Obscene Obsession for Full Symphonic Orchestra

Originally Posted by nikolas

Cheers for coming back. do check the other thread I pointed out, you might be pleasently surpirsed (especially with Thale Cres actually).

I don't mind at all that you didn't like the music (my music), and my post wasn't about that. I'm not here to force anyone into liking my music at all. If you are looking for the qualities you mention, you won't find them in this track, that's for sure. The complexities of the sound (and thus to the score, but I'm not talking about the difficulty of reading the score), are a part of the music in this case, as the orchestration plays a vital role in this track.

I wasn't looking to cause irritation, or discomfort, or annoyance. Maybe stress but look at the tittle again and take a guess: "Obscene Obsession". I sure hope that you were not hoping for a nice melody from music named "Obscene Obsession".

By all means, I don't mind that you didn't like it. Just note that the negative qualities, as you mention are not coming from the music, alone, but in connection to the listener. Other people don't find these qualities you mention at all.

PS. Still don't know if you actually heard the whole piece or not. If not, I would suggest listening to the whole thing, as it does change over time, and it could be worht the ten minutes. But by all means, make up your mind all the way. as I said, your POV, your ears, your style, not a problem with that at all

Why did you choose this title for the work?

Perhaps you wrote the music and knew how it sounds and decided to give it a name that sort of fits the style of the music.. I dont know.. maybe you came up with the name and then wrote the music....which was it?

I knew what I was writting, so I did know what I wanted to express. The name came at more or less 1/4th of the way of writting... Hadn't heard a bit yet.

Yet another time: Did you listen to the whole track, or just the first 2-3 minutes, please?

Originally Posted by nikolas

I knew what I was writting, so I did know what I wanted to express. The name came at more or less 1/4th of the way of writting... Hadn't heard a bit yet.

Yet another time: Did you listen to the whole track, or just the first 2-3 minutes, please?

I'll make the effort to listen to the whole thing later on.. not now though.

Saulsmusic, I hadn't heard that piece, but I must say, Nikolas' was far more exciting and interesting... Anyway, this thread is not a discussion of your music.

I'll make the effort to listen to the whole thing later on.. not now though.

Not a great idea to comment on someones work, without listening to the whole of it....

(no need for any comparison here, or critic of anyones music, right? )

Actually, I just listened again, and I found a figure that I thought didn't fit very well. Now I can't for the life of me find it again! If I do, I'll let you know. This is going on my ipod for sure...

My favorite part of this is the beginning where that initial sonority is expanded upon, ever growing in tension and density of texture. The flurry of instruments that contributed to the sound presented a very clear and intriguing aural image.

I was also quite impressed with the synthesis, it was well done.

Overall, this piece evoked some very intense feelings in me. I got a strong sense of claustrophobia - this could be due to the sonorities present in the piece. Needless to say, if that is the effect you intended it worked well on me. You say it is a piece about life up through death. It sounds like it must be a life filled with tension and misgivings. However, there are serene moments from time to time.

Originally Posted by nikolas

Well...

I think that this is the largest piece I've written in terms of length, but also in time it took to work it out! It's just enormous for my state of mind back then. Written in 2004!

www.nikolas-sideris.com/stuff/oo.mp3
www.nikolas-sideris.com/stuff/oo.pdf

A very short analysis of the work...

The work is seperated in 7 chapters, starting from Brith and reaching Death. I won't answer any questions on that!

Other than that underneath the music, there is an everlasting fractal which grows in speed and pitches.

I find that this is the most impotant piece in my career up to then, and in my advancment as a composer. This is the piece that made me realise that I can wrtie "good" music!

I'm looking forward to your reviews. Just note that this is a finished piece and thus I won't be chaning anything really, unless it is a tpyo, or some other bizzare error... I'm not looking for the type of feedback "did I do the right thin at bar 240?", but more the type of feedback "did you enjoy it? Yes or No? Why?" and so on so fourth.

