Quintet for Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Viola, Cello

Hi all,

Okay, this is the first piece of music up on YC... So hopefully I'm doing anything grievously wrong (and please tell me if I am).

Anyway.

This is a piece I wrote this summer at my wonderful wonderful composition camp off in the wilds of NH. It was written in less than four weeks, completely by hand, and was premiered at the end of the summer. I'm attaching a link to the recording of that performance--I may have made slight changes to the score since then, and there's some funny notes/crazy things with the tempo, but it's mostly consistent with the score. If a midi file would be more helpful (or for that matter, an C score) let me know and I can post it.

So, this is the first time I've looked back at the score since summer. I want to edit, revise, and polish this piece. Also, I wrote it back when I didn't really understand instruments, so most of the phrasing I added in just now, and I haven't done squat as far as phrasing for the strings. Argh, rambling over. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

MP3 is HERE

Quintet.pdf

Quintet.mid

I don't if it's because of my computer or what, but i can't download the mp3.

Neither can I. Can you please put up a midi?

Just so you know, that entire viola part can be notated in alto clef.

Oh my, this is lovely. I adore your use of repeated motifs, varied over time. Very good performance. The only thing I dislike is that, in order to play the piece, you have to be able to read very quickly, when in fact, it's not a fast piece. I would have wrote the half notes as quarters, quarters as eighths, eighths as sixteenths, etc.

This was very enjoyable to listen to and I love your style!

This is very nice. The repeated rhythmic motif holds the piece together through a variety of changes and textures, providing a reference point for the listener even when moving from section to section. The use of tonality in the way you have here reminds me a little of the Copland of Appalachian Spring and Rodeo.

As mentioned before, the note values could be changed and the viola part could be written entirely in alto clef, but musically it's a good piece. I think it would benefit from another movement, possibly a slow one, to compliment the first.

For some reason the midi played all piano but I really like this, its a different sound of music than I would normally expect to hear from the type of ensemble and it works great. I absolutely love the chord progression (it sounds very familiar though) and you use dynamics to great success. I can't think of a thing to add to it, its great.

A very pleasant piece, full of the joys of spring. The whole thing, IMHO, fits together very well, showing some good craftmanship. I would like to hear a slow movement and a quicker finale to round it off. I was glad to hear the applause of an appreciative audience at the end of the mp3, proving it to be a real live performance! Well done!

Cheers,

John.

Wow, I haven't been on for a while. I'll re-clef that viola part, then--I just didn't want obnoxious amounts of ledger lines. And I'll look into halving all the durations. Thanks for the kind words, everyone--damn, y'all have got me thinking of writing another two movements. There goes homework for the next two months... if anyone has more specific comments/criticisms, of course, I welcome those too.

Hehe, I'm Coplandian. ^^