Three Miniature Dances

Here is a little chamber suite I composed for a rather odd combination of instruments.

Flute, clarinet in Bb, violin, cello and vibraphone.

All three dances are miniatures; less then 3 minutes long.

I: Beginner's Waltz

II: Nocturne

III: Gigue

I would love some critique on this piece. :sweat: Thanks.

I Beginners Waltz.sib

II Nocturne.sib

III Gigue.sib

I Beginners Waltz.mid

II Nocturne.mid

III Gigue.mid

I listened to all three of these. They are all very nice.

I really don’t have any suggestions or comments other than I’m wondering what technique is used on the violin in the Nocturne in measures 17-30. Is that supposed to be done with a bow or by plucking? It just sounds like it would be difficult to play on a violin without using something like a guitar pick.

Also I have a similar question about the violin in the gigue, it almost sounds like pizzicato but then you have it going straight into an obviously bowed part so quickly that it would be impossible to implement unless the whole thing is played with a bow.

Not meant to criticize, I’m just curious as I’m an amateur violinist myself and so I’m just wondering how those parts would be played.

The music over all is really nice!

I listened to all three of these. They are all very nice.

I really don

(commenting without a score - I hate scorch)

Nice, enjoyable, music you got there! Even through the terrible MIDI, beautiful ideas shine...

For the first part, some of its themes reminded me of the Popeye theme...a bit abrupt ending...good use of counterpoint!

The second ;)...beautiful themes, very emotional (for me)...I absolutely loved this simple little piece of music! Except for the abrupt ending again! :closedeyes:

The last movement! Nice atmosphere, fast and a with some suspense...a nice ending, though I feel it missed climax!

As far as constructive criticism, I feel that you could work more on you endings, as well as start to explore different tonal (and less tonal) possibilities...

But great music (especially the 2nd movement) with a nice, original combination of instruments...when do we hear the live recording???

Thanks for listening!

Yes I too hate midi yuckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk. :laugh:

Thanks for you criticisms, i'll definitely take them into consideration.

And as for live recording, I'd love to do one! I just have to find these so-called musicians I keep hearing about :S!

-r

Any more comments peoples?

A good chance to listen again to the second movement again...lovely!

haha! wow i amazed you like it so much! thanks!

-r

Overall this is a pretty good piece.

Your endings though need more work, right now they are not definite at all(at least not in my opnion). THe second movement, why did you have the violin do the 16th notes or tremolo? I thought that it was kind of abrupt at least. Also, it seemed to get a little long winded. The third movement was my favourite, except for the bit of dissonance at the end. I guess I don't understand exactly why you did it, lol, I never venture out of the realms of tonality, so maybe I am not one to comment on your piece. But overall, it was really enjoyable, do you suppose that you could make a pdf of the score?

Thanks for listening!

And thanks for your comments. In the second momevement real tremolo doesn't sound anything like the midi, so in real life it is used as a glimmering, fluttering effect in the background of the busy fugue-like section.

And as for the third movemement I named it gigue not entirely in the baroque sense. It is meant to be a fast dance in compound time. In the style of the other dances (which are not baroque) I felt tonally it should steer a little bit away to give variety and colour.

Anyway thanks a lot!

-r

Waltz: Nice counterpoint. Like the others said, the ending was a bit abrupt. Very joyful to listen to.

Nocturne: Beautiful. Especially the contrapuntal middle part. It would sound more better if it was played by human.

Gigue: I find this piece somewhat less good then the other two works. No offence meant. But I still liked the energy in this piece.

very nice set! the beginners waltz made me instantly smile - sooo cool! nocturne is also very good, great melody and the tremolo was a nice idea. as the gigue i found it dramatic and original. the beginning is really great, just the middle section seems to lack a sure direction, it is just tension, and i feel a want of more melodic material. anyway the whole works finely. congrats!

Thanks a lot for your comments :D

Thank you! I'm glad you like it :D

And thanks for your critique!

-r