Symphony No. 2, Mvt 1

Here's the first movement to my 2nd symphony. It's probably the most classical that I'll ever get (The second movement is in a completely different style, more along the lines of what appeals to the composer within me - I'll post the whole thing in major works when it is completed).

Written in sonata form, although the development is a bit unconventional. The 2nd and 3rd movements are currently underway, with me writing about 1 bar every week :) (School... how you have impeded my efforts since the day I entered your ovarian bastille!)

http://www.jbelelieu.com/work-symphony_no2.shtml

mp3 file can be found on the web site above. This movement was completed about 4-5 months ago. Cheers.

Belelieu___Symphony_No._2__Mvt_1_____Allegro__.mid

do you mostly use soundfonts? i've seen you post many questions regarding other peoples' use of soundfont packages. i thought to myself, soundfonts? is this guy stupid? who uses soundfonts? soundfonts are free but crappy. well if you did use soundfonts. i guess you proved me wrong.

Hey Cavatina,

I think you should post this in major works or maybe when the other movements are done.

It's really nice. I'm not gonna lie, I'm never a fan of classical or (classical-based in this case) music, but I have to say this is nicely done.

Do you mind posting the midi? I'd like to put it through hq samples for ya and see how it turns out.

Thanks everyone for your comments.

Beefy: I connect my laptop to my keyboard, play it, record it, and then optimise in Goldwave. It isn't soundfonts. But I am interested in them, for example the GPO package. I think they have potential.

Juicy: Thanks! Here's the midi.

cavatina

It took a little longer than I had expected. Simply because with samples... I had to split each tracks to sustained or staccato notes. And I'm not too sure what you are trying to do with violas and the cello... tremolo? because it doesn't fit quite well with just regular staccato samples and I can't use the tremolo samples because of the notation you used.. I'd have to go through one by one changing it. And the timpani lol, yah, it's hard to simulate timpani roll with just single timpani hit samples. Your configuration made it sound like machine guns. So fir that one I went through and manually changed it to timpani roll samples. But yeah, here it is...

Movement 1

If you can just download it and host it on your server, cuz I can't have too much traffic on this host. Tell me once you've downloaded it.

Thanks a lot! It sounds quite nice (you can remove it now from your server).

I think that for the sake of consistency with the rest of the pieces on my web site I will keep the original on my server. Thanks a bunch for doing this - you really didn't have to put that much effort into it. I appreciate it.

I do. however, think that this recording tended to downplay the winds a bit more than I would have liked (at times I can't even hear them to be honest) and stretch out certain notes. However, again, I really thank you for taking the time to do this. You're a very kind person!

well, i don't know why, but your midi velocity speed are all set to half of the standard velocity... I boosted the string section's velocity but I didn't do it for the winds because some part of the winds would become very loud.

It probably has to do with my notation software :P I'm really sorry, but I use a very basic program (NoteWorthy Composer). Thanks again though for doing this - the soundfonts sound nice, I just wish I'd had a better notation program so that it would have been levelled out for you.

This is certainly not classical. No offense, but I didn't like it. It was fairly repetitive, and the I didn't much care for the main theme. Also, it occured too much, and the transition from over soft to incredibly noisy made me wince a bit. I found the orchestration and some of the background violin parts to be strange and ugly. Nothing in this piece attracted me to it.

I'm sorry, I'm just not very fond of this piece... :P

I'm sorry, I'm just not very fond of this piece... :P

No problem - I don't expect everyone to like it :) Thanks for the review.

I'm glad you took that well, and also, I would like to hear your first symphony. Is that also on your website?

Yeah, just go to "List of Works" and click Symphony No. 1, "Journey"

This is certainly not classical.

Oh, I just want to point out to future reviewers, if any, that this piece wasn't meant to be classical. I'm not trying to mimic Mozart ot Beethoven with this or any of my works. All the subtitle for the thread means is that this is the closest I will ever get to that style with my music. So basically please try not to judge it from a "galant" mindset.

Anyway, looking forward to hearing from anyone else who wants to give the piece a quick listen!

