Two Simple Waltzes (Valsen)

These are two separate pieces and each written at different times. They are short, contrasting waltzes that I wrote at the piano, an activity I haven't been investing enough time in in the past years. :( Since they were written several years ago, there's not much going on in them, I didn't really 'get' composition until over a year later, but these are some fun little buggers nonetheless. :toothygrin:

The first is outrageously sad. When I wrote it, I just simply wrote it, note by note, just moving on and on. Looking back, I realise that the pain that I inadvertently depicted may have been my own, as it was a bad time for me, we lost some pets, my parents splitting up, me caught in the middle, suddenly having to go to a decrepit public school... you know, sob story like material. So anyways, it is in G minor, very simple, very little thematic development, very witty, simple ending.

The second was written maybe a good few months afterwards, I'm not sure what key it is in, F major, F lydian, or C major, but it is just exploding with joy. Not exactly sure why, it just happened. :w00t: Again, very little thematic development, very simple accompaniment line, and witty ending.

So tell me what y'all think of them. By no means are these waltzes completely finished, I may well go back and change or add things, but for now, they are complete. ;)

- .Mus files created in Finale 2002

(midis soon)

[EDIT] Got midis. XD

Op.08, Valse in G minor.MUS

Op.11, Valse in F lydian.MUS

Op.08, Valse in G minor.MID

Op.11, Valse in F lydian.MID

mmm cant wait for the midis :D

I liked both of them, maybe the first one a bit more (G minor), but I don't think this one is overly sad. Maybe a bit majestic and moody... but I didn't necessarily feel sadness - in fact I thought maybe there was hints of anger as well as comedy (I hope I haven't totally misinterpreted you!) The second one is catchy.... and I particularly liked your complex harmony in the slower middle section.

Wow, I like them both! Some particular things I want to mention:

In the G Minor peice, I love how you bring everything down, and bring it back up again. It really adds to the intrest of the peice! Also, you keep a central theme that you base most of the work on, and it sounds very nice.

The G minor waltz really isn't dramatically full of deapair (I wouldn't compare this to The Phantom of the Opera's ending sequence), but is something more like someone who doesn't know where to go, and the feeling of loneliness (SP?) like being lost in, say, a forest.

The F Lydian waltz was a nice contrast, and really shows the bright side of your writing. I like how you reuse the theme from the G Minor waltz and bring it out of the darkness.

And yes, both had clever endings!

Alan

just curious about how you came to "get" composition. How do you recommend for that to happen?

How do I come to 'get' composition? Well... I meant that, in the beginning when I first started writing, after a year or so interest in piano, all I did was write notes, I never really knew anything about form or proper harmony or any other composition techniques, I just translated what I played on the piano onto paper, note by note. I'd play a phrase, and that's what I'd have written down, and then say, "Hey, I'll make this the next note/chord!". Basically, that was it. No planning, no thought of form, harmony, counterpoint, technique, anything. I just used my ears.

If you wanna 'get' composition ( :laughing: ), I would suggest you just play a ton of pieces and listen to even more. Look at the music, figure out what's going on. Then mimic it with your own ideas. Not sure how I began to start, it just kinda happened.

I like how you reuse the theme from the G Minor waltz and bring it out of the darkness.

Did you mean to say that I used a theme from the G minor waltz somewhere in the F lydian/C major waltz as well? If so, I hadn't intended that. In fact, I can't even think of where you're talking about. :w00t:

the 1st piece is nice, but somewhat static and predictable. but you got some interesting passages and a real mood in places.

the 2nd is better, the theme is engaging and the mood is more appealing. just the middle section is strange. there is an interesting work of harmony but the final effect is plain. maybe you might rework the voicing for bolder lines. i guess that some counterpoint here would work wonderfully. the ending is quite fine. in the overall it is a charming valse. althgough the Oom-pa-pa pattern is usual and correct for such kind of composition, maybe some variation to the left hand, with short melodic fragments, would greatly improve the whole. regards!

James

I definately get the sadness in the first. Even more the darkness in it. You don't usually see a dark, foreboding Waltz, so this is a nice change of pace.

The second one was a typical waltz drawn up in total tonality. What do you think an atonal person like myself would think? It's great for what it is. It would help at the end if you took out an axe and split the keyboard in half and then threw lighter fluid all over it and struck a match. Get some rock and roll feeling into it. Just Kidding, of course.

Neither piece is as accomplished as your newer pieces, but that's how it all works. We get better the more we do.

Ron

the first is serius,,, i liked the number two,,,nice...

The first one was nice. Very sad. Though I've never cared much for G Minor. Just personal preference.

The second one, I enjoyed much more. It was more upbeat and I felt like it had more energy and emotion behind it. It sounded pretty tonal to me and it did get a bit dull near the end but nothing bad.

Anyway, both nice pieces. I'd like to hear an actual recording of them though.

:O I like G minor. Maybe I'll work on recording them somehow, then. Yes, these things are tonal, I'm all about tonal. ;)

Frantz: I tried substituting in some non-oom-pah-pah figures for the left hand... it didn't go over very well. After all, a good number of F.F. Chopin's works having nothing more than that. They have more harmonic development, but that's beside the point. :P I also tried "reworking the voicing for bolder lines" .... I wasn't too happy about the result, but I'm undecided still. Maybe live playing would make it sound more substantial?

Ron, thank you for the credit. I don't know why I wrote a minor waltz... that G minor was the first waltz I ever wrote, and my first proud composition. About the happier waltz... do you know the Italian for "axe" and "lighter fluid"? I can't find it anywhere... would a performer be familiar with these instructions? Are they common in classical piano literature?

:P

Good work, G minor good key to. sounded very late romantic, good music :)

1.

I liked the mood of the first piece, but I just feel that you might have used to many repeats, I especially feel your first repeat is unneccisary.

The running uctaves between the LH and RH just... don't fit.

But very nice piece otherwise!

2.

The second one gets a bit boring at places, but very nice ending!

I didn't like the harmonisation of the slow section much, but the melody is good.

Keep up the good work!

About the first:

I liked what you did with the theme. Very interesting, starting from simplicity and developed beautifully. I also enjoyed the variations in dynamics. I see some problematic voice-leading, but it's no big deal. I would also have preferred it that way myself.

About the second:

Not much Lydian feel in it, certainly not F lydian feel. The middle part was interesting in a good way.

Cheers! :)