My Moonlight piano sonata (G minor)

Hi All,

This is definitely my longest and most ambitious piece yet (every other piece I have written clocks in at 2 minutes). I know... to actually compare myself to Beethoven is blasphemy... it's just that I started out with the triplet timing of Beethoven's moonlight piano sonata in mind, and I'm sure you can see the similarities, especially with the beginning theme. However, there are some different themes in here too - if you do listen make sure you listen to the whole thing... it starts out simple enough, but it does get more complex. The 3/8 section is probably the best part. I'd like to call this a "sonata", but it is only 1 movement and I doubt I'll ever be able to write other movements for it.

It really needs some sustain pedal to make it sound better - I haven't put this in yet. MIDI doesn't quite capture the expression (especially in pp sections) as well as I would like (what's new?). I think the ending drags on a bit, and I keep ending sections on a dominant 7 chord too often. All comments welcome - positive OR negative!

MP3 recording ... Note that the mp3 is only a rendering of the MIDI data - not a performance!

I seem to remember already commenting on part of this piece, and I'm still a fan of the 3/8 thing. I also really liked the offbeat notes in the main melody.

Could definitely sound great if not for the curse of MIDI

It sounds nice.

I probably wouldn't have thought of Beethoven's moonlight if you hadn't mentioned it.
There are a few similarities in the accompaniment but they could be in any number of other pieces as well. (What I mean is that the moonlight's arpeggiation of the triad isn't unique in itself and most music will use idioms also employed in other pieces).

My only criticism would be that it felt a bit static for its length.
At 5 and 1/2 minutes it could flirt a little more with other keys, for example.

Overall, though it has a tender melody and a pleasing somber mood.
My favorite section was about 1:40-1:50 where there were hints of underlying passion that dissipated into the more playful middle section.

I thought the ending was fine.
It served its purpose well.

I think it sounds quite similar to Beety's Moonlight... except in a house of mirrors.
It's very playful and energetic but I agree with yrogerg in the sense that you could have played around with it a little more- after a few minutes, it sounds a little repetitive and almost... clunky?

Thanks for your comments guys... appreciated.

Originally Posted by yrogerg

It sounds nice.

I probably wouldn't have thought of Beethoven's moonlight if you hadn't mentioned it.

Cool. I was under the impression that I had been a bit of a plagiarizer. But the intention was still to sound a bit Beethovenish in style without copying him directly.

Originally Posted by bob stole my cookie

I think it sounds quite similar to Beety's Moonlight... except in a house of mirrors.

Not sure whether you are being literal or what here... what do you mean by "in a house of mirrors"?? :o

It's very playful and energetic but I agree with yrogerg in the sense that you could have played around with it a little more- after a few minutes, it sounds a little repetitive and almost... clunky?

Like yrogerg you also seem to think that its a bit static. I tend to agree. Just not sure how to make it less static though. Do you guys maybe suggest having some of the repititions of the main theme in a different key? (you'll notice towards the end I attempted a variation of the main theme in D major. But still the majority sticks to the G min). Or should I try to introduce different themes or motives perhaps? Or maybe changing the rhythm too?? (most of the time it is in 4/4 with triplet harmony)

I agree with you guys that this piece still probably needs a bit of work... nevertherless I am quite proud of it - as when I got a bit more serious about composing a few months ago I never dreamed of even being able to complete a sonata movement (most of the songs I wrote before that were just basic pop tunes or improvisations based on chord sequences).

Yeah, you could vary the theme melodically or modulate or build on some previous idea. The section at 1:40-1:50 could recur in an extended manner for example. So you hint at in the beginning but instead of cutting it short on its return, you develop it.

It is the section after the 3/8 interlude that most feels like it could use an injection of some contrast. Not necessarily that it needs a whole new theme (although that's an option) but some imbalance, interruption, change in some of the elements of music so it doesn't feel like a really long ending.

The melodic ideas are pretty though.
You might opt not to change it in any way but you can keep certain techniques in mind for other pieces.

It's very pretty. Unfortunately, it feels somewhat lost. It needs pedaling. If you've ever seen the music for that Moonlight Sonata, pedal markings are everywhere. Otherwise, If I found this in a music store, it wouuld be coming home with me faster than my car! It's great, and should be in any decent pianist's repoitoire (pardon, I have no idea how to spell that word!)

Alan

Originally Posted by yrogerg

Yeah, you could vary the theme melodically or modulate or build on some previous idea. The section at 1:40-1:50 could recur in an extended manner for example. So you hint at in the beginning but instead of cutting it short on its return, you develop it.

It is the section after the 3/8 interlude that most feels like it could use an injection of some contrast. Not necessarily that it needs a whole new theme (although that's an option) but some imbalance, interruption, change in some of the elements of music so it doesn't feel like a really long ending.

The melodic ideas are pretty though.
You might opt not to change it in any way but you can keep certain techniques in mind for other pieces.

Thanks for the suggestions yrogerg I also think the section at 1:40-:50 is the best part of it too, so yes perhaps it would be good to expand upon it (easier said than done though). I have put heaps of work into just getting the piece to this stage, but I am not sure whether I have enough energy to go the extra mile to get it perfect (kindof afraid that if I make changes the piece will go "stale"). I am probably more likely to work on other pieces and come back to it later.

Originally Posted by IHoldThePenHaHa

It's very pretty. Unfortunately, it feels somewhat lost. It needs pedaling. If you've ever seen the music for that Moonlight Sonata, pedal markings are everywhere. Otherwise, If I found this in a music store, it wouuld be coming home with me faster than my car! It's great, and should be in any decent pianist's repoitoire (pardon, I have no idea how to spell that word!)

Alan

Hmmmm, kinda contrasting statements there Alan!! "Should be in any pianist's repoitoire"? I think Beethoven's sonata should be in any pianists repetoire but probably not this one...

Originally Posted by finrod

Hmmmm, kinda contrasting statements there Alan!! "Should be in any pianist's repoitoire"? :o I think Beethoven's sonata should be in any pianists repetoire but probably not mine....

Ok, that wasn't said right. What I meant to say is that in certain sections, I'm not perfectly sure where I'm going, but it doesn't harm the peice very much.

Don't put yourself down the drain! I like the peice, but if you think that it's not good enough, then think what you like.

Originally Posted by IHoldThePenHaHa

Ok, that wasn't said right. What I meant to say is that in certain sections, I'm not perfectly sure where I'm going, but it doesn't harm the peice very much.

Don't put yourself down the drain! I like the peice, but if you think that it's not good enough, then think what you like.

Thanks Alan! Like I said earlier, I am actually pretty proud of it, considering I only started playing piano again about 6 months ago after a break of at least 5 years... I'm just not sure that the piece is really the kind of technically challenging stuff that most pianists aspire to. And yes, I really do need to add in some use of pedal!