Organ Invention No.2 (BE)

Here's another organ piece that I composed in honor of a friend's birthday. The piece lacks formation and direction, a common issue of mine. That's why I'm posting it on YC, so I can receive some critiquing.

Nevertheless, its fun to listen to, so enjoy it!

(and yes, I'm aware that the ending is unoriginal)

Well, I had trouble downloading the mp3 -- but I have a crappy computer.

From the score I see that your A section is strongest, the B sections gets overwritten - that is you move to new ideas and seems to shoe horn some of your A material with these. I think the organ runs that risk as the resources are great. When I get a chance I can get into specifics but one idea that comes to mind is to take the accompaniment figure and write full chords first and mess around with it - transpose it, play it in two keys, create a new melody, etc. Also, play with the textures in the A sections - for example what would happen if you had the tremelos bouncing back and forth between each manual or even the pedals? This could be the material for your B or transitional sections!

Finally, unless you have an immediate deadline, I'd put it aside after you receive your comments. I have been in your situation woth an organ piece I wrote. At the recap I tried to cram so much that the piece lost momentum and sounded overwritten. Fortunately the performer I worked with offered some constructive criticism and I fixed it by cutting out some material.

Hey JB i enjoyed listeing to this invention also

I thought that section A was far more organised, but I personally didn't like it very much - i thought the tremelos began to get quite tedious. I much preffered the idea that came in once the tremelos stopped (bar 29ish). I was a bit unsure about the tango that came in at bar 51, I wasn't so keen. I really liked the part where the chords came in being played by the right hand at bar 69 - i think it worked really well I thought the introduction of happy birthday was awesome at the end!

I think there is some work to do but a good piece so far


ferret,

Ah! Die orgel-meisters haben gesprochen!

Thank you guys for looking and listening. Could someone tell me what mood the "A section" conveys to you personally?

@Composerorganist: Would it be possible to point out which sections are overwritten? I do agree that the "B sections" sound like afterthoughts. This is because they are! I'll toy around the textures some more and see what improvements should be made.

@Ferret: The "tango" is an experiment in rhythm mostly. But since you liked it so much, I think I'll write an entire series of 'Tangos for Organ'!

I would say from measures 61 - 80. The chords in the right hand may make the texture to thick at times and I am unsure of their motivic relation. Again, the idea may be good just needs refinement.

Also , the arpeggiation of the F major chord is a bit harmonically static and could be explored much more. Also around measures 41 - 48 the pedal part seems to either overpunctaute the eight note rhythmn or confuse it with some meandering lines --- again a case where you have new ideas crowding in before the ones presented are fully presented.

Mmm...yes, the arpeggios are rather cliche. 41-48, I was attempting to bring out a rather obvious beat, which it seems that I achieved. I agree that most of the mini-themes that I present are never developed. 67-80, wouldn't the overriding textures rely mostly on the registration employed in this case?

Did you get the mp3 to work? Do you like any parts of the piece?

Thanks so much for critiquing the piece. I really appreciate it!

Couldn't get the MP3 to work (my system is old and I was planning to get a new computer in 6 months until I got laid off my job recently).

You are correct with 61 - 80 the chords could work with proper registration. As long as you have a good performer who could maintain a clean articulation at the tempo indicated and good registration skills it would work.

I do like your idea in the A section - I just see much more possibility.

Just to be fair below is the link to the organ piece I wrote and posted awhile ago, select the premiered work. So, listen before taking to heart all my critiques.
Listen