Ian's Piano Compositions

This is the first song that I will post on this forum! It's called Dark Love, or Amour Noir, depending on which you prefer. This song is too big to attach, because I already recorded it into an MP3 with Finale. If you have anything you think I should add/improve, please make it known. Also, someone told me that I may have problems with symmetry within the song. One more thing: be especially aware of any times that you get at all bored, or any times that the dynamics seem to make the piece flow less smoothly.

Amour Noir

1. I tried to combine impressionistic harmonies with modern style.

2. It took me about...10 hours or so to finish. I spent a lot of time tweaking things for the MP3 and revising/expanding the music.

3. There is no specific form or anything, really.

4. My small amount of technical composing knowledge became a bit of an obstacle in perfecting this piece.

5. This piece was composed at first as an accompaniment to vocals, but I ditched the vocals because they sounded like crap, and came up with a piano solo instead. The melody isn't there as much in the beginning, but I think it mostly sounds okay.

disclaimer: all that follows stems from my own personal aesthetic, so take them merely as suggestions.

around 2:33 was a very attractive descending phrase. This is the sort of thing that makes me immediately sit up and take notice.

ARound 2:45 starts a very nice ostinato + melody passage. Sounds modal. I like it. In fact this reminds me very much of some of my early works.

I like impressionist music, but even in that context I like to have an ever present sense of motion, even though the music may convey weightlessness.

And..don't listen to people who make silly comments about symmetry. That sort of critique can only be valuable if you announce, for example, that you're going to write in strict Sonata Allegro form or something like that.

I like impressionist music, but even in that context I like to have an ever present sense of motion, even though the music may convey weightlessness.

Is this a suggestion? I'm confused as to what you were saying on this. Thank you for the complements, though!

Hey Ian, Man.

This piece is beautiful, its what you call a true heart-grabber. In fact, I think mine actually stopped because I was so into the feeling of this piece. (like I was on a pleasant cloud) Though, I do have some personal suggestions, just to add a little, in my own opinion to your ALREADY wonderful piece. Firstly, I thought it was great how you started with simplicity and added a little something here and there in the beginning- I really liked it. Simple, yet slightly complex. Though at measure 20, those fraumatas are great, but I feel you should add some more color to them to get more of that dark love. Adding something will greatly improve the tamber of the sound at that particular segment. I complement you on adding both modern and old. You did a fabulous job. Well the only other thing I have as some constructive criticism is at the D.S. Al Coda. I think the second time you play that part you should just bump it up maybe one more dynamic level to add some contrast from the first time you would play it. Finally, I loved the ending, it had my mouth wideopen, I loved the framautas at the end, sort of building some suspense. I just enjoyed the whole piece and I only thought you had like minimal things that could be improved upon.

Well I hope you will take my advice if you should like and Good luck on all of your other pieces- I am sure they will be magnificent.

Shawn

How exactly do you do you bump up the dynamic level on the reapeat in the D.S. al Coda, musicman15? I was already thinking of doing that, but I have no idea how.

Well Ian. I am not exactly sure that midis (which abolutely suck) would allow you to actually have the dynamic level bumped up a notch, though I am possitive you could just put something like (Example: 1st time ppp, then below that or something rathered indicate 2nd time pp.) Though that would greatly improve upon the piece if someone were playing it live, I do not think the midi will allow you to hear the volume change. Though, I am glad you asked. Good Luck Ian!

-Shawn

you could also just copy it and paste it so there is no repeat. And then bump up the dynamics by just putting the symbol down on the second time.

you could also just copy it and paste it so there is no repeat. And then bump up the dynamics by just putting the symbol down on the second time.

I tried, but for some reason it messed up the layers and made layer 1 shift into different measures...I don't get it...

I got it to work, so now listen to this: Amour Noir