WHITE FANG! THE TRAIL OF THE MEAT!

Hello friends,
It's been a while since I posted anything here, but I think this one is worth it. Premiered two months ago, this movement is part of what will be intended to be a larger cantata for narrator, wind nonette, and nature sounds, to be performed outdoors, somewhere.

This was premiered this month, and is a live recording with tape to create the necessary effect that I've been looking for.

The music was inspired by the first chapter of Jack London's White Fang, and deals with the chase across the barrenlands of Northern Canada during the Gold Rush of a dogsled by a pack of wolves, the leader of the pack, being half-dog/half-wolf, is seducing members of the dog team, one by one, night after night, and as the dogs dwindle in numbers, the hungry wolves raise the stakes and go for the men.

Plus, don't think for a second that the environmental sounds are a gimmick. They are an integral part of the composition. I've posted the score, I just want you people to listen. I'm slightly nervous, from my lack of posting this past year or so, but I'm going to give it a shot. This is my major work of the year.

Ladies and gentlemen, "White Fang: The Trail of the Meat"

Sibelius Scorch Website: White Fang: Part 1 - The Trail of the Meat

Live Mp3:
http://sibeliusmusic.com/mp3/1/1/9/119935.mp3

Just keep an open mind.

Interesting trivia, the French horn at times utilizes a shofar, and the percussionist utilizes a caribou-skin framedrum.

AHH My school is reading white fang by jack london interresant! Anyways I am just saddened that there are no strings in this composition! Well I think the piece is just fine without them anyway. There is nothing negative I have to say negative about this piece, very nice indeed, keep up the good work!

You know why there are no strings? Because strings are some of the bitchiest people when it comes to temperature. Unionly, they need a place around 20 degrees, they would never play in the environment called for them in this piece. Absolutely never. Unless they were gypsies... Plus, to represent the north, I don't think that lush strings would really work. The north is not pretty like that. It's pretty in its solidarity, its sparceness, and purity.

Originally Posted by Monkeysinfezzes

You know why there are no strings? Because strings are some of the bitchiest people when it comes to temperature. Unionly, they need a place around 20 degrees, they would never play in the environment called for them in this piece. Absolutely never. Unless they were gypsies... Plus, to represent the north, I don't think that lush strings would really work. The north is not pretty like that. It's pretty in its solidarity, its sparceness, and purity.

Heh I agree here, we orchestrains need to play at level temperatures, if it isn't comfortable to us, it won't be to our instruments either , I however have playedoutside for my english class many times..so yeah

It's fine if you don't want to use strings, but your reasons are really quite sad.

No musician enjoys playing in a cold climate, regardless of what instrument they play. Woodwinds are prone to cracking, and brass instruments get cold. Not to mention it ruins intonation (which was clearly an issue in the performance). (I'm assuming you call for cold temperatures in this piece by the comment, "they need a place around 20 degrees, they would never play in the environment called for them in this piece").

"Unless they were gypsies"

What do you mean by this? Is this just a joke, or some sort of racial slur?

"Plus, to represent the north, I don't think that lush strings would really work. The north is not pretty like that. It's pretty in its solidarity, its sparceness, and purity."

I think that any string instrument could accomplish that easily, though I'm not saying that you have to use a string instrument.

Welcome back.

Ravingspleen, hello, that was a gypsie joke. And I was being facetious. But technically though, brass and woodwinds are more outdoorsy than strings. Ever march a Santa Clause parade?

But even still though, played outside or not, string instruments are not traditionally outdoorsy. I mean, look at Handel's Water Music, or Music for Fireworks. The band was meant to parade outdoors.

Brass quartets have a long history of outdoor performance, as can be seen by the Salvation Army bands around Christmastime, or historically the brass bands that would play following church services in Renaissance germany.

I really hope I didn't offend you... I don't think you're that much of a sensitive person. If you didn't chuckle, I guess I'm sorry...

But tell me what you thought of the MUSIC!

I think the nature-sounds are a nice touch, though the uncontrolingly place notes in the score. The birds do at least. Sometimes it works, but sometimes it gives unwanted dissonance. But it's certainly original and that's worth something. As for the music, i found it hard to relate. This might be since i live in a whole nother part of the world and have never experienced feelings you are portraying here or maybe it is because of the segmented structure. I couldn't realy depict a line, movement. It seemde a bit random to me. That might just be me. I think the naturesounds are realy original, but the music could use a clearer structure.