Sea of Tranquility

ending song.MIDHi everyone. I am new to this site, and have just recently got my hands on a copy of Finale 2006. I look forward to listening to all your musical ideas, and getting some feedback for my own. This is a short piece, meant to carry the listener on a vast journey through the cosmos....it's unfinished at the moment, there's really only two short motif's and then it kind of takes you for a ride.

I have only been working on it a total of about 3 hours. However I would apreciate any, and all feedback on this piece. I guess my biggest dilemma at this point....is I am used to writing for guitar/bass guitar/drums/vocals, and I am still learning the ranges of some orchestral instruments. So if anyone knows the range of an orchestral harp please let me know, as I am unsure if I have breached the limits. Thanks, and enjoy.

Sea_of_Tranquility_in_D_minor.MUS

You have probably not breached the limits of a harp in terms of range, but what you have written will be very difficult for most harpists to perform (mainly the fast runs). So, while it is technically performable, it may not be practically performable.

I like your ideas though, some nice chords there. Kind of reminds me of an island, actually, so the name "Sea of Tranquility" fits and for this you deserve credit. The piece is a bit incoherant though - there isn't anything really for the listener to latch onto. No memorable melody, no killer chord sequence, just a sea of notes. Of course, it is a sea of tranquility so maybe this is a good thing, but musically I believe it would be vastly improved by being made more coherant. The piece just finished as I was writing this and I can honestly say it didn't communicate much to me. Therefore I would recommend you work on coherance and development quite a lot.

Overall, though, this is good. By writing with more thought and care, you will be able to move it closer to its maximum potential.

Thanks Mike. I apreciate the feedback, and yes I was looking to take the listener for a ride. I wanted the melody to kind of react like waves in a sea, where no two are exactly alike. I am still working on this piece, but am still looking for some more criticism. Hopefully I will be able to put p a revised edition soon. Thanks again

If I may say something, (I think I can, if I'm wrong... please tell me)

I do agree with Nico and Mike. I think I can help you, why don't you listen to it and see what the chord structures of the harp runs (the thirty-second note runs especially) and find out which notes are most important to the chord. Then, cut half of the notes off and make it a 16th note run. It may not work but I tried for one of my harp pieces and it did. Now, if that doesn't sound right. Make it so that the runs are always up or down. Like a mountain or a valley, get it?

Overall, I loved it. it is very possible that this piece could be very succesful. keep up the good work.

-Connor Lidell.

I have actually been working a bit on this piece. I have slowed it down by about 10bpm, and acheived much better results, and started filling in some more bass with the synths on the second section. It sounds a little fuller, but not too much, and the faster runs have cleared up a lot with the slower tempo. Thanks for the feedback. I will post a revised edition in a few days.

Hymn-20061122T0146Z.sibOk I revised this piece a bit. I think the slower tempo is much better, and portrays a sense of drifting on a sea a lot better.

Sea_of_Tranquility_in_D_minor.MUS

Anyone else have any criticism on this piece?

I was looking at the finale score, and if I'm not mistaken are all the synths playing the same thing. If so, why have all the same instrument playing the same part? That's all. Very Peaceful piece :huh: :P

I was looking at the finale score, and if I'm not mistaken are all the synths playing the same thing. If so, why have all the same instrument playing the same part? That's all. Very Peaceful piece :thumbsup: :(

Thanks, I was going for the whole peaceful vibe at the time I started writing it.

As to your question, well the synths are playing the same note. However, they are not at all playing the same thing. One is a voice synth, to give it more of an "Ooooooom" vibe to it. The other two have different timber, and this gives it a fuller sound.