TheFearow

Which parts in particular do you think would be better with varied dynamics? I'm not quite sure where a good place to do that would be.

I've now posted a revised version (some minor harmony errors corrected), and a score.

Very interesting - I particularly liked the opening into the Cello theme at 26-29, as well as the upper strings at places like 32. And you can't beat a viola opening (although I may be biased, Viola was my first instrument and still my main one) . I'm not sure about the ending though - it works, but it seems rhythmically different to the rest of the piece. There are a lot of very interesting offbeat and dotted rhythms there, and some run-type figures, and those seemed to disappear in the end of the piece. Not that it was a bad ending, just seems unusual when looking at the score.

The fourth movement to my Freedom Symphony.The piece opens with a string theme, in A Minor, followed by woodwind-only sections alternating between A Natural Minor and C Major.The full symphony is for entire orchestra, however this movement does not include any brass or percussion. Freedom Symphony (1st Symphony) - IV (Adagio)

Definitely give it a read - it certainly can't hurt and it would benefit your piano playing even if you don't use it in composing. Most of that stuff can be interesting to read anyway - if you're a theory lover like me it's one of those books you'll read several times. Any theory book is always a useful read.

From a composing perspective, I'm a fan of the F Major / D Minor combination quite a lot, as well as G Major and D Major. I don't tend to write much music based in a minor key, I usually stick to majors (and modulate to the minor if wanted). From a playing perspective, I like Ab Major, F Major, and G Major.

It does help show the contrasting emotional power of music, something that people in the music area realize, but many others do not (especially considering a lot of "popular" modern music tends to be in quite a fixed range of emotions. Not many bands make pure happy music anymore). Just out of curiosity, what other responses did you get for the second question?