elzoog

My problem with Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis is that I don't like the "form". What I mean by that is that the individual sections work in and of themselves, but there is no rhyme or reason as to what section follows another. So I listen to it then hear something and wonder "Where did that come from?". It doesn't flow naturally from what proceeded it. I want the composition to speak for itself. I don't want to mold it to any SPECIFIC emotion. Although the feeling I want to convey is "sad" I don't want to fit it to, for example, the sad feeling I got when I broke up with my girlfriend two years ago. Instead, I want it to say something different to different people. In other words, it's more of a "pure music" rather than "program music" (from a Romantic period perspective). I have read some of your other posts so I sort of guessed this was going to be your response. I don't know that you can help me, so I will answer your question the best way I can and leave it up to you as to whether or not you want to respond. I get the sense with Dorian Fantasy that I am going beyond what I have done before. It doesn't seem to fall within a "set plan" like a composition I would write for a university composition class. There is a sort of "plan" to it otherwise I could just put in random notes. But it is not a "plan" in the sense of it being Sonata form, or Fugue, or any other kind of form I am previously familiar with. I am kind of inspired by J.S. Bach Well Tempered Clavier and it shows a little bit in the work. Having said that, I definitely do not adhere to a strict fugal form. But unlike R. V. Williams, I want a section to arise naturally from what was previously there. For example, right towards the end I don't think it would be natural to throw in Camptown Races. I think maybe getting a better idea of "what" might give me a direction to go though and that's why I posted it to this board. Having said that, do you have any advice?

What would be some logical ideas based on what I already have? As far as "What do I want Dorian Fantasy to say?" (if that's what you mean) I think it should be somewhat open ended.

Here is an mp3 file of what I have so far. http://elzoog.com/DorianFantasy.mp3 It is through-composed so it has no form (although it is kind of a pseudo-fugue). I think there are various ways I could go with this, but wanted to see if I could get more ideas.