The Shire

What the heck, I might as well post an original something I've actually written to this place. Of course, we don't have a solo instrument category here so there's seems no appropriate place to put such a work. Is there any irony in the fact that us composers for classical guitar are marginalized to the experimental, and gasp!.. atonal forums?

Written many, many years ago... When I was actually a YOUNG composer. Age 18-19. Dare I say, back in the 70's >_< !!

1. Techniques used

-Alternate tuning. I had just moved from Hawaii (where this particular one proportedly hails from) and figured it might be a way to break out, so to speak. I probably had just heard Pat Metheny for the first time (the White Album) and so naturally I just had to have harmonics in the piece, which of course, don't come out in the playback.

2. How long it took to compose the piece

-It took me at least a few months to write.

3. Structure of your piece

Intro: very tonal, rather romantic. At the time I think I saw it as an "enter the dream" type of thing.

The walk: ..around the odd, but yet comfortable hominess of the Shire, (From the Tolkien trilogy, of course)

The Dance: Without leaveing the Shire, a parochial Hobbit's view of what the world must be like, interpreted in dance. With an odd measure feel to it, yet still tonal. (Some Jazz influenced structures start to appear.) But getting less and less predictable, almost like a dream within a dream. ..then an awkward space.. and..

Back to the walking (or is it waking?) theme.

4. Obstacles when composing

Studies, Drugs, Women, hmm... Some things never change.

5. Summary of overall piece

See structure.

I transcribed this into Finale four or five years ago, and I noticed in bringing it up in Finale 2006 that some of the tempo markings don't work (like the fermatas, etc) I did some tweeking some of the tempos a bit, but mostly you'll have to imagine the fermatas

What can one say when you’re clearly an accomplished performer and composer? I was looking at the detail with which you prepared the score. It looks pretty demanding but the effect is as superb as midi will allow!

Unfortunately, midi doesn’t do you any favours ”“ in live performance the different lines would be brought out with ease and the tonal coloration of the individual strings would be more emphatic.

It’s a fine work; the cross-rhythms came off well even so, especially the way the patterns swap between parts. (The harmony is right up my street!) I’m not too acquainted with the guitar repertoire but it’s a refreshing change from the Villa-Lobos and Moreno-Torroba I occasionally listen to.

The ending seemed abrupt but that's midi again. I picture a live performer pausing silent for a few seconds before visibly relaxing to indicate ‘the end’. In a recording the closing harmonics would be allowed to ring for a few seconds.

And”¦this work does press the case for a solo instrument section.

M

actually, this COULD also have been posted under chamber music.

I don't believe this!

lol, well, this post was originally under "experimental, atonal, or other"....
I was responding to the line "we don't have a solo instrument category here", so my first response DOES look funny.

I was looking at the detail with which you prepared the score. It looks pretty demanding but the effect is as superb as midi will allow!

At the time, I was a pretty good guitarist, probably grade 9 by today's standards. - Right now, I'm probably a 4 or a 3 - I've barely picked up the instrument in the last 3 or so years. and that after a 20 year lull. Unfortunately, there's just enough difficulty to dissuade most. And any guitarist that's good enough to play it would probably balk becuase I'm sure there's too much good repertiore out there that's proven. Also, I think today's guitarists don't like to have to do that much de-tuning/re-tuning in concert settings. Reading in alternate tunings can't be fun. That's why I was very thorough with the fingerings. But I don't know, I really haven't kept in touch with the players, repertiore, etc. since college.

Though I consider it a pretty strong peice, it is by no means a master-piece - Obviously, with hindsight I see a few weaknesses. - but I consider it to have held up pretty well to time and I am still proud of it (especially considering my age at the time.

Unfortunately, midi doesn’t do you any favours ”“ in live performance the different lines would be brought out with ease and the tonal coloration of the individual strings would be more emphatic.

And though it has it's technical difficulties in places, your perceptions are right on target. Bringing out lines is a great part of what makes it so much fun to play.

It’s a fine work; the cross-rhythms came off well even so, especially the way the patterns swap between parts. (The harmony is right up my street!) I’m not too acquainted with the guitar repertoire but it’s a refreshing change from the Villa-Lobos and Moreno-Torroba I occasionally listen to.

Not to toot my horn too much , but it's unlike any of the repertiore I'm familiar with. (hmm... maybe that's a bad thing )But I was going to Berklee at the time and, needless to say, it wasn't cool to be a classical guitarist. So my interests went elsewere.

The ending seemed abrupt but that's midi again. I picture a live performer pausing silent for a few seconds before visibly relaxing to indicate ‘the end’. In a recording the closing harmonics would be allowed to ring for a few seconds.

And”¦this work does press the case for a solo instrument section.

M

I've considered scoring it for a small chamber ensemble, but my arranging chops aren't worthy - yet. Besides, I'm pretty sure I'd be unable to stop myself from changing it considerably. - Waddaya think?

Anyways, What instrumentation? A String quartet. Or maybe a woodwind sextet?

could you please post a midi?

could you please post a midi?

meta - yes - I'll work on tweaking the finale score to simulate some of the things that just don't seem to work - and then pump out a midi. I may even have a recording of it somewhere that I could mp3. - give me a little time.

Ok, I added a pdf of the score and a midi file at the top of the thread. I tried to tweak the midi file in a few places but got lazy after doing a few things - looking at the notes in the midi file is downright ugly. Please refer to the pdf. if you need to 'see' it.

Meta, (or anyone who's interested) if you decide to try it out, you might want to start with the main melody at m. 14. Beware, m. 44 is a ball-buster. I never played it wonderfully right there so I had a few work arounds (I really should put an ossia in the score. Anyways, if anyone decides to try to work this piece up and wants it, please feel free to PM me.

BTW, I forgot to thank montpellier for his very kind remarks.

I'll try playing it, I'm a fairly good guitarist after all!