Portraits of Winter

Portaits of Winter.mp3 - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

Okay, so this is a concert band piece I've been working on. It's no where near perfect yet, but I'll be working on editing it next year with my band director. We're gonna make it really good, and then we'll play it for our next winter concert. I'm hoping if it gets better I could maybe send it to a publisher like Alfred or Barnhouse, but I'll have to see if I can make it better.

I would love to hear compliments and criticism from everyone! Just try not to write only good things or only bad things. People often tend to do that, and it makes it hard to figure out what is good and what is bad. I mean, I'm not trying to restrict from you commenting or anything. I dunno. Just write whatever you want, I guess. I mean, I know I'm not a great composer or anything, but I don't wanna think I'm too bad....

(I can't get the score up yet because I still gotta work some stuff out, but I'll get it up soon! Don't worry.)

Okay, so here's the whole story:

It starts at night with the snow falling and covering the ground. All of the plants are freezing, and it's just slowly becoming a winter landscape. Then, with the Glock + Chimes part, the children start waking up, and they see the snow outside. Children are easily amused by snow, so they go out and play and have a jolly old time. It's all great until the wind starts picking up, and the kids go inside because the blizzard is coming. Then the blizzard comes, hence the "scary" music. Then the blizzard subsides, and the sun comes out, melting all of the snow, as it slowly turns into spring. The end.

EDIT: THE SCORE IS NOW UP (I think I have everything correctly edited, but feel free to point out any mistakes)

*Never mind. Score's down.*

XxCransworthxX,

Congratulations on a job VERY well done on capturing the beauty of a snowfall. like no joke, you have an excellent piece here! Very cool! I really enjoyed it. I have just a few comments for you but they are so picky and small, please understand that i think this piece is excellent and should definitely be played by a band soon!

Ok comments

*I know it is hard to do with finale (or whatever program you have), but I would try to utilize the percussion as much as possible for when the snow first starts falling. To me when I look out the window at the falling snow, musically it just makes me think of windchimes, bell trees, bells, chimes, sleigh bells, etc. (I think you actually used most of them). Just keep in mind that these instruments portrait "snow" really well (in my opinion.) And again, you actually did a really good job with this, I just think its a really important aspect of a piece like this, so i just wanted to mention it.

*When the wind came, I got the sense that something dark/bad was happening, but i didn't quite hear the wind per say. Unfortunately I don't have any real suggestions on how to go about doing this but its something to consider..or not. either way as it is right now you can definitely tell that something bad is happening, I just wasn't sure quite what it was.

*Finally, the last thing I thought of was, It might be kinda cool to have a bigger moment at the end when spring comes. Like you did an EXCELLENT job of creating "spring" with your music. The light feel, with the woodwinds etc. It was really good. It just seemed like the piece kind of ended though, and like there was no "climax' in the spring section. And actually if that's what you are going for, then don't change a thing. But again, its just another thing to think about/consider.

But yea, seriously, you did a great job with this! I really like it and way to go!

Jeff

*

Thanks for all of you're compliments! I started this during winter of this year and ended it in spring, so my inspiration worked out nicely, I guess.

*I know it is hard to do with finale (or whatever program you have), but I would try to utilize the percussion as much as possible for when the snow first starts falling. To me when I look out the window at the falling snow, musically it just makes me think of windchimes, bell trees, bells, chimes, sleigh bells, etc. (I think you actually used most of them). Just keep in mind that these instruments portrait "snow" really well (in my opinion.) And again, you actually did a really good job with this, I just think its a really important aspect of a piece like this, so i just wanted to mention it.

*

I'm honestly not great with percussion yet, which is something I plan on asking my director about. I'll play around with some stuff and see what I can do. (Yes, I use Finale)

*When the wind came, I got the sense that something dark/bad was happening, but i didn't quite hear the wind per say. Unfortunately I don't have any real suggestions on how to go about doing this but its something to consider..or not. either way as it is right now you can definitely tell that something bad is happening, I just wasn't sure quite what it was.

*

Well, I guess that part can kinda be up for interpretation. I personally thought of wind, but it's just the general idea that the storm is coming.

*Finally, the last thing I thought of was, It might be kinda cool to have a bigger moment at the end when spring comes. Like you did an EXCELLENT job of creating "spring" with your music. The light feel, with the woodwinds etc. It was really good. It just seemed like the piece kind of ended though, and like there was no "climax' in the spring section. And actually if that's what you are going for, then don't change a thing. But again, its just another thing to think about/consider.

