Reverie For Orchestra

This piece is the result of the music ideas I had thought of during my childhood days. I have put them together in this piece.

Hope to receive critique on this. Thank you.

Mp3 File

Reverie.pdf

I really enjoyed the piece. I think the ending is, well, a bit corny and feels contrived. It's obviously a repeat from the opening, and I think you should think about that more. My suggestion would be to create an answer to your subject that you don't really do at the beginning with the triplet pattern that follows the 8th note passage. You could also take that 8th note passage at the end and just briefly pass through the key centers you visited throughout the piece - you are reflecting on your childhood in the work, so it makes sense to reflect on the key areas as sort of a "sigh" at the end. You can also just try to retard the end rhythmically and tie the final note over to give that light, uplifting feeling you're going for in the piece.

You have some great moments in melody, and I really enjoyed the preparation you gave when modulating to different key areas. I think the one overall problem I had, aside from the ending, was that you used more time introducing ideas and repeating them than actually developing them. There are some pretty interesting moments where you start to take off in that developmental direction, but I sense you become "uncomfortable" in getting too far away from the original idea (if that makes any sense). Stop being uncomfortable about getting away from an idea - that's the whole point of the idea anyway... to go somewhere with it. I like all your ideas, but I feel like you're afraid to give me more out of each one.

This isn't meant to insult you or the piece, because like I said, I really enjoyed it. This is just the sense I felt as I was listening to it, and I think as you keep composing you might want to just keep this in mind: "The further away you go from an idea, the more of a journey you'll take your audience on, and whether they like it or not, they'll be better for it." I felt like I took a trip around the block, and I really enjoyed it. Next time, take me to the Pines of Rome (Respighi), to meet Jolly old Jupiter (Holst), and beyond. Great work, and thanks for posting.

I felt like I took a trip around the block, and I really enjoyed it. Next time, take me to the Pines of Rome (Respighi), to meet Jolly old Jupiter (Holst), and beyond. Great work, and thanks for posting.

Thank you for your reply. I am glad that you enjoyed the music. This is something that I will remember. I know you meant well.

I love it!

I didn't have time to listen to the whole thing- only the first four minutes- but I enjoyed the part that I did hear. I'm not sure if it was intentional or not, but it sounds a bit like Debussy.

Keep composing and post more!

I concur with Antitonality's assessment.

I'll add that I sense you don't always feel comfortable without some ostinato or running figure going on.

I will say that you have a very good sense of INITIALLY exploiting musical ideas - for example the augmentation of the opening violin ideas for another melodic line was very good idea.

Also, ocassionally you let your textures get a little thin - they feel unsupported but I think this happens when, as Antitonality says, you move to develop something and pull back.

Also your ending is a tad unsatisfactory - why add an augmentation of the violin figure you have over it or derive a slower melodic line over it that gives the piece a cadential feeling. What you do is not "bad" but rather unprepared, nowhere else in the piece do you that figure start and stop ot seemingly fall apart. So your ending with the violin figure stopping seems odd.

Overall though very good musical instincts and a nice basic understanding of orchestral writing - these abilities just need to be polished more (cannot pick one specific example right now). Continue the good work!

I love it!

I'm not sure if it was intentional or not, but it sounds a bit like Debussy.

Keep composing and post more!

I enjoy listening to his music and played his piano pieces. I might have unconsciously "copied' his style. Thank you for listening.

I concur with Antitonality's assessment.

I'll add that I sense you don't always feel comfortable without some ostinato or running figure going on.

I will say that you have a very good sense of INITIALLY exploiting musical ideas - for example the augmentation of the opening violin ideas for another melodic line was very good idea.

Also, ocassionally you let your textures get a little thin - they feel unsupported but I think this happens when, as Antitonality says, you move to develop something and pull back.

Also your ending is a tad unsatisfactory - why add an augmentation of the violin figure you have over it or derive a slower melodic line over it that gives the piece a cadential feeling. What you do is not "bad" but rather unprepared, nowhere else in the piece do you that figure start and stop ot seemingly fall apart. So your ending with the violin figure stopping seems odd.

Overall though very good musical instincts and a nice basic understanding of orchestral writing - these abilities just need to be polished more (cannot pick one specific example right now). Continue the good work!

Thank you. You are very sharp about my tendency to add in "decorations", some ostinato as you put it. Perhaps I had over done it, so I will strike a balance. Not to add too much 'accessories' to it. Thank you for your time to listen to this piece and your encouragement. Now, I have a better direction where I should improve. It will be the way I should go about developing my music ideas.

Charming really!

Very nice piece. Your material is rich, i think - no need to expand any melodic material, i think - you do a nice job of that yourself throughout the piece. My only critique really is to dovetail your string parts with those of what comes after. By this I mean, don't have them play a full measure and then just stop. It makes one feel as if the music starts and stop when you do that. Also, I had no idea you used the full orchestra until page 5. I thought it was for chamber orchestra. Make sure on your first page you show all the instruments that you use (even if they have nothing to play). Nice piece though and good orchestration.

Not bad at all. I can't hear anything bad.

There is or was a composer here that I thought used the name Cupnoodle, that would post pieces and expect reviews, but would never review/critique anyone else's music. I ignore those that do such dastardly deeds, so I just ignored this piece. For some reason I opened this thread and saw that not only are you not that individual, but that you do indeed review other's works.

I am very happy that is the case as this is a delightful piece.

Keep it up

Ron

Hi Ron,

Thank you for listening and glad that you enjoyed the piece.

There are times when I wanted to comment but I am sceptical how the composer would react. In some cases, I would have typed out the comment but just hesitate to press the Reply Button. I find that sending private messages may work better as sometimes, there isn't a need to say something to the whole world. For me, I treasure each and every comment because it takes time to listen. Every comment is a gift for me.

Thank you for your gift.

Everyone here posts their music in hopes of people listening to it and saying something about it. If you hate a piece, there are ways to get that across without acting like a jerk ( I am not implying that you do that, but some here do).

If the composer has made a mistake, I am sure they would want to know about it.

If the piece is amatuerish, there are still ways to encourage without having to cut down the individual.

Never hesitate to comment on a person's work, for just as every comment is a gift for you, it is the same for everyone else.

Ron

Not much I can by way of criticism but I did find it an enjoyable listen although perhaps a little bland in places.