My first composition

I'm sorry it's so short, but there it is. My first composition ever ever ever...

I don't know why this piece sounds so disturbing. I'm not exactly a horribly depressed person or anything, I just like to write 20th-century music like that. Maybe it's because I was listening to Shostakovich yesterday, which was my inspiration in the first place. It took several hours for me to work out even something short like this.

It doesn't say so on the pages but the actual title is "Quartet no.1 in D minor" despite the lack of key-signature. When I started working on it I didn't know where I was going with it. I just let the music go naturally and it ended in d-, so that's how it is. This is the Introduction and there will probably be more following it. Feedback is appreciated!

Wow, I'm impressed! I can hardly believe this is your first composition, Good job and congratulations on becoming a composer.

The piece isn't depresssing, and only minimally disturbing. It definately sounds like Shostakovich!!!

Comments:

I liked the viola solo, it always needs more attention. One things that makes this piece a little dull and holds it back is the lack of intersting rythms. The piece kind of made up for it with its intersting harmonies, but that really stuck out. half notes, quarter notes, and eigth notes aren't going to cut it. Also, add some dynamics, I noticed that when the cello had the eighth note melody and the violins and viola had the harmony thing, they sort of overpowered it. the augmented unisons didn't help either. Definately add some dynamics to the piece - especially to bring that lower register cello passage out. Also, add some articulation, staccatti on that cello part would make it stick out even more! Here I added two midis for comparison, One is the regualr, and the second one is with added accents and staccatti.

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This is a really impressive first work. I look foward to future works of yours.

Very cool piece! It has a lot of depth, especially for your first composition.

This definitely has the feel of the second movement of Shostakovich's Quartet no. 8, but it's also very unique.

I look forward to hearing more!

oh, and post at least midi.

I'm trying to figure out how to turn it into a MIDI. -_-o

You created the .MUS file in.. Finale NotePad 2006, right? I'm sure I saw a music notation to midi converter *somewhere* on the net. I would just Google it.

here, I'll save it in Finale and send it to you

For a first work, this is very impressive. I agree with the above comments, especially regarding ways to put more life into it. I don't know which program you use to notate, but certainly the addition of articulations, slurs, dynamics, and the like - would give your ideas more strength. They will also serve as an impetus as you continue.

Now is the time to start putting these things in! Not later as an afterthought. Soon you will be hearing the articulations you want as you compose. It will become an integral part of your compositional process and your music will have life right out of the blocks, which will give you more confidence.

Good luck with your work

In order to save as midi in finale you need to upgrade to notepad plus ($20 I think)

Thank you Daniel for the MIDI version! Listening to it as a MIDI makes it sound different... It does need more articulation, and I can be proud of myself for just learning how to do that in Finale Notepad. I'll find a MIDI converter somewhere and revise it.

Thank you for your comments so far, they're really helpful!