need to always keep in mind specifically when working with various keys for the harp and the pedals. Besides you will want to know how to get the best out of both instruments (on your composition level) is you are composing for them.
Harp Spectrum

I like the theme of this movement and I think you could do more as far as variation the theme and development as well as thinking about the form. But, I feel that you should take care of your Koto and Harp understanding first.

I am sorry to say that I won't listen to this piece.

It's a shame when you describe the "koto" as a "japanese style harp", and it's even worse when you write for the harp and koto when you don't know how to write for these instruments. Why don't you know how to write for these instruments? And if you don't know how to write for the harp and koto, then what makes you think you can write for any of the other orchestral instruments?

Since you wanted to write for the harp or koto, you should have done some research on the instruments before, see their use in other pieces, find out their range, their construction, how they are played, what kind of idiomatic techniques/notations exist, listen to different pieces involving the koto and the harp by different performers to get an idea of how they sound like, and above all, at least learn a bit more about the history of japanese music and the use of the koto in Japan (books on orchestration may be helpful with this kind of stuff).

So, I am afraid I can't bother to listen to a piece by a composer who hasn't bothered doing these least things to write properly for the instruments.

What's more, you only provide a midi file of your score and not the score itself.

Sorry if I can't be of any more help

ROAR. Koto is NOT harp. It's a ZITHER. And it's also a PENTATONIC instrument. You need to know the differences between the two and MIXING western with eastern instruments is BRUTALLY difficult to pull off ESPECIALLY if you don't know how to.

I FURIOUSLY vote against this idea. I will not NOT NOT NOT listen to this. Godspeed though.

Oh yeah, another note, each pentatonic instrument is tuned different therefore you have to learn EVERYTHING about the instrument. Now if you were a virtuoso in both eastern and western music that'd be a different story.

Well good luck even though I don't approve.

Anyone else see the title for this and think, "That's a lot of plucking music!"

To start, I already stated that I wasnt writing it professionally, I was writing it as a bit of fun. If I was to write a proper piece that I might even think about getting performed I would of course research it.
If you don't want to listen to it the DON'T. I have nothing against getting negative comments about the composition itself, that helps improve it. But don't give me negative details about somthing I already know, espesially if you don't listen to it.

Secondly, I used the term "japanese harp" because it's easier to decribe it that way to people who have no idea about what a koto is. Also the Japanese describe the koto as a "Stringed harp-like instrument."

I'm sorry you don't approve. But composers throughout the eras have done things that have been unorthodox (I'm not comparing myself to them, I'm nothin of a composer) like Debussy using gamalans (if thats how its spelled), Beethoven with the choral, Berlioz with guns.

Next, If I don't to provide a score, I don't have to. I have seen many threads on here with just midi files.

Ending here, Majesty, thanks for those sites, were/are a big help if I want to write properly for them. cheers

My goodness. The daggers certainly come out quickly on this forum !!
I'm not so sure I want to post anything here as a newbie.
Its a valid piece of music, Lex. To my ears anyway. The inspiration to create is important.
The details (as described above) can be sorted out later. Its not such a big deal.

hey mdharp
sorry if that was a bit snappy, just not in the best mood that day I think.
Thanks for those words, just the thing I needed at this time

Lex

P.S. welcome to YC

It's basically a wall of sound. That's it. It doesn't sound good. It's cliche. Boring. Overall, if you plan to post something, put some time and effort into it please.

Tips-
Silence is important
Playing all instrument at once is tiresome.
Nothing special about going up and down the scale
Think of a more original idea for your theme.
Your ideas don't connect well, fix it.

It's obvious you don't know how to write for the instruments. I found it hard to believe it was a concerto. It's more like a typical orchestra piece featuring a harp and koto.

You did a bad job at mixing eastern and western music.