Prelude to a Portrait of North Korea [Fr.] [3:15]

I have not posted a piece in a long while, I haven't really been composing lately, so here is my recent entry to a Monthly Competition. I hope you enjoy it. :toothygrin:

This work was composed mostly at the piano, unlike some other pieces which I compose entirely at the computer. I will be performing this in a recital on Friday the 28th at a museum along with Passepied from Debussy's Bergamasque. It will be the first time any of my pieces are performed in true public. I will hopefully be recording this piece sooner or later, so keep your eyes peeled. Just... please don't use a potato peeler.

The following, for my convenience *wink wink* is exactly how I submitted the piece to the competition:

The image above is a North Korean painting of family life in the shadow of the mountains of North Korea. The landscape is absolutely beautiful... when I see this image I feel like I want to drift off into these lands and live there the rest of my life. The piece I wrote should help convey this feeling. In the beginning of the piece we hear the main theme... that of the small lively village in the foreground of the painting. A family of children playing carelessly about... a world of peace, beauty, sanctuary, just a place to be merry and happy. The melody represents this with it's jaunty nature, assisted by the lydian mode which is prevalent throughout. Lydian has always yielded a nostalgic feeling to me. As the piece builds, ever upwards, into what must seem to be infinity itself, we observe the mountains in the painting. We look up, and look up, and up, into the clouds, and finally reach the top. Imagine you are at the top, as you look down, there is this cascading motion. You are like a glorious condor, soaring down the mountain, seeing for miles. Then you glide, ever so slowly, observing the beautiful landscape as you go, and you land in the trees. Perhaps the ones on the left of the painting, perhaps on the right. I like to think the right. A good amount of time is spent here, admiring the sheer beauty of this forest. Then there is a sense of broadening out, nearing the opening of the woods. The main theme is hinted at several times (this is now at the top of the last page of the piece), and eventually the mood cascades back into a feeling of jauntiness of the happy village life, this time with more respect for the beauty of the landscape. Eventually, it all dies down, as if one were drifting upwards, off to sleep.

That is one of many possible interpretations of the piece. You're welcome to have your own.

PDF: Householder - Prelude North Korea.pdf - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

MIDI: Householder - Prelude North Korea.MID - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

MP3: coming eventually

Since I WILL be performing this next week, if anybody has any suggestions for changes/small improvement, don't hesitate to speak up. I'd be glad to accept any comments or criticisms.

Hi

Great piece. The tune was incredibly attractive and I feel like it really took me to Korea which was nice. There was just one part that didn't quite work for me and that was the part with the octaves, I think 32-40 or something. The whole piece has a sort of carefree and joyful quality and the harmonies are mostly static and sliding, which is not a bad thing, but then the big loud chords, the dominant sevenths and the 5-1 progression seemed out of place to me. That's just my opinion though.

Also, I don't know how good of a pianist you are, but when you have legato jumps in the left hand and staccato in the right hand, like in measure 19, it might get pretty hard. Normally a jump like that would be pedaled, but since you have staccato in the right hand, that can't happen. But, if you can do that, then whatever.

Again great piece though.

I love it the way it is , good luck with the performance c:

Thank you, and the performance went well. It wasn't received over-enthusiastically, but at least as well as the rest of the pieces on the program. But since concert and recital goers are brainwashed nowadays, who can judge on that? :happy:

Thank you also, reyeahman for your comments. I am happy with the climactic V - I you criticized, so it will stay as it is, but I appreciate your concern, it is indeed a little out of context of the piece, but I feel that it manages to fit nonetheless. I am glad that it took you to the landscapes of Korea as intended, that is good to hear for me. :)

Hey, I really liked this, I agree with reyeahman about the melodies being incredibly attractive. It was very atmospheric and illustrative; I actually really liked the octaves bit - it just seemed to fit with the understated, pretty, simple style of the piece. I also thought it was structurally great and loved your transitions. Well done!

James

I have always told you to tell me when you have posted a piece. Did you forget?

I would like to hear the mp3 (forget that too?)

Actually a recording would even be better. Did you get one?

The dynamics in the midi are very drastic. I just looked at the score and have a better idea of what you were after.

There are some very nice melodies in this and a nice little beat to it as well. I don't remember you doing another solo piano piece off the top of my head, but it has been a while since you have done anything that I have heard.

Thank you, and the performance went well. It wasn't received over-enthusiastically, but at least as well as the rest of the pieces on the program. But since concert and recital goers are brainwashed nowadays, who can judge on that? :happy:

:)

Expound on that statement please. I agree, but I am curious how you meant it.

Very nice piece James

Ron

Meaning people who go to concerts and recitals nowadays try to be polite and clap for anything, even if they thought it was crap, so today you can't judge much from applause and other elements of reception like you could a hundred years ago - if they disliked it then, they made sure you knew that. :sweat:

I am glad you liked the piece Rolifer, and sorry for not informing you. I will be making a recording eventually of me playing. Comes down to when I can get time with a real piano when I can use my mum's laptop to record (which I'm usually forbidden to use.) The recital I played this in is being broadcasted over local radio, so hopefully that'll help it out there just a little bit. :)

amazing, it is co calm and light, i can feel it shine. thanks a lot for posting.