I shall go forth and come back and sit and have tea and read and reconsider and go forth and REVIEW!

And so have I done to end up here,

enjoy the review, honest and clear.

The piece begins with strings a-flurry,

they seem to be in quite a hurry,

nice arpeggios to start,

a wonderful intro to this piece of art.

Your scales and harmonies are weird,

but more coherent than they appeared,

I say this because I know your work,

I'm not superficial like the other jerk :glare:

Anyways, then your group expands,

and to the woodwinds changes hands,

they have a variation nice,

and the theme they expand on once or twice.

Brass here makes an entrance too,

though they don't have quite as much to do,

the strings take up the lead once more,

and play the main theme as before.

Then here we go, again repeated,

the strings are by the woodwinds greeted,

for a while they are at play,

then woodwinds leave and strings stay.

After another pass of the main motif,

there's a cool new section, well done chief.

The woodwinds are here to carry us through,

now let's see what this's building up to...

Ah of course, the strings are back,

their little theme, staccato, is right on track,

a little build, the orchestra's here,

but not for long, it'll disappear.

Finally now, the strings shut up,

and the others take the lead;yup,

I like the solo around minute four,

you really make that oboe soar.

Now here once more you have the main,

if you'd done it again you'd drive me insane.

As is stands though, you cover it well,

as the piece prepares to bid us farewell.

In my opinion, you end it nicely,

shortly, loudly and concisely.

The piece is shaky in some spots,

but nothing serious, I love it lots.

now this review I'll bring to close,

I hope you liked my wondrous prose,

and though I do not wish to mock,

I must say the piece reminds me of a clock.

Well done, keep up the good work!

*applaudes* *bows to the master*

EDIT

ok ill clairify that a bit :laugh:

Cavatina, i really did enjoy your piece, one of the best of yours that ive heard. i agree with nicco, it should have been placed in the major works thread ... it sounds rather "adventurous"... the applause is indeed for you :D :glare:

as for you Marius' poem, for that you can have a pat on the back as well, one of the most original reviews ive ever seen :P

Damnnnnnnnn MArius!!! The more I reread that review the more I'm freakin' flattered!!!! Thanks for the effot man.

Bob_stole_my_cookie

Thanks! Gald you liked it. On a side note, who is this bob and why did he steal your cooking anyway?!?!

Nice piece, excerpt I think it should be a Scherzo instead, and not the first movement, unless the rest of your symphony is equally as playful and light hearted as this.

Nice piece, excerpt I think it should be a Scherzo instead, and not the first movement, unless the rest of your symphony is equally as playful and light hearted as this.

Thanks for your comments! Well, the piece is a symphony of Thanks (subtitled "Thank You") to my parents, family, etc.. That comes out in the 2nd movement especially. Before I bagan composing this piece I sat down and decided that I would need a very happy/light-hearted feel throughout, so perhaps with the exception of the 2nd movement, the piece is very light listening throughout. I already have a "dance-like" 3rd movement in composition, which is far more appropriate at that stage of the symphony than this would be.

Um, is it just me, or does the mp3 have a really bad soundscape? It sounds like hearing a song through busted earphones where everything is distorted and in the middle. I'd even go far enough to say that I'd Prefer midi with a good soundscape over this weird one. :w00t:

That smiley was meant to break my negative tone. I can''t really comment on the composition until I go home and listen to it's midi version, because this mp3 really bothers me.

I think the first minute is maybe a tad repetitive and drawn out. I must say I personally do not get on with the main theme (which rules out most of the exposition and recapitulation..). I do love the development though. Mmmmmm.

I most definitely agree about the scherzo comment though. I think if you opened a symphony with this, either the whole symphony would be shallow and light hearted, or the rest of it would seem heavy going and people would be left wondering what the first movement was trying to achieve. It might have a sonata form, but ultimately, nobody cares if your scherzo is not a minuet and trio provided it sounds like a scherzo and (more importantly) adds to the character of the symphony as a whole at the correct position, and this does.

I also think perhaps the timpani are a little overused in places. Might want to take a look at them again.

Overall, nice.