Mixed Quartet & Audio Track piece

Ok. This is my first post here I'm working on a piece for Violin, Alto Trombone, Clarinet and Cello with Audio Track for my masters in Composition. I'm about half way through and I would like all your fine advice on what you think of this piece. Constructive criticism is greatly welcomed (also, gratuities praise ). Here are the links to the first movement and 3rd movement of the Mixed quartet piece:

http://www.poogg.nadsl.net/First%20Movemen...Unfinished).mp3

http://www.poogg.nadsl.net/Third%20Movemen...Unfinished).mp3

Thanks

Hey Richard, welcome to YC. As for people who dont know you, we are taking same course with richard in Royal Holloway. And we are both working towards our final projects. Glad you're here man !

Anyway,

You're piece really brought something fresh to this forum. As I have found out that many composers here are following the footseps of classical masters, your piece however showed the music of our time. It's tonal, very accesible and enjoyable. It has intelligent use of the technological possibilities that are offered to a composer. Writing for audio track always proves to be much challanging, since there are endless posibilities to do with it, unlike the real instruments where you are limited in terms of sound and whats playable. On this matter your piece uses very subtle use of audio track which does not bother the ear at all, you just kept the right balance.

This music reminded me of Steve Reich's city life. It has the same kind of sound. Minimalistic, at some point. But not strictly minimalistic. Again, a nice balance.

I am waiting to hear other movement, Im curious. Untill now, its very good.



Inal

Thanks Inal. Hope your not just saying that because were in the same class

Thanks Inal. Hope your not just saying that because were in the same class

well that was mean !

Sounds good, fairly simple and striaghtforward. The electronics on the tape do add an interesting texture though.

In the third movement, the clarinet seems to melt into the tape (:20)...how will this sound when performed live? Is this the effect you wanted, or are timbral (is that even a word?!) differences between the 'live' clarinet and the taped sound unimportant for the overall effect? I guess, to me, it'd be super-cool for the sounds to match exactly, so no differentiation can be made between the live and taped sounds of the clarinet....I've used a digital-delay guitar pedal for a similar effect.

You know i was only joking Inal Thanks Robin. If performed live I would have to record the intruments beforehand and apply that recording to the effects in the studio. Yes indeed it would be super cool if there was no distinction between the intruments and the tape and that would be my goal if it were performed. I wouldent use this recording with a different, live performance. It wouldent sound so smooth. Thanks again!!