*

Hmmm....yeah, maybe. Are you saying that I should add in a climactic part, or just make the second statement of the spring theme more climactic?

Hmm. Actually, if you made the second theme just a tiny bit more climactic then I bet that would be a great solution. Yea because as I listen to it again, you have some really strong and potentially climactic melodies etc. at the end, I just don't think they are set up quite as "climactic" as they could be. Again, if you want a calmer ending, then I think you have done that really well, but I just think a nice climax at the end would be cool!

Hmm. Actually, if you made the second theme just a tiny bit more climactic then I bet that would be a great solution. Yea because as I listen to it again, you have some really strong and potentially climactic melodies etc. at the end, I just don't think they are set up quite as "climactic" as they could be. Again, if you want a calmer ending, then I think you have done that really well, but I just think a nice climax at the end would be cool!

Are you talking about the restatement of the spring theme or the winter theme at the end?

Yes. I think so. It just sounds so...."epic" haha. Could make a really cool climax

Yes. I think so. It just sounds so...."epic" haha. Could make a really cool climax

"Are you talking about the restatement of the spring theme or the winter theme at the end?"

There are two options there. You can't just say "yes."

Oh oops! my bad, I misread that. I am thinking of the Spring theme I believe. Its the big C major chord, right before the tempo picks up again at the very end. Thats kinda the moment I was envisioning being a little bigger. But yea, just a suggestion

Oh oops! my bad, I misread that. I am thinking of the Spring theme I believe. Its the big C major chord, right before the tempo picks up again at the very end. Thats kinda the moment I was envisioning being a little bigger. But yea, just a suggestion

Hmm...yeah, I can work with that. Thanks.

Very nice opening. The build up is very good. I was a little jarred by the sudden onset of morning, but I guess that could by my speakers. A more dramatic rise to the arrival of the blizzard would be a good addition, but truly the piece is nice. I sense the ominous feel of the blizzard but the full effect is missing, I think. Could probably extend that portion and add a nice climax? The thaw is very gentle in comparison... and in a way refreshing (though a longer, more dramatic blizzard would probably multiply the spring thaws effect). The ending is reminiscent of the opening... I think the two sections are the best parts of the piece.

Very nice opening. The build up is very good. I was a little jarred by the sudden onset of morning, but I guess that could by my speakers. A more dramatic rise to the arrival of the blizzard would be a good addition, but truly the piece is nice. I sense the ominous feel of the blizzard but the full effect is missing, I think. Could probably extend that portion and add a nice climax? The thaw is very gentle in comparison... and in a way refreshing (though a longer, more dramatic blizzard would probably multiply the spring thaws effect). The ending is reminiscent of the opening... I think the two sections are the best parts of the piece.

Hmmm...now that you mention it, the blizzard is somewhat short. I could probably add a little more length and power to it. I don't want to make it too long, since it's not really the most important part of the piece, but it could use some more emphasis, I guess. The climax belong in the spring, though. I'll play around some more with making it longer. Thanks for the input.

I've uploaded the score, if anyone's interested...

awesome piece XxCransworthxX. Do you use any program for composing? What program did u use for the score?

awesome piece XxCransworthxX. Do you use any program for composing? What program did u use for the score?

I just use Finale 2008 (soon to be 2009 with my Chanukah money!) and Garritan Personal Orchestra.

Nice piece. I do think the blizzard could have been represented a little bit more. It seemed too brief to me. Other than that, everything seemed to flow nicely. For the change into Spring, try to make it a little more elegant and "Springy". Spring, to me, is beautifully represented in the woodwinds and you do that to a point. Try to bring out the melody a little more; have fun with it. By the way, are you influenced by Steven Reineke? I noticed a couple things in your score that are in many of his pieces. Nice job.

Peace,

C.L. Winston

Nice piece. I do think the blizzard could have been represented a little bit more. It seemed too brief to me. Other than that, everything seemed to flow nicely. For the change into Spring, try to make it a little more elegant and "Springy". Spring, to me, is beautifully represented in the woodwinds and you do that to a point. Try to bring out the melody a little more; have fun with it. By the way, are you influenced by Steven Reineke? I noticed a couple things in your score that are in many of his pieces. Nice job.

Peace,

C.L. Winston

Yeah, I mean, I have two themes during the blizzard part, so I can probably extend both of them a little more.

Oh, yeah, I know Steven Reineke. I listened to him a lot when I first started composing about two years ago. Now that you mention it, I can hear some of that. Like the transition into the blizzard! Yeah, that was in Into the Spring. But actually my trombone teacher suggested I do that, so maybe he knows him.....