A Short and Jocular Suite for Wind Quartet

We'll see who gets the reference in the title...

MP3

Note: The balance in the mp3 isn't great and I probably shouldn't have used so much reverb but it'll do. My old laptop can't really handle playback that well so occasionally instruments cut out halfway through a note, but it's the best I could do.

Anyway, this is the first piece I've posted here, and it isn't really all that indicative of my normal style, but I think it's pretty cool anyway. I wrote it for a bassonist friend who was looking for some repetoire for his wind quartet. Here's a brief analysis of each movement:

1. March

This isn't really a march in the traditional sense, as there are quite a few time signature changes and the harmonies are quite unconventional at times, hence "jocular". It's in C major, although it modulates a lot. There are also quotes of two national anthems in there - the first one has had it's rhythm changed significantly while the second should be fairly obvious (provided you actually know it)

Structurally it's in a sort of modified sonata form; three themes are stated, all are developed (although given the short length of the work there isn't a lot of room for that), but only the first is recapitulated.

2. Nocturne

The second movement is the least jocular of the three, and also the most far removed from my normal style, using lots of suspensions. The tonality is again C, however it has shifted to C minor. However, for much of the movement the tonality is quite uneasy, rotating between C minor and Ab major. There are also many modulations to fairly remote keys. I didn't write this with any particular form in mind, although the form it most resembles is probably theme and variation form.

3. Scherzo

The scherzo, like the march, makes use of irregular rhythms and chords. The tempo is extremely fast, making the movement quite technically difficult. Like the first movement, this movement also quotes a national anthem, as well as two pieces by dvorak (My friends favorite composer), and the DSCH and BACH motives. The movement starts out in the key of G major but eventually ends up in the home Key of C. Like the first movement, the form is a modified sonata form; two themes are stated, both are developed, and again, only the first is recapitulated. The movement doesn't really resemble traditional scherzos due to the lack of a trio section and the absence of a stable triple time meter.

Anyway, that's all from me, and I hope you enjoy the piece!

Thanks in advance for comments/reviews etc.

- ClassicalSax

A Short and Jocular Suite.pdf

I may just be stupid, but is MARCH really the best title for the first one? I, mean it has 5/8 time signature... please, enlighten me!

I just READ your post, shoulda done that first =]

I actually liked it quite a bit. The scherzo had a cool frenzied quality to it, the nocturn was quite well written and the march was also nice. My only criticism is maybe to a lower pitch area (if that means anything) sometimes. Most of the melodic and thematic material is stated in the flute or oboe (although the beginning of the nocturne is stated with the bassoon) but maybe just a little more because the texture gets a little boring after a while. But good job: well done!

Whoa!!! A crazy romp in the style of Hindemith and sometimes Gilbert and Sullivan - hope that doesn't come off as an insult! This is a very creative piece.

The March can't seem to get away from the key of C. It strays quite a bit, but there's this constant pull back to C. Like when you cadence, you start the next measure right on the same C major chord. I think it could use to have a little more harmonic variety in this sense. Maybe throw a section up a minor third to break the monotony C major can have on our ears.

The Nocturne has this problem as well, I'm afraid, although not as much. It's shorter, and you do have occasional pulls to Ab (which are ruined by the occasional D natural). But somehow the key of c minor gets a little boring.

The Scherzo is very fast - I'm not sure some of those 16 note runs are going to be playable at that speed. Or at least, not very clean. The rhythmic variety is great in this movement, and you keep the momentum all the way to the end.

Great work overall! It's a very unique and creative piece.

J.Br: Thanks for your comments, and I agree, I probably should have used bassoon and clarinet a bit more. I realised after writing it that I had overused the flute a lot, and I may end up revising some sections of it.

Oingo86: Heh, the Gilbert and Sullivan comment doesn't come off as an insult, although I'm not so sure about the Hindemith since I've never actually listened to any of his music, except for his saxophone sonata (which I must admit I can't stand.)

That's a fair point you make about the constant pull towards C in the first two movements. I may take your suggestion of sticking a section up a minor third (or possibly a tritone) just to throw the listener off a bit in the first movement. I don't particularly want to change the slow movement though, although I may consider trying to pull the tonality more towards Ab in some sections.

Enough from me, thanks to both of you for listening and for your comments! I always value constructive criticism like this.

Very playable clarinet part....i'd love to pay this piece! I also loved the quotes...entry of the gladiators, slavonic dances...very nice! And, I literally laughed out loud at the "mambo!" haha - well done!

Thanks BiddyPocket - At first I thought that "Mambo" might be a bit absurd but it's good to see that it works.