Jared

Definitely not playful. It is very interesting, and some of the harmonies seem a little awkward to me. There seems to be way too much treble, which wouldn't necessarily be bad in a playful piece, but the sustained notes in the higher registers can get slightly grating after a while. If some of the harmonies were more full and featured more lush chords, the high melodies could definitely flourish more. To make it more playful, as gczhao said, I would raise the tempo, and maybe incorporate some more rhythm. Staccato rhythms under a legato melody or visa versa could enhance the playfulness.

Overall, a nice piece. I enjoy your harmonies, and the 16ths in the trumpets add an interesting flair to the chords. However, it doesn't have much of a melody, but it is rather short and fanfare-ish so a melody isn't really that important I suppose. It has a cool, suspenseful feel that I like without being overly gloomy.

Kudos on the live recording! Some performance quirks aside, I'm quite impressed with your piece. I find the beginning section to be better than the middle portion; the beginning has a lot of momentum and power, but it seems to lose energy and become a little unfocused as it progresses. Perhaps because of the heavy brass emphasis, it becomes slightly monotonous through the middle. I appreciate the woodwind runs, and some of the horn parts are quite good. Some more intricate trumpet parts would definitely spice things up and help the middle section retain some of the momentum it had from the beginning. The percussion parts are overall quite well implemented, and never become distracting. I also felt the piano was appropriately integrated into the ensemble. I would have appreciated a more bombastic ending, but that is more of a personal preference =) The ending you have is quite sufficient and sums the piece up nicely. Overall, a great work! Congratulations on the performance.

Here are some movements I've been working on, scored for a conventional brass quintet. The first is a prelude, and is quite short. The second is quick, and third slow. The second and third are very much WIPs, but the prelude is complete. I like some of the material throughout what I have complete on these movements, but in the second and third I really have no clue where to go from here. Any suggestions/criticisms/feedback would be great! I. Prelude.MID II. Vivace.MID III. Andante.MID Brass Quintet no. 1 - I. Prelude.MUS Brass Quintet no. 1 - II. Vivace.MUS Brass Quintet no. 1 - III. Andante.MUS

Yea, um, I'm out. Because I forgot I was in until like a few days ago, and I don't really have the time to do it. ^^ Nor would I have much of a chance, either.

I'm not sure what exactly to call this topic, but what are some things that you love to hear in music? For me, there are a few... I love hearing a melody being played staccato by one instrument, while another plays the exact same melody legato over top of it. I don't know why. ^^ But that is particularly effective in marches. Also, octave jumps in melodies (or 6ths and 7ths... just big intervals like that). They just make them SOAR, and its awesome. Another, I love differences in texture within the same section of a piece. For instance, we played a piece in band this year where the low brass/reeds had a strong, marcato melody. Over that, the horn section held out loud, yet beautiful chords, almost heroic sounding. And on top of that, the high woodwinds played a very active triplet part in the high registers. The differences in the parts were huge, yet together it was an awesome musical moment for me. ^_^ What about you? :D

How high is that high C? High C above the staff for tenors (C in the staff for sopranos?). My main instrument is saxophone, played for around 6 years now. I play alto the most, though I've had experience playing tenor in jazz band one year, baritone in band for two years, and soprano for solos. Currently, I play strictly alto in our schools jazz band. I also play french horn (7-8 months), trumpet (1 year, though I really need to work on it). I play french horn during concert season at my high school. I am a percussionist as well, and play snare drum during marching band, can play bass drum as well. Also, I'm an intermediate mallet percussionist.

Go ahead and sign me up, I can try it. I can always drop out later, but I don't have much to do this summer. ^^ Ooh this is gonna be hard, no horns...

Here's mine, its absolutely horrid. Written somewhere around two years ago. It was for a forum RPG (text based, sorta DnDish). ^^ Piano, Flute, Clarinet, Contrabass, Bassoon, Cello, Violin

Hey, thanks for the comments! I don't know why I arranged this, it was just a very random idea I got but hey, its fun and it works so why not? Here is an updated version.

This is some dumb idea I got, to arrange one of the themes from "Tetris" from the gameboy game... Ensemble is: Piccolo, Flute, Oboe, English Horn, Bassoon, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Soprano Sax, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, and Baritone Sax. Yea, pretty weird. Not really any techniques used... I haven't altered the melody at all, I'm just altering the underlying parts, though eventually the melody will probably change. I've worked like an hour or so on it? Maybe? Not long, certainly. Its just a little over 2 mins long so far.

