new orchestral work

Hey guys,

I'm working on a new waltz theme again, I was wondering if any of you critics could offer some critiques and opinions regarding the melody, the orchestration, etc; also, what I could do to make it more interesting.

Much thanks, James. :)

P.S. I wish to make this piece much longer with another melody as well.

Orchestral Work on Waltzes.sib

Orchestral Work on Waltzes.mid

Orchestral Work on Waltzes.pdf

anyone?

Try a PDF.

Wait, but you have Sibelius 5, no?

not everyone has sibelius 5, so if you want critique it is recommended that you post a .pdf file. You can find many programs that will create them for you.

Got it, PDF posted.

Wow, certainly a loud piece. I'll leave the orchestration for those more familiar with it and only focus on the music itself.

A few suggestions: The introduction made absolutely no since to me. I'd recommend using it to build up to the waltz theme itself. Perhaps slower at first, with an accelerando. The theme itself is nice but was not contrasted at all in this - which overall isn't a big problem; but for interest to be cultivated... contrast is key - imho.

Seems to have a carnival like flare to it - but I think perhaps thats more the midi, yes?

Wow, certainly a loud piece. I'll leave the orchestration for those more familiar with it and only focus on the music itself.

A few suggestions: The introduction made absolutely no since to me. I'd recommend using it to build up to the waltz theme itself. Perhaps slower at first, with an accelerando. The theme itself is nice but was not contrasted at all in this - which overall isn't a big problem; but for interest to be cultivated... contrast is key - imho.

Seems to have a carnival like flare to it - but I think perhaps thats more the midi, yes?

Thanks. I'm composing this song for a performance at my high school, actually. Do you play an instrument? Just asking. I don't think I will put extreme dynamics (anything below p, anything above ff) in my piece mostly because it is not realistic for the performers I have available to me; (they are not college graduates who can play at pianissimo and still have a good tone, basically is what I'm saying). Could you share with me how I can "contrast" the theme? Once again, Thanks.

I play viola and violin.

And piano would be an appropriate starting point - you don't need pp or ppp, really.

As for contrast, hmm... well, perhaps study a few of the Strauss Waltzes. You can contrast in various ways (a second theme built from that of the first, variate and modulate with your theme to a different tonal region, etc.) Which ever you like is really what matters. Most waltzes that I'm familiar with our in binary (AB) or ternary (ABA) forms with the B section being a contrast usually of the first. I hope that helps.

A very popular example of this is Strauss' Blue Danube:

YouTube - Strauss - Blue danube waltz