Leaderboard

Beyond My Reach - Composition

So I've recently returned home for the summer from school and while I've had a house to myself I've decided to work on a song cycle for orchestra to paint a picture of the different places I've lived. It's generally surface level observation with the 4 places being 1. New York 2. North Dakota 3. Portland and 4. Emma who is the person who always makes me feel at home. New York is a jazzy movement in 12/8, North Dakota is a classic pentatonic melody, Portland is likely going to be more experimental and contemporary, and Emma is just supposed to make you realize how much I love her with each swell. With that I have started New York, finished North Dakota, and Emma, and am vastly afraid of Portland because it is likely the most complex movement. I started this as something to do while waiting for my summer job and now I will be very busy for the next few months so I'm not sure i'll get a chance to finish it soon, but am eager to share what I do have.

OC--- As with your other pieces, I generally really like your violin line/melody and ( here piano) accompaniment. A few suggestions from my perspective: 1. This piece could benefit for a more strongly accentuated difference in TEXTURE---- more of a full-throated piano section or two with the melody (varied)--and piano with violin executing long supporting notes, for example. 2. More emphasis on dynamic contrast. The thematic material is varied well, but this is lost a bit because of the above. I've been reading Daniel Levitin's "This is Your Brain on Music"--and he emphasizes how we as listeners positively respond to novelty and change in music, and the return of the familiar is an emotional and aesthetic treat for the brain. When music starts sounding looped, would-be listeners might lose interest in what we are trying to express... But again, your melodic sense is excellent. BTW--what sound library are your using? I love that "dirty" violin sound--a little gritty...