Nabby

Hi neuro! I'm afraid I don't quite have the voice nor the materials (camera+ microphone) to help you with this project, but I just wanted to add that Frank Ticheli (a well-known composer for concert band who has branched out a little) actually wrote a choral piece (and band reduction) on this same poem!! Granted, I'm sure they're very different from each other, but I found it intriguing that you wrote one too. Best wishes to all of you, this will be great!

So, I've just picked up a new fugue-- Fugue in C Major, BWV 953. I know that Bach preceded many (if not all) of his fugues with a prelude, so I was wondering: Is there a prelude specifically for this fugue? How or where could I figure this out and find the sheet music for the prelude? Thanks in advance! :]

...to return to the topic, I gravitate to Eb major and D minor. When I'm feeling march-y or childish, I go to G major or even D major. Fun stuff.

I like it, too! Beautiful and well-developed. I do agree that it fits the mood of winter pretty well. However, when I think winter, I first think pure white snow and not so much the darkness of it all. I'd pick a title that alludes to that a little more, like "A Winter Night's Walk" or "Cold Snowfall". But perhaps just "Winter" suffices to represent its simplicity.

To reinforce what's already been said, I'd suggest Puszta (Jan Van Der Roost), Overture to Candide (Bernstein), and Children's March (Grainger). I've played them all, and love them.

Here's what little I can add: First off, I think you know it needs to go somewhere else now, but you've got to end what you started. I'd hold that last chord until beat 3 just to close out that idea and go into whatever comes next, but I don't know what you plan to do. Bars 8-10: Violas are fine. I think what you might be looking for in the woodwinds here is to make that second eighth note in the flutes into 2 sixteenth notes, to bring them into the melody. Also, 13-16 looks good enough for the flutes, as far as I can tell. In 16-23, you may want just to change it up a bit and give it less of a tutti feel. That's all I can get from it. Otherwise, it sounds good! It's certainly traditional, but that's not a bad thing. Well done! P.S. I know this is something more fit for editing once you've actually finished the piece, but I think you need to change up some dynamics to bring out different parts here and there.

I suppose you're right. Thank you, too, for your input.

Oh, I understand you now. That's certainly an interesting idea. Thanks!

I'm not sure I understand. What do you mean by island hopping?

Hey, YC! After taking some time today to listen to some of your most recent compositions here on Young Composers, I've decided that one of the things I'd like to do is write a few pieces based on some set of related things, as accomplished through Carnival of the Animals, The Planets, etc. However, I can't seem to get any original ideas on what I should write about! Have any of you got some?

It's great! I like that it doesn't stop, but still retains a beat/rhythm of sorts. I definitely agree with Ferkunga that you made good use of the left hand.

Well done, in so many areas. Chock full of great lines. Bravo.

I really like it once it gets to the 3 over 2 part! It's a new sound to me, and I love it! Makes me want to write one myself. I like the trumpet melody, but I do agree that it's a bit too high for a bit too long, and there are concerns about the player's chops. The beginning is a little rocky for me, but it all straightens out. Also, then ending doesn't seem to be an ending, for me. Good job, nonetheless!

So, I came up with this bar of rhythm accompaniment and opened up Finale PrintMusic 2009. As I was setting up all the stuff for the score (key, tempo, meter, etc.) I looked at the meter signatures...and it didn't have the one I needed. The bar of accompaniment I had come up with was in 5/4 (or 10/8, it doesn't matter). So, is there some way I can get the program to make a sheet in one of those meter signatures, or would I have to upgrade? ...or does Finale not support that at any level?!

The eve of a battle sounds like a very appropriate idea for this. I enjoyed it. The exposition is perhaps a little lengthy. But overall, it was interesting and a nice listen, especially for your first composition!