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Hi @Lithl , Thank you for your comment and the kind words! I agree that the piece does sound kinda cinematic and I love your story - I think you expressed it very well :D. I like the idea of a "journey" of sorts and I'll keep brainstorming for a better title.

Good luck! That's a very good one. I’ve been thinking about the comment on the role of the contrabassoon here, following on from what’s already been said. I understand that you’d like to use the woodwinds as a bass line in those sections; that’s simply a matter of timbre and so on. Although I’m a firm believer in absolute freedom when it comes to composing, it’s true that I also bear in mind certain general principles. One is the ‘economy’ of instruments. Although I’ll never have a symphony orchestra or anything of the sort at my disposal, I do like to write as realistically as I can. That’s why, if the parts for one instrument can be played by another, I don’t use it. The other principle is to double the bass (an octave up or down), and I notice you do this. This is something I was taught very early on. And there’s a reason for it: the low register is the least audible to our ears. There are exceptions, of course: when the orchestral texture is very light, it isn’t necessary. In this piece, most of the notes for the contrabassoon can be played by the bassoon. Let’s say up to the low C (B flat, actually). To put it another way, I might have used the bassoon for that contrabassoon line and supported it on the lowest notes with the tuba or the double bass. There are sections of the contrabassoon part that can be taken over by bassoon 2, for example in bars 22 and 24. It’s true that the bassoons are in part 2, but it isn’t necessary (with those dynamics – diinuendo and ppp). Well, anyway, that’s just my opinion, based partly on how I learnt it. I was taught that instruments such as the contrabassoon, the bass clarinet, and even higher-pitched ones like the piccolo, were there for when the standard instruments couldn’t play the parts. Sometimes I’ve been guilty of wanting to be too literal when transposing a piano piece for the orchestra. But I’ve also realised that there are times when you have to take certain liberties or make changes to adapt the sound to the orchestra. Best regards.

Hi everyone, I recently completed a draft of a short symphonic poem, after a long period of writer's block and not writing anything. I haven't put all the finishing touches on my scores (divisi, part divisions, crescendos are all lowk messed up etc.), but I would really appreciate feedback/suggestions relating to development and harmony. I'd also appreciate knowing what images, if any, it conjures up for you as you listen to it (I'd like to figure out a more evocative title). Thank you for your time :D! Poem for Orchestra.mp3 Poem for Orchestra.pdf

I'v been revising this piece yet again. This time I focused on a more rewritten exposition like introduction that is connected to the material later and tried to make it more cohesive overall. Any feedback is welcome. Thanks in advance. War born draft 5 04-07-2026 - Flow 1.mp3 war born draft5 score.pdf

Hi, Bjarke. It's a really energetic piece. I feel a vibe close to Peter Bence. The flowing feel is good. However, I felt it's a bit cluttered. If you add more extreme dynamics to each section, it might resolve that issue and make it even better. I think the piece itself is good, though! Best, Lithl.

When you write for orchestra, you should consider the role each instrument should play in communicating your ideas. Unusually, much of your writing for the bassoon part is not aligned with the bass (taken by the cello's and violas). For instance from bar 29 the oboes, clarinets and bass are all doubled in such a way that is laden with consecutive octaves and 5ths. This is not good orchestration at all. Woodwind passage from bar 29 (bass clef at the bottom) As a basis, I would encourage you to use the bass parts as a guide for your bassoon writing and which should ideally contrast with the upper voices. Furthermore, the below central motif is uninspired/plain without some rhythmic interest. Perhaps consider adding syncopation between different parts to embed some form of dialogue. My feeling is that if you are not thinking yet in terms of that kind of dialogue, you are not ready for symphonic writing. Stick to chamber music - as I have done for much of my work - until you are comfortable with counterpoint and voice leading before going larger scale, is my suggestion!