Op.27, Todesmarsch for Brass Choir (... and Percussion)

This is from a set of independant programmatic pieces designated for brass choir. I'm posting the entire set, which consists of...
1: Coronation for Brass Choir (Op.27, no.1)
2: Todesmarsch for Brass Choir (... and Percussion)(Op.27, no.2)
3:Der Erlkönig for Brass Choir (Op.27, no.3)
Please check the other parts if you have the time.

"An army marches on, men and women, and even children.... a whole populace making its way towards it's own end, the violence and brutality they will face weighed on each and every one of their minds. Whether they live or die doesn't matter, the only thing on the line is their pride. Their town was burnt to the ground in the night as they slept, nothing remained. Some were lucky to still have their lives. The barbarians still surrounded the land, stationed at intervals and out of sight over the hills. The only thing the villagers had left was a chance to go down with a fight, if at least it would show their glory as a final homage to their lost home. It is just that that their elder said as they rested for the night by campfire. He sang - a warm hymn, the last music they would hear before they trudged solemnly but assuredly on into their last stand, off into the distance, blazened against the morning's dawning sun."

That is my description of the piece, I believe it says enough. I began this piece quite a while ago in the Musical Challenges and Games section of the forum, after a simple melody posted by are dear Anders, and almost at the same time began the Conceptual Music Competition 13: Last Stand. So I tailored the piece to the competition while constantly using the motif given by Anders where I could. It did not win the competition, but that does not bother me - I am proud of this little bugger none the less.

Why brass choir? I love brass. It's shiny, and powerful. Very majestic and with regal qualities. I dare a woodwind choir to play this type of music and get away with it.

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Comments and insults are welcome. For those who excel in the field, please check for errors in score layout and proper orchestration - I am still learning.

Outstanding piece. Really. There isn't much I can say about it. As for coherency: I give it a 10. As for instrumental capabilities: I give it a 10. As for Theme originality: I give it an 8. Why? Because it seems like a generic military theme. Orchestration/Instrument parts: 9. Why? Because the horn writing was fantastic, but it was just that. Aside from the beginning trombone exposition, it seemed like the horns dominated the piece. Harmonic variety: 4. Why? Em... i V i V from what I heard. Mabye some slight changes here and there. Thematic variety: 8 why? Given the length of the piece, there isn't much you could have done with the theme. Mabye you could increase the length. Also, I loved the smooth chorale in the middle, but it was all horn again.

Overall, in my opinion, I give it a: 49/60 ... but it isn't your fault... I understand this was meant to be a short piece. So.. I really liked it.

Creative way of reviewing, I must say!

Yes, t'was meant to be a short piece, relatively incidental in nature. Actually part of a set of short incidental pieces for brass choir. I'll post the first piece, a short Coronation, a little later. So far I have the two, and I hope to continue adding to this list.

So, my love for horns really showed off that much? I'm puzzled - I wasn't really trying. The solo was euphonium in the hymn/chorale section - I suppose you were talking about the horns as always being the prominent backbone?

Thank you for the heads-up on the i - V - i - V tendancy, I'll keep that in check for the future. And thank you for listening, as well.

James

What a cute little bugger. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

About 3/4 of the way thru. there was some distortion, don't know why, as it didn't seem to be very loud.

I see you got to put in a marimba, good for you. This is the largest assembly of pieces I think I have heard you use, and I like it.

One of the hardest parts of making the brass seem real is done by using tons of dynamics, each note needs them to sound real. I get bored doing it, so I hit and miss on them. Now that I have a sequencer (Sonar), I hope to do it more, just because it is so much easier in one of those as compared to a notation program.

I enter a competition at CGEmpire every month, knowing I will not win. But I get to practice composing to someone else's wishes. Also, contests are fickle from the start, just because humans are involved. So never care if you "win" or "lose" because if you do it right, you have already won.

Well done

Ron

Hey James.
Really nice piece. I dont really like brasss, (my trumpeter friend annie kills me!) but I love brass here. I think you've done something really nice here. Theme is great. And I love the description of the piece. It really shone through. Use of percussion was nice and the chorales you created were beautiful.

Keep up the good work!!

Scott.