Piece for string orchestra and two harps

Hello all,

I am a relatively inexperienced composer as I haven't composed too many pieces, but I thought I would post something I'm working on because I have been stuck on it for a while. I'm also interested in any other critiques you may have.

Thanks and enjoy!

untitled4.mid

untitled4.sib

not having Sibelius, I can't tell you quite as much as I'd like to, since I can't see your score as other than a MIDI file.

the harp parts SEEM to be fine... maybe overly complex in places for harp parts, but still fine.

some of the pizzicato passages are probably impossible to play, at least, at the speed of the MIDI.

The only issue I have with this piece so far (and I know it's just a beginning) is that the string parts are, well, boring.

It's definately a piece of two harps... with strings in the background. Not a bad thing, but something you should be aware of.

DO be careful about chromaticism in the harp. Remember it has 7 strings, and 7 corresponding pedals that need to be used to alter notes chromatically. Very rapid pedal work, while possible when written by someone thoroughly familiar with the instument, is a difficult task.

Many thanks for the feedback, I've attached the score to this post. As of now there are some notation issues that I haven't got around to fixing and there are no key signatures or pedal diagrams.

I'll have to test out the pizzicato passages on my violin and make it easier where necessary. I'll also ask the harpist at my school to take a look at the parts to see if the pedal work is too much. I think you're definitely right about the string parts being boring, in a later section I think I will put the strings more in the foreground.

As a further question (to anyone reading):

Generally when I get stuck I do something relating to a theme of the piece to keep going, however with this piece I haven't really developed one. My question then, is how do you keep going when you're stuck with a piece that doesn't have thematic material?

Thanks

untitled4.pdf