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A lot of voice leading things that are weird. Very postmodern sounding to. I somewhat appreciate the dissonance. OK, I like the change to pace. I appreciate the different folk aspects of this piece. And I definitely like that electric guitar cadenza. A mixing issue with the winds burying the main theme. We are back at measure 59 with the folk melody There may be some difficulty at 83 and before that with the double tongue in the brass. I also like how some of the other instruments double the guitar with the runs. Why is the viola in the bass clef. I like the rhythmic interpretation and variation around 111. I enjoy the guitar solo and also the irregular variation with the rhythm although that the playback may not support this make sure you write some slurring around. At 179 a previous theme returns. Along with the folk melody running after that. Some of the guitar material had returned. And I like the end. Good job and I appreciate the amazing structure and the cool material that you have given throughout the first Movement

Also listen to this one the whole way through. How did this get passed the censors lol

Sounds good. The 13th bar is strange, but I see you've made a correction. I think there's some pretty good imitative treatment, characteristic of the Inventions. So many colours confuse me a bit. I suppose they highlight imitations or motifs, but as I'm colour blind, I can't tell. Best regards.

Continuing with the polychordal exercises in Persichetti's "20th Century Harmony" I wrote this Brass Sextet. The prompt was "2. Harmonize the following first-trumpet melody in six part brass harmony (three trumpets and three trombones). Use a predominantly polychordal texture with occasional unison relief." I chose to use two trumpets, two horns and two trombones instead of the suggested instrumentation. Thanks for listening and I would appreciate any of your comments!

That sounds great. I love this series you're doing on Persichetti's proposals. Organised, it would be a fantastic resource for anyone studying the book.

Reach the Highest Rank "Transcendent" on 31st January, 2026, after joining the forum for 3 years and 9 months.

Starting with what you've got is a great idea. Start with whatever you already know and are comfortable with, and then you can build from there. So you can try coming up with a tune to play on guitar, and then try writing the notes down accurately using free software like Musescore. Or, the reverse, try writing something for guitar using Musescore, and then try playing it. Either will help you get better at knowing when something is a half note, or a quarter note, or a dotted eighth note. Either will help you get better at reading and writing pitches and knowing when to use accidentals, and when the sharps and flats are part of the key signature. I like the advice to start with children's songs or folk music. You could also add Christmas music to that list, or songs from summer camp, or any music that you know by heart. Anything you are very familiar and comfortable with is a good place to start. Do one or two of those, and then when you feel like you can accurately write down the notes and rhythms you want and know the basics of the composing software you are using, you can start arranging pieces, or writing your own tunes. It's like learning to read and write. We start with picture books, so we know what is going on, even if we get stuck over the reading. We start with being read to by someone else, and following along with our finger on the page, and writing letters with a pencil. We start writing short, simple sentences. Then we write short stories or poems or book reports, and can read more fluently, and we learn to use Microsoft word and type quickly, and then can write whole novels if we like. But for now, don't overthink it, just get started. 🙂

I have moved on to Chapter 5 of Persichetti's "20th Century Harmony" which is about added note chords. The prompt was "11. Harmonize the following melody for strings with triads in the violins and violas, and the added notes in the cellos and basses (in octaves)." Thanks for listening and I'd appreciate any of your comments!