Sure enough I don't have the power to dictate to you what to post, so really post anything you want really...

Hi Nikolas.
About your question "did you enjoy it? Yes or No? Why?", I will try to answer simply.
I love very much the other music you have done. I am one of your fan.
But with this one, I can say I don't enjoy it.
Why ? I am not sure. This music doesn't touch me, it is that simple.
Why ? I think that the reason is because I am not familiar with this style of music.
The other compositions you have made was more easy to understand.
Of course that doesn't mean that it is not good music. It is just something I can't understand, maybe too modern.
The melody was not clear for me, and this is for me an important part of music.
Depending of our musical knowledge and experiences, we are able to understand some music and not others. This is the case for me here.
It is difficult to say really why I don't like it, maybe the simplest reason is that I do not understand it. I do not understand what you wanted to share.

I hope this comment will help.

Maximus

Hi Nikolas,

I enjoyed this work, It was an interesting experience, to hear all those textures and atmospheres that you created with the orchestra and the occasional climaxes was nice First part was very atmospheric, and then the second part came out of nowhere with that haunting melody on flute and clarinet. The third part was just what you needed. A difference in pace and character. however the harmonic language stays the same, you introduce some different ideas that makes it interesting.

On part three, Cluster harmonies at horns might sound bad in reality. I am not much of an experienced orchestrator but I wouldn't do that, because I think it might not bring the effect that you are after. Oh now I lost where I was on the score ! The final drive of the piece was very energetic and powerful, I am sure the real orchestra will sound spectacular at this part.

I have one criticism for the piece. It seems like the piece is very angry and doesn't wants to calm down for one bit. It has this tension from beginning to the end that does not resolve. I know that you are not going to make any difference on the piece after this point but this is just my suggestion. The pacing of the piece does not allow a breathing point for the listener. The harmonies seems to be based on clusters and thats what makes all the tension. Perhaps you could have used some chords here and there so that it could bring a breathing point between all those tensions.

Don't get me wrong I really enjoyed the piece. As I said before, the textures and the over atmosphere was very exciting. The orchestrations seemed nice, but since you used some graphical notation and irregular timing of notes (I saw some on piano) It is not possible to simulate that sound through computer. i believe it will sound amazing with a real orchestra.

Maximus, thank you for you honesty man! Much needed

It is definately not an easy work, and to be honest I think that it has more of a sentimental value to me, than an artistic (as a user, not a composer). I do listen to other works I've done much more often. (and my website does not contain O.O. actually, while it contain other works )

Inal:

Thank you for posting man.

you totally speak the truth. One major fault of this work (looking back 3 years) is the continuous drive, the continuous forte... (it is pretty much what Saul sensed, but it was certainly not evident on the 1st 2 minutes...)

The clusters... Yes, don't know really. I know that F. Hrns have a tad of a problem with such things (I know now... :p)

The orchestration, was a joy to do really, but it shows some amateur mistakes really...

Yes, a live recording would be awesmoe, but still... I doutb it will happen as it needs a major revamp in order to do it... Still it is my heritage, and had to post it here.







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Major bonus points (of no value) to those who would decide to see the plan underneath the work. what I do with the pitches, etc...

I will give away the idea in a few days or so, but if anyone is in a mood, you are more than welcome to join ahead

I wasn't looking for what you just hinted at, but I did listen and watch the score. Bravo! I definitely don't want to compare you to Stravinsky, but you are something like a modern-ish version of him. I really enjoyed this work. I could repeat what others have said, because I had similar bothers, but oh well.

I agree with Nightfly about the lack of climax, or something to that effect. I really enjoyed the small harp part right before death. It actually moved me some small way -- I think you have the ability to create a very beautiful theme there as some sort of release. But I know that's probably not what you were going for.

Thank you for sharing this with us. I really enjoyed this piece.

Hem...

I sure hope that you notices at around 09:00 to 10:00 the Stravinsky theme in there...

Cheers for listening Rafn.