I think a clarinet would suit fine for that tone, or a bass clarinet. You could make a duet with the oboe and clarinet, as well. If the clarinet player can play fairly strongly in the lower register, then the sound should be able to come out fairly dark and eerie. What kind of tone are you trying to achieve?

Keep in mind though, that the flute player can more than likely make it sound eerie. Anyone ever heard the piece "Tempered Steel" for wind ensemble? There is a very eerie flute solo in it. I definetely think the flute would work well there. I especially like how you later use the oboe, it adds even more to the eerie feel. I agree about a bassoon though... That would sound very eerie there. But the flute, in my opinion, would work fine. ^^ Also, I do believe your oboe is out of range... it gets way low. Maybe english horn? ^^

I completely agree, WiseElben. Though I don't post much here, its sorta hard to when nearly everyone posts in FFA and the topics there always turn into the same thing, that personally I am tired of trying to defend so I just ignore them now. Anyway, I think there is no real need for obscenity on a music forum. Its nice to have a place for conversation, but a lot of conversation quickly turns to, or even starts as, complete disrespect and obscenity.

Second Suite for Military Band in F There is a recording, but its not really of the best quality, performance and acoustic wise, but it will give you a general idea of it. I don't have a recording of our band playing it, but I may be able to aquire one in the future.

Anybody heard this? Holst is a genius. He takes two folk songs and intertwines them in a beautiful arrangement. In the piece, the 6/8 melody never stops until the final measures. Throughout the melody (which at first seems upbeat and happy) comes several variations in background harmony (though the original melody remains concrete throughout the whole piece). A baritone solo section brings out the beauty of "Greensleeves", and a march variation shows the power of a military band. This is a genius work in my opinion, and I'm honored to play it in my school's band (though as 4th horn, I don't play much--I don't come in until measure 112).

I'm not sure what version it was; it had a solo for all instruments in the quintet, but both the trumpet solos were definetly the highlights of that piece.

Anyone ever heard it played on Trombone, up to tempo if not faster? I have. ^^ A military brass quintet came to a school in town for a master class, and I attended. And it was amazing.... the guy was insanely superb at trombone. They also played Carnival of Venice, which was a good showcase of their trumpeters' skills.

What? He composed nearly the whole AC OST, and he formed and performs in the the band The Black Mages, as well as all the material being originally his. I don't see how that doesn't consititute involvement.

Anyone know if there is a way to combine staves? Like, if I have two sax staves, can I combine them into one, with both parts on it?

I've posted this up already, but I've added a lot since the last version I posted. Now I intend to extend this piece by several minutes, and make it more of a piece overall. There are some sections that don't flow, and I would very muchly appreciate some suggestions. ^^ Its for a full concert band. I've been working on it for quite some time now, I really like this piece its about the only one I'm actually proud of. ^^ The part I need help with most is around 3:35ish, it doesn't flow from the chord to the solo and I think I need another section there but I am at a loss of what to do with it.

Oh, when I'm done this will be much larger trust me. ^^ This is my first draft, where I just lay out the melodies and such, then I'll add all the other instruments. The listing of instruments in my first post is the tentative number of parts, not necessarily players. There would be several on each part. But thanks, and I'm glad you liked it! I'm not sure what to do now since Finale is messing up, but maybe it will fix itself with time lol. Thanks again. :)

I've changed some things in this one. ^^ Should I extend it? I really like this piece and would like it to be longer, but I'm not sure if that would really be feasible... Also, does this have a form to it? (I know little of theory). I'd say it goes ABCBDA, but I don't think thats anything. ^^ (Solo, Full, Woodwinds, Full, Slow, Solo). I dunno. ;)

Here is a start to a piece I'm working on. If any of you have heard "The Tyger", a piece I posted here a few months ago, you'll recognize the style I'm sure. Its scored for a concert/symphonic band. 2 flutes, oboe, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 alto saxes, tenor sax, baritone sax, bassoon, 3 horns in F, 2 trumpets in Bb, 3 trombones, tuba, and timpani. As of now its a wee :50 long. I want to repeat the principle melody once more, then branch into another style; however, Finale is being thoroughly anal and crashes if I add the melody a second time, I don't understand. So any suggestions of alternatives? ^^ The midi here covers some of the woodwind decoration and makes the melody too strong, but maybe it can be heard. ^^

Thats interesting... ^^ I don't really hear Stairway to Heaven, but then again I wrote the thing so I probably wouldn't. My worst problem is probably anything dealing with harmony, in any piece I write. You could probably listen to the few other pieces I've posted here and not like them either, I have major trouble at harmonization. But I'm working. ^_^ Thanks for listening though, and I'm glad it accomplishes is goal. :(