Piano Quartet- for a summer program

Here are my program notes:

When I was asked to compose a piece for any or all the instruments in a piano quartet, I immediately knew I wanted to compose for the full ensemble, as I had already composed individual pieces for string trio and piano respectively. Shortly after composing some rough sketches and outlines, I came to the embarrassing realization that I had never heard any music for piano quartet. Although, I knew and loved the classics in the piano trio literature, especially the Piano Trio No. 2 Op. 67 by Dmitri Shostakovich, as well as the Piano Trio No. 2 in E-flat by Franz Schubert, which I had heard in concert the previous summer, performed by the now dissolved Beaux Arts Trio. Soon after this realization, I listened to many pieces in the standard repertory; piano quartets by composers such as Brahms, Schumann, Mendelssohn, and Mozart, as well as a work by George Tsontakis. I spent many hours observing how these composers' tastes, as far as timbre, orchestration, and structure run in composing for this ensemble. All this listening helped me create an individual and unique work, which is short and compact with diversity in texture and thematic material, comprising the ultimate goal of giving each instrument an important role, rather than primarily the violin and piano.

Well. Unfortunately, I don't really like the piece (at all), but I did have a deadline to meet, so I had to continue on. I will have a recording of this piece in a few weeks.

piano quartet for cim ycp.pdf

piano quartet for cim ycp.mid

piano quartet for cim new.sib

this piece feels forced and full of pretense, I don't mind atonal, and postmodern pieces, but this to me lacks the passion in crafting that it should have. I'm glad it won a performance, and its not BAD, its just atonal for no greater end. I apologize that i can't be more constructive, but i don't have a problem with the technical aspects of the piece, only its hollow passionless feel.

this piece feels forced and full of pretense, I don't mind atonal, and postmodern pieces, but this to me lacks the passion in crafting that it should have. I'm glad it won a performance, and its not BAD, its just atonal for no greater end. I apologize that i can't be more constructive, but i don't have a problem with the technical aspects of the piece, only its hollow passionless feel.

I agree that this piece sounds forced, but I don't believe it is passionless, nor do I think there can be a concrete communication of passion through music.

Its ok. I know you don't particularly care for atonal music, but thanks for commenting.

The second part of the piece, after the pause, I found quite enjoyable. To me it has a light mood, almost a humoresque. I'm not a huge fan of atonal but I try to keep an open mind when listening.

I didn't find the first part had a consistent mood maybe doleful verging on dreary - I supposed "forced" is a reasonable description for this section.

Overall an interesting atonal composition.

I agree that this piece sounds forced, but I don't believe it is passionless, nor do I think there can be a concrete communication of passion through music.

Its ok. I know you don't particularly care for atonal music, but thanks for commenting.

passionless was a poor word choice and I did come off a bit abrasive. all i was saying is that your abilities in atonal composition from a technical standpoint are well above par, the character and motivation behind the piece seemed to lack a purpose.

The fact is I love atonal music, one of the most beautiful pieces in the world to me is Alban Berg's Violin Concerto. It was written with passion for the dying daughter of a patron family, the music was crafted carefully to convey the depths of his emotions through an atonal medium. So please in the future let's both not be so quick to judge one another's statements and works.

passionless was a poor word choice and I did come off a bit abrasive. all i was saying is that your abilities in atonal composition from a technical standpoint are well above par, the character and motivation behind the piece seemed to lack a purpose.

The fact is I love atonal music, one of the most beautiful pieces in the world to me is Alban Berg's Violin Concerto. It was written with passion for the dying daughter of a patron family, the music was crafted carefully to convey the depths of his emotions through an atonal medium. So please in the future let's both not be so quick to judge one another's statements and works.

Sorry! I didn't mean what I said in any sort of derogatory way. Without hearing my voice inflections in real life, its difficult to truly understand what I am trying to communicate. I just wanted to display my polite disagreement with the description, but in no way did I mean for it to come off as being rude.

Anyways, I also love Berg's Violin Concerto. Alban Berg always uses such interesting tone rows in a way which is accesible, as well as harmonically interesting- and almost pseudo-tonal.

Oh the places you'll go...

Needs more development. Well, not needs. Deserves, is really more like it. That first section has a huge amount of developmental potential. I would like to hear that first section be as long as this whole piece.

I did not appreciate the second section as much. Points for some awesome conglomerate writing - nifty sounds coming out of it - but the motifs were less developed than I felt it should have been, or indeed, could have been. I kept expecting the repeated-note-followed-by-arpeggio figures to break into something else.

Perhaps look at breaking your thematic materials apart into smaller sections and playing with them at a micro-musical level.

Unfortunately, I had a postmarked deadline to meet- so I had no time to develop, or dissect this piece any further. I did want to expand upon the material in the first section, though.

Thanks for the advice, though. Perhaps, I will revisit the piece.