Requiem - A work in progress

So I am working on a requiem, not for anyone in particular though. I find that it is really difficult for me to stick with a song for a long time, so I decided to write a requiem. Since there is a latin text to the requiem then it will force me to keep working till I finish the whole thing.

I set the instruments to string instruments (cello, viola, violin), cause the midi voices are terrible.

So, I guess it is mostly for practice. I will update the thread whenever I get a new part finished.

I am really looking for helpful criticism. :)

Introitus.MUS

This should go to Writer's Block...

Two part writing is really difficult and a lot of your piece is in two parts.

A few things you have to be really careful of in two part writing are:

No parallel octaves

No parallel fifths

Don't approach a fifth or octave from the same direction

Don't put an octave on other then a major beat

In your piece, I think you should be really careful about parallel octaves especially. Also, there is one spot I noticed where you went from a fourth in the same direction to a fifth. That is a major no-no.

Hope this helped! Otherwise, the piece is great.

I won't go into any counterpoint or harmony issues, however, I think it is important that you have a firmer grasp on the text you are setting.

Some of the accentuation is awkward, and it doesn't strike me as music that supports the text at all, rather like text that is being forced/fit onto your music.

Writing music with lyrics is, contrary to what popular music would have us believe, one of the most difficult tasks a composer can set before himself. The music MUST support the text. Text can't be patched on to pre-made melodies.

"Eternal rest, grant unto them, O Lord...". This text has profound significance. Which word are you using as the high point of the phrase? Which point is getting extra emphasis? These are questions that you MUST pose when writing a work of this nature.

"A hymn is spoken unto thee in Zion!" Yet again, a text that has significance. Where has the music changed to support it? Your audience, even if they speak no Latin at all, MUST get a sense of the drama that is unfolding within the text.

It goes on. I don't want to comment on the music, simply because at this point in time, you seriously need to reflect on your approach to the text you are setting. My suggestion would be, start over. Keep your thematic material. But adjust it to the words. Feel those words. Let the music support them. Let your potential audience also participate in the emotional journey that a text of this magnitude implies.

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A word about using Finale: please do NOT use "ties" instead of "slurs". They are two completely different programme functions. Look up in the help file the difference between them, then correct your score to reflect those uses.

Two part writing is really difficult and a lot of your piece is in two parts.

A few things you have to be really careful of in two part writing are:

No parallel octaves

No parallel fifths

Don't approach a fifth or octave from the same direction

Don't put an octave on other then a major beat

In your piece, I think you should be really careful about parallel octaves especially. Also, there is one spot I noticed where you went from a fourth in the same direction to a fifth. That is a major no-no.

Hope this helped! Otherwise, the piece is great.

Basically, what he said boils down to the fact that you need to know some counterpoint to make it work.

I would highly recommend learning counterpoint.

Good Luck!

Basically, what he said boils down to the fact that you need to know some counterpoint to make it work.

I would highly recommend learning counterpoint.

Good Luck!

Any good suggestions for books? I read Gradus ad Parnassum by Fux, but more books would be great. :)

Writing music with lyrics is, contrary to what popular music would have us believe, one of the most difficult tasks a composer can set before himself. The music MUST support the text. Text can't be patched on to pre-made melodies.

"Eternal rest, grant unto them, O Lord...". This text has profound significance. Which word are you using as the high point of the phrase? Which point is getting extra emphasis? These are questions that you MUST pose when writing a work of this nature.

I see what you mean.

"A hymn is spoken unto thee in Zion!" Yet again, a text that has significance. Where has the music changed to support it? Your audience, even if they speak no Latin at all, MUST get a sense of the drama that is unfolding within the text.[/quote

It goes on. I don't want to comment on the music, simply because at this point in time, you seriously need to reflect on your approach to the text you are setting. My suggestion would be, start over. Keep your thematic material. But adjust it to the words. Feel those words. Let the music support them. Let your potential audience also participate in the emotional journey that a text of this magnitude implies.

I will see what I can do. Thanks for the help. :)

I couldnt reccomend a book because I get taught counterpoint in school.

Ask around, I'm sure someone will have a good book.

Read Fux's The Study of Counterpoint

I second that nomination! :thumbsup:

Geeze, nothing better written since Fux?

I'm sorry to be a nit picker here- but "song" is usualy a solo and not a choral work, and a requiem is definately not a song. ;)