"Little Lamb" a new madrigal with text by William Blake.

Monkeysinfezzes · #1 (**permalink**) May 16 2007, 8:38 PM

Hey guys,

This is my first composition for the summer, now that classes are over, and as I'm looking for work, I've decided to post this merry little number of mine. It's a bit different when compared to other vocal works inspired by the same text. More program notes can be found on the website. It plays back on Sibelius Scorch, which is good because you can follow the text. If there are some sections that might seem TOO fast or TOO slow, that's why I left tempo markings vague enough for the choir master to use his own judgement. Anyways, enough of me:

Ladies and gentlemen, I present "Little Lamb", a newe worke

http://sibeliusmusic.com/cgi-bin/sho...scoreid=105840

Hope you like it

Aubade128 · #2 (**permalink**) May 17 2007, 4:51 AM

Hi,
I'm just curious, how long have you been composing for? This seems very singable for a talented choir. My main concern here is the keyboard part. It appears to be a reduction of the choir parts, and thus is extremely awkward to play in numerous locations (it also will not sound very good on a piano, since piano voice spacings are different from a choir). You might consider writing a piano part that conveys the harmonies to the choir but is independent and pianistic in its own right. Or just have it sung without keyboard (which you did set as an option.)

If I'm not mistaken, this also contains the "Introduction" from the Songs of Innocence as well as "The Lamb". I was a bit surprised since I was just going to post a vocal work which set these very same poems!

I would say that your strong point here is your ability to write from a horizontal, or contrapuntal standpoint. There are several places that are interesting from a polyphonic standpoint, where one voice imitates another, etc.

The text setting was good also. There were some appropriate sound effects, like the 'ba's for the lamb that were interesting and should come off well.

I found that the piece was weakest in the area of harmonic direction. The harmonic choices were the least interesting part of this work for me. I think part of the problem is that the harmonies moved very fast, however they relied too heavily on I, IV, and V chords. Since the piece alternates through these and others so quickly, it can become tiresome after a while and the overall effect of harmony is diminished. However, there were several places where the harmony worked fine, for example in the spots where the tempo changes to a slower time (transitional or climactic areas).

Around ms 55 you could use a key sig to reduce all of those accidentals.

Thanks for posting your work!

manossg · #3 (**permalink**) May 17 2007, 7:14 AM

Ok, the previous poster was very thorough in the review...I found this piece very enjoyable, even through the painful sound of computerized choir. You placed the text very well and managed to convey peaceful joy through your music. I agree with Aubade that you harmonic and contrapuntal writing was very balanced.

Cheers!

Monkeysinfezzes · #4 (**permalink**) May 17 2007, 11:42 AM

Thanks very much. Yes it was simply a reduction of the choir. It's an a capella work. I don't know how I can make it look neater, but that's all it really is. Although I usually am quite experimental with my harmonies, I decided to go very simple and innocent with these piece, hence the happy 1-IV-V progressions. It's mostly the text though that drives the music along, with the singers humming, whistling, kissing, and the like. Not to be a braggard, but I'm kind of proud because this was my first long piece I've written completely by hand before plugging it into the machine

manossg · #5 (**permalink**) May 17 2007, 1:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monkeysinfezzes

It's mostly the text though that drives the music along, with the singers humming, whistling, kissing, and the like.

Kissing? Did I miss something sexy in the notation?

Monkeysinfezzes · #6 (**permalink**) May 17 2007, 7:54 PM

yes. The kissing that one normally does with a pet, you know, when the dog - or in this case a lamby - jumps on your lap and you're petting it and hugging it and kissing it like little kids tend to do. I actually wrote it for my dogs. Nothing sexy or bestial.

Daniel · #7 (**permalink**) May 17 2007, 7:59 PM

Your link doesn't work for me..

Monkeysinfezzes · #8 (**permalink**) May 17 2007, 10:38 PM

sibeliusmusic.com is down temporarily. It's recently been quite finicky in that regard. Well, considering how many people post a day, whether it's worthless crap or not.