Symphony no2 (first 3 movements)

You have a very unique and original style, which is what interested me and made me want to listen to your whole suite. My favorite movement out of the three was Prairies. The mood setting you created in this movement starts out very peaceful with some fantasy, which reminds me of someone going on a long adventure, trying to reach a destination. You then create a majestic setting, which diminishes back into the peaceful fantasy, which is why I feel this movement would be the pefect score to use on an RPG game. I can imagine how wonderful the score would sound played with better samples.

...Everybody is aware that québecois are geniuses.

Except me and Dunael (oh don't take it personnal ok? I'm joking!)

thank-you for the comments

this work is a very deeply personal one for me, as I believe I stated earlier in this thread. I have wanted to write it, and it has been sitting in the back of my mind, waiting patiently, for over 10 years.

Very soon, I will be getting back into this piece and completing its final two movements.

The opening movement of the symphony is right now sitting on the desk of the assistant conductor of the Montreal Symphony. I only hope he finds the work as meritorious as my friends here.

This is truly beautiful, and you have done a phenomenal job with counterpoint, and polyphonism. I love the textures, and shapes of sound, and really appreciate your sense of layering. The clarinet solo was probably my favorite part, wow what a daring high note you have written in that part! Thanks very much for sharing!

oh I loved it! I've just listened to the first movement and loved the way it climbs to the end. I loved its rich harmonies and Americanness . . . yes definitely American (something to do with harmonics??) I loved the big drum irregular drumbeats at the beginning of the coda and the spaciousness of it and the attention to detail. The orchestration is sumptuous and generous and that passage where the trumpet suddenly plays crystal clear melody followed by a kind of fugal passage but it blends beautifully and always carried me with it. Wonderful! thank you!

thank-you Stephen. I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

I only wish I could ALSO let people see the gorgeous landscapes that inspired each movement of the symphony.

I know it sounds sort of "American", but I hope it's more "North American" than "U.S. of A" American. Contemporary works with rather tonal harmony do have a tendency to sound "American", since American composers have been in the forefront of new-tonal music.

I think American is something to do with space. Large canvasses. Not really anything to do with USA particularly . . . . I have just listened to the second movement (interrupted by a phone call mid-way which threw me a bit). Piles of sound and open space and then that sudden little duet between clarinet and flute: back to people again! I suddenly thought suite rather than symphony? I do hope you finish this massive piece and that it gets the hearing that it deserves. thank you so much.

Again, thank-you.

"Space" is something we Canadians share with our American neighbours. We have TONNES of it. Come to think of it, we probably have more of it just sitting around, not doing anything

The symphony is entitled "Sinfonia Canadensis", it might be programmatic, like a suite could be, but structurally, it's all "symphony". I intend on having the final two movements finished by this summer.

There is a brief adagio as 4th movement, then a rather larger theme and variations for the 5th movement finale. The entire symphony should run around 30-35 minutes.

If you felt the "people" in the 2nd movement, then you might enjoy the third movement - it's a rondo/scherzo incorporating "national" themes from the four maritime provinces. It finishes off with a massive statement of the unofficial Acadian national anthem.

This is my first post on this board although I have been registered for a while. I am simply posting to say to you Qccowboy that your ear for harmony is otherworldly! Your sound is unique and exciting.It has mystique but retains clarity. It lacks "direction" and yet where the music takes you is simply divine. It has direction in spades. It is a plethora of wonderfully married contradiction. I have heard a few of your pieces now and truly, you are an inspiration, an absolute inspiration.

You are the most talented current composer I have heard. I prefer your sound to any other composer currently living and I am being COMPLETELY serious.

That is all.

Originally Posted by Nathaniel Near

This is my first post on this board although I have been registered for a while. I am simply posting to say to you Qccowboy that your ear for harmony is otherworldly! Your sound is unique and exciting.It has mystique but retains clarity. It lacks "direction" and yet where the music takes you is simply divine. It has direction in spades. It is a plethora of wonderfully married contradiction. I have heard a few of your pieces now and truly, you are an inspiration, an absolute inspiration.

You are the most talented current composer I have heard. I prefer your sound to any other composer currently living and I am being COMPLETELY serious.

That is all.

well, effusive praise, indeed!
hehe, thank-you.

It's always nice, of course, to have unconditional fans

It balances out those who DON'T like my music

I'm an old-fashioned curmudgeon. I like my music neo-tonal and "pretty". So I'm glad some poeple are enjoying it.

This symphony (which I STILL need to finish, dammit) is my first "descriptive" work. I hope some of what I tried to describe is coming through. I wish I could attach the images that inspired it, but mere pictures would not do justice to the beauty that I saw. And I am afraid my music cannot either.