Variations on themes from the Harry Potter movies

Variation on themes from the Harry Potter movies (original music by John Williams). This is the first thing I did with the ultra-realistic (sarcasm) sounds of Sibelius 5, but it's a bit too difficult for me to adjust the sounds et cetera, so nothing too fancy (I'm not that much of a computer wizard, I guess...)
It's for piano solo, very short, one minute and a half, I think.

Download mp3 from Mediafire.
Or from Box.net.

Please comment (both positive and negative comments)

i can't seem to download it. Try box.net that works always.

Originally Posted by gijs van beusekom

i can't seem to download it. Try box.net that works always.

Ok, I uploaded it to Box.net. Link is in original post.

I did like it. Although i felt it lacked some emotional deepness. In other words it stayed a bit to flat for my taste. The variations are quite contrasting, so i like that. I think you did well, although i think i can use a bit more of personality. Since the piece is very tonal and here and there aspiring to be reaching out, i feel it lacked a bit for that matter.

Beware: Long Post
it will help though. i think.

I think...in regards to Harmonies, you have neglected the beauty of what John Williams has provided. There are some nice chromatic harmonies in the original score, but you have kind of (and i dont want to be nasty) spoiled them. I mean, you had a nice idea, and I think I liked the theme more than your variations...which is a bit ironic.

What you need to do is sit down and start again (i know, thats a horrid thought)...only if you want to.

Im currently writing variations to the infamous 'Chopsticks' and 'Mexican Hat Dance', and to be honest, about a year ago I would have written them like you. Hear me out though: I didnt realise the full potential of harmonies and chord progressions a year ago, and I think that you are in the same predicament - at least, with this piece. There is so much you could do with this theme which I don't think you realised, and thats ok - trial and error is the best way to become a good composer.

Your pianistic writing is a bit, meh...non interesting, but again...something that you will need to develop. Do you play the piano?

TIPS AND ADVICE:

• Start again.
• Look at these Theme and Variation pieces:
  • 33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli (Beethoven) - for a classical approach
  • Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli (Schubert) - for a late classical approach
  • Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini (Rachmaninoff) - for a romantic/modern approach
    (you can find recordings of these at Composers overview -- Classic Cat, and scores at Free-scores.com : World Wide Free Sheet Music (Directory and Direct Download) , Free Sheetmusic Library , Kreusch-Sheet-Music.net - Free Sheet Music - )
• Take motifs from the original theme: even little sections like the 'Dotted Quaver to Semiquaver' (the 'skip) straight after the pickup can become an entire variation.
• The variations do not always have to sound identical to the original theme and they don't even have to be the same length.
• Break it up into sections. At the moment, I would consider it a Rhapsody...because it just keeps flowing. Sure, there are T&V pieces out there that just continuously flow from one Var. to the next...but they ARE Variations...at the moment I am hearing entirely new themes.
• Don't give up! This is most important. So far I can see that you have some talent that needs developing. Ive never recieved a composition lesson in my life (give or take Senior Music...but we learnt dumb Pop songs in there). It is all a growth, and it is possible to get yourself to a high enough standard on your own...just take advice from dead composers by looking at how they did it. They have left behind great resources to help us compose.

Kvitske -

Question - how long have you been composing?

Goodridge offered plenty of good suggestions but I also ask -

Have you studied any counterpoint? ear-training?

Goodridge's rep suggestions are excellent but you MAY benefit more from a little less extensive material (people can spend a lifetime studying the Rach and Beethoven variation goodridge mentioned). Get Mozart's variations on "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" which will be titled by its original source an old French folk song called - "Ah Vous dirai-je, Maman" and look at variations 3,5, 10, and 11. Also, look at the first movement of Mozart's famous A major sonata after you have looked at "Ah, Vous dirai - je ... ".

Then onto Beethoven - first Variations on a theme by Paisello, then Eroica variation. The Eroica will be an especially rich vein. Finally, the Diabelli.

So how do you "study " this? Get the score. For the Mozart "Ah dirai variation ... " look at variation 5. The first bit of this theme (eg Twinkle twinkle) is as you know ccggaag in quarter notes. Well, Mozart turns the melody in the right hand into C quarter note value, eighth note rest, C eight note, G quarter note, eighth note rest, G eighth note to A quarter note, eighth note rest, A eighth note to G quarter. So he has elongated the orginal theme from 2 measures to 3.5. Look carefully at the left hand which supports harmonically the melody but also imitates the rhythm and rising stepwise motion. I could go on and on but our focus is to compose.

Now do that to your theme - elongate the first phrase by rests and delays. Use the left hand to imitate the right while supporting it harmonically. You could do Mozart's rhtymic pattern or you could come up with you own -- as long as the phrase is doubled (or almost) in length and the left hand imitates and supports harmonically the right. It will take some time but it is worthwhile.

Good luck and keep writing! Only way to get better is to study, write and share.

Exactly

Thanks for the replies!

I know the Mozart variations (played them couple of years ago), so I'll see if I can find it again and study them!