MatthewW

If you want to make your piece really Bach-like, you have to be very careful to avoid parallel 5ths and octaves in your counterpoint. Here's a couple of examples that I found: In bar 2 beat 1 & 2, both parts go up a major 3rd from A to C# In bar 11 beat 2 and 3, both parts go down from B to A It's really important to avoid this sort of thing in this style of music because it's all about the independence of lines, and moving consuctively in octaves or fifths (3rds and 6ths are fine, though) weakens this independence. One more thing - right at the end in bar 25 beat 4 you've got and A in the left resolving to the G# below it, but the right hand already has a G#. This both forces parallel octaves (as the 3rd of the dominant must rise to the tonic) and produces quite a nasty clash!

From a performer's perspective, it'd be much easier to play if you wrote it in Db instead of C#! Also, a couple of the left hand chords (like in bar 55) aren't easily playable unless you have big hands. As a listener though, I enjoyed the gentle pace and smooth harmonies.

I think its perfectly reasonable to beam across the bar line - like you said, it shows where the accent should fall. However, I do disagree with putting a beam across the repeat (into bar 8), because then repeated section begins in the middle of a pattern. Also, instead of putting lots of pauses at the end, you could just tell the performer to play slower :P

I love some of the harmonies you've used in this piece, like the maj.7ths and 9ths. One thing I suggest, though, is that left hand part should be more varied - it pretty much stays the same all the way through! Also have you tried ending with an A minor arpeggio instead of the major? I think it'd give a slightly darker and sombre conclusion, matching the opening as well.

Those octaves in the bass towards the end are a sure sign that this isn't atonal! I think the name of the PDF file (Atmospheric) suits your piece better than Perpetual Motion. You piece definitely has a, smooth, minimalist feel to it, but personally I think pieces called "Perpetual Motion" should have a little more energy in them :P

A nice, pleasant piece to listen to I think you could vary the left hand part a bit more. You had quite a bit of Alberti bass in there! Since this is a piano piece, it'd be great if you use a wider range of notes - maybe you could put the melody into the left hand for another variation.