Fantasia

Hey all,

I just re-recorded my Fantasia on "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", using some new software that I just got. I would love to get some feedback on both the recording as well as the piece itself. I'm also uploading a PDF score; the instrumentation is for full orchestra including celeste.

Here's the link to the mp3: Fantasia.mp3

Thanks and enjoy!

-Ken

fantasia SCORE.pdf

That was a nice rendering. It was... epic.

@m.42 and 43. This doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. It seems out of place. Maybe it should be worked into, something like having the other instruments fade or something. idk...

@Cadenza. This doesn't seems to fit either. IMO, it kind of ruins the feel.

@Score Title. It is so pretty... :wub:

Other than that, I really enjoyed it.

Hey Ken!

I agree totally with Dead Chicken. Those things stuck out to me as well. What sounds did you use for this? It sounds amazing!

That was absolutely beautiful! Incredibly gorgeous orchestration, and a superbly executed approach to what could - in the wrong hands - very well end up as "trite". But you nailed it amazingly.

What set of patches is that? :o

As for the "cadenza" near the end, I get where you're going, and once the orchestra comes back in, it all fits together, but I don't think I could honestly tell whether or not the regular listener would be distracted, because I read the thread in advance and anticipated it while going through the score.

Nonetheless, excellent job.

Gorgeous...

BRAVO!

Yes thats all I could say. But well since youre doing a piece that is so beautifully tonal, I shall pick at some points...

The cadenza... yes, I agree with dead chicken, it doesnt really fit...

Oh, and the ending could have been less erm, cheesy. The timpani and brass "tonic call" is overused, and your pizzicato was (All in my opinion) done too way back at the piece. By then the audience would have started applauding. (Im sure they will, and enthusiastically!) You can bring the pizzicato forward and forget the timpani?

Just a suggestion. ;) no offence huh.

ANyway, at M. 51, the "ascension" (I don't know what to call it, so Ill just call i that) really made my eyes water. SOooooo beautiful!

You really did a great work.

This was really well done. I expected it to be cheesy but it wasn't. Personally I would have inserted a march right in the middle of the piece, but thats just me.

I'll have to disagree with everyone I liked the cadenza. It does take the listener to a place they weren't expecting but when the orchestra comes back in I think they will go " ah I see". Good work keep it up.

The Cadenza might work if you make or allow artistic tempo exadrations and exellerations(i know that is not the right wording so i hope you get what im saying)

Ok at first glance of the score......THE TITLE LOOKS SOO COOL!! (sorry..but it does:))

Beautiful!! So great....your orchestrations are BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Congrats.

You suck. Haha, my choice of words depict envy rather than detest. Ok, so Ill be honest: It was cheesy...but thats because...well Its Somewhere Over the Rainbow?! Haha. However, understand that I'm not trying to insult you. You have done an absolutely brilliant job here. I disagree with what the others have to say about measure 42-43. When I listened to it, I interpreted it the way Im sure you intended it to be written as, and so I thought it fitted in very nicely.

The reason I said cheesy, is when you have that orgasmic blast from the orchestra and the wonderful theme thrown across the auditorium (imaginary auditorium rather). It was very romantic styled and thats why it was cheesy haha. However, it was good cheese...like...chedder or something. Blue Vein. Whatever, it was awesome.

I love the cadenza on the violin, as it is something I probably would do as well...and it topped it off.

Now i feel bad for saying cheesy...its really good, and it has exagerrated the theme above and beyond...which is fine.

Now Critiquing: Ok, I think that you struggled a bit to develop your ideas. You seem to be one who has suddenly discovered the art of orchestration and just want to take it on a test drive. All I have to say is: SLOW DOWN. You have sooo much time. Why cram all your ideas into a short 4 minute fantasia. I think that you could easily triple it.

I know however, that going back over a work that you have completed is like...boring...and you probably will never do it...however, (in my opinion) DEVELOPMENT IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS. And whats more...developing your developments is also a must!

Drag it out. Dont be a Preludist. Make your listeners thirst for more...but give them more than a drizzle. You clearly have a strong sense for orchestration, so show us what else you can do.

But overall, my only criticism is SLOW DOWN!!!!!!!! Drag your ideas out...but dont bore us.

Awesome Job!!! Im so envious!!!

haha.

That was beautiful, and I don't even like "Somewhere over the Rainbow" that much.

I have to throw my lot in with the people who said the violin cadenza does not fit. It threw me a bit. The speed and the tone of the second half don't really match up with the segue to the end. It is just sudden. The trem is a little bit weird during the first half of the cadenza. The harp part is very beautiful though =]

It was though, in a word, epic. Thanks for putting that up.

That was beautiful, and I don't even like "Somewhere over the Rainbow" that much.

Omg....you don't like "Somewhere over the Rainbow?"......do you not like The Wizard of OZ too?

Omg....you don't like "Somewhere over the Rainbow?"......do you not like The Wizard of OZ too?

I like the song... lol

I want to use my dvd of the show for skeet shooting, though.:P

Hey everyone,

Thanks for all the great comments and suggestions about my piece...I really appreciate all of them!! I've noticed that the most commented upon part of piece was the cadenza, and that was the only real part of the piece that I struggled with in terms of finalization; I knew I wanted a cadenza, but the one I originally wrote was boring and not showy enough, but I feel that this is maybe a little too showy.

Also for those who were wondering I rendered this using a couple different softwares, including some of the Westgate Studios Woodwinds (from the Modular Series) and the old Vienna Opus Library.

Thanks again for all the comments!! I'll keep them in mind while I continue to write!

-Ken

This is from listening, not looking:

Very pretty.

If I was going to change everything, I might add in some alternate chords for part of it, the piece has lots of room for this, and I think it could be done and still keep in with the theme and feeling - not that it needs it, the piece is very nice.

- I think that that at 3:26, the timp should go down to the A rather than staying on the E

- Likewise at 3:47.

- The audio is a bit distorted at 3:45 and over that climax.

- The violin patch seems a bit 'thin' for my liking, considering it is a solo, especially at 4:28 (even considering that it is meant to be soft).

- Also, what is that huge thwack on the timps doing just before the end? It says pp, but sounds like a solid mf or f. That's probably not your fault, but I think it sticks out of a beautiful ending.

Very solid work, maybe you could make more use of the brass section (That's probably just my personal opinion creeping in :) )

George

excuse my choice of wordz but "that was the scraggy" you totally nailed it on making it magical and epic and wonderful it was very lovely.

but not only that you so made it your own and that's what I love a lot

just looking at the score is a pleasure in it's self the title looks really cool.

Great orchestration..and on the contrary to others " i loved the cadenza gave it a spice that would make a listener stop and go "wow"(in pleasure)

great job

-Tariq

that....was so beautiful

**eyes get teary**