January 13, 200917 yr Well, this is fun so I'll put up another one. Here's the link to the mp3: MYSPACE (track 2)
January 13, 200917 yr First thing I want to say is Congratulations! This really is a special piece, and the fact that you were able to perform it with a real choir speaks volume. There are so so so many aspects and things I really enjoy about this piece. To tell you the truth, the only qualm I have is the choir in measures, 6, and 64 I think, on the word insence. You hold out the dotted half note at the end of the phrase, and it's kind of a dissonant chord, which is fine, but I think you could add SOO much more power to the phrase if you resolved that chord. There is this beautiful rise in atmosphere at the beginning of the first phrase of the piece (and when it repeats towards the end) that I think you could make it even grander with a very very brief dissonance resolution. If you don't know what I mean, feel free to ask, but I am sure you understand. Other than that, I thought this piece was beautiful!!! Greatest of luck in the future!
January 16, 200917 yr This piece is excellent, sounds very professional, and needs to be published and make you millions immediately.
January 16, 200917 yr Author Oh, and Ethan-- I hear that dissonance as resolving in the *next* measure each time, with the first note of the melody. Listen with that in mind and tell me if it helps for you.
January 17, 200917 yr Oh, and Ethan-- I hear that dissonance as resolving in the *next* measure each time, with the first note of the melody. Listen with that in mind and tell me if it helps for you. I do hear what you're saying and where I was coming from was just from a phrasing perspective, but you definitely have more experience composing than I do, so I feel kind of bad saying anything because this piece is SOOO good!!:) I still.... My ear is wanting to hear the Sopranos go down to the F natural with the Altos, I think is what it is..... I'm very much a phrase guy, where a phrase has a beginning and a solid ending, and my ear just wants to hear that chord slide into place, but honestly, that is just me. Like I said, I kind of feel bad saying anything, because this piece is of such high caliber!! On a side note, how long did it take you to write this, and when you first wrote it, did you write it on paper, or use Finale and such?? All The Best, Ethan
January 17, 200917 yr Author I wrote this in a couple weeks in August of 07. I wrote the whole thing at the computer, with Finale. I say "writing at the computer", but I'm sort of "writing at the piano" too, since a huge part of my compositional process involves noodling around with chord progressions on my midi controller keyboard.
January 17, 200917 yr Author That sounded really pretentious. Sorry. I hate using phrases like "my compositional process". Blech.
January 17, 200917 yr This is a perfect choral piece (IMO). Simple and beautiful! Simple enough that any good high school choir program can sing it, and so beautiful that every choir will want to sing it.
January 25, 200917 yr Nice work! I agree with Muzic. :D Also, I like the other songs that are on your myspace profile.
