Conflicts with a romance

A sonatina for a duet. It follows a Conflict - Romance - Conflict pattern.. (In purely musical terms. Whateverthat would mean is left up to the listener, though I have a specific idea in mind)

Mvt 1 - ABA form. (Better described as sonata form without development) A chromatic theme and a sensitive theme are contrasted. (it can be considered two portraits of the same thing at different seasons.. or different emotions, whatever) It ends abruptly.

Mvt 2 - Some free variations on a sensitive theme. The piece starts on the same note that concluded Conflict #1.

Mvt 3 - In proper sonata form (improper proper sonata form, rather) this is to follow attacca after mvt 2. The piece is dissonant, jumpy and features one of my ''typical'' 8th note ascending melodies..

Here ya go, midis and scores (updated scores coming up, cutepdf is being a bitch):

I liked the 3rd the best. Prokofiev wrote a piece for piano and clarinet that I have only heard once and can't seem to find proof of its existence, but from what I remember, it is similar in style to this one. (Prokofiev is my fav composer).

Thanks! And yes, I think it sounds like a less subtle Prokofiev..

I love your ideas, melodically and harmonically. But I feel that you need to explore less ideas for longer. You have a bright road for development ahead of you. The second movement was my favorite!

Again, you need to clear up your notation! Also, add the transposition!

bUMP. I'd like some more comments on this, please!

Updated, good looking scores are coming up too. But cutepdf is not printing them for some reason. I'll look into it, in the meantime... take a listen

Aw man...

I can't understand your musical language, really.

I mean, I feel it has some connection, it works very well, it can be listened to. But I simply do not understand the relations between each note...

Kudos, still.

Originally Posted by Anders

bUMP. I'd like some more comments on this, please!

Well, I just listened to all three movements. I'm afraid I have nothing exciting to report.

Sorry Anders, perhaps it's just me, but it just didn't do anything for me. I'm not educated in music theory, I'm just given you my personal reaction as a layman.

The first movement seemed to end without justification. I know that was your intent, and you started the second movement to pick it up, but I just didn't get the connection (perhaps a live performance with the correct timing between the movements would bring that home better)

The second movement just didn't instill a feeling of "romance" in me. But this is obviously a matter of personal taste I suppose.

I think the third movement was the best of the three. Although, not having really bought into the first two movements the third was left a bit empty standing on its own.

Overall I think the piece has potential, but as is, it just didn't capture me. For me, the second movement in particular, would need to be significantly more "romantic" to contrast the conflict movements better. And I think you could make improvements to the connections between the first and second movements. I just didn’t really get a feeling being left “hanging” at the end of the first movement. I got more of a feeling of being “cut off”. I think if you instill more anticipation for the next note the connection would work better.

Just my thoughts, for whatever they're worth. I wasn’t going to respond at all, but since you were begging for more comments, this is what you get.

No no, Abra. (may I call you abra? ) I appreciate your comments, and agree for the most part. Some of my music does end up suffering from musical ADD - I believe this represents me quite well, so I'm trying to make it work and sound satisfying. Clearly this piece missed the mark with some, though, and I'm fine with that.

I'd like to say that the title ''romance'' for the second movement is just meant to be evocative. I dislike overt romanticism in my music, and this entire work is supposed to be quite humorous.

Originally Posted by Berlioz

Aw man...

I can't understand your musical language, really.

I mean, I feel it has some connection, it works very well, it can be listened to. But I simply do not understand the relations between each note...

Kudos, still.

This must be the most interesting comment so far.

The relations between each note are simply what I feel they should be. Anything else would feel fake to me - I feel like I'm having sex with a goat when I write classicism, for example.

Cheers.