Sonata for Trombone and Piano - 2nd mvt.

Hey all,

I just joined, and figure I'd share some music with you guys. This is my sonata for trombone and piano, 2nd mvt. No key signature, since I don't really write functionally, but, it seems to circulate around A minor/ C (major or minor) at times. Anyway, you can check it out at my SoundClick site, along with some other stuff I've written (though, all of those other things are years old).

Any criticism is appreciated!!!

Also, as a side note, some things typical of Finale are odd, such as tempo changes, dynamics, articulations, etc, so, please ignore that in your consideration.

SoundClick artist: Testing Tonality - page with MP3 music downloads

I like what I hear but a score would help me understand it a little more...

but other than that really good.

yes yes, score score, poke poke, then maybe I'll listen. :toothygrin:

yes yes, score score, poke poke, then maybe I'll listen. :toothygrin:

Since you guys were polite and eloquent in your request, here it is.

https://netfiles.whitman.edu/xythoswfs/webui/_xy-3194925_1-t_1AgUWFAd

I know it's a bit messy in places (especially with the dynamic markings and such), but, the notes are on the page.

Ok, now, feel free to critique me!

Also, since I just got done editing it (the last 20 measures or so were written QUITE recently), I figured I'd post links to my first movement as well.. It's still a bit rough, but, it's there. All comments appreciated.

The score:

https://netfiles.whitman.edu/xythoswfs/webui/_xy-3195003_1-t_4hvNh7me

The music:

SoundClick artist: Testing Tonality - page with MP3 music downloads

And to reiterate, for mvt II, here are the links:

Music: SoundClick artist: Testing Tonality - page with MP3 music downloads

Score: https://netfiles.whitman.edu/xythoswfs/webui/_xy-3194925_1-t_m6wvr4th

Hey, I only listened to Mvt II.

also, guys, this piece really didn't need a score to listen.

The melody was really influenced by jazz lines to me. That's a boon and a curse, to be true. What I really had trouble with was the piano. You really didn't use the entire range of the piano, except to mark section changes, and most of the time it was in an alternating pattern that reinforced well, but didn't really reinterpret the melody in any way.

Play with some color stuff too, don't discount extended techniques, especially in a section marked "nebulous." I really expected some cool cross-rhythms at least.

Overall it was pretty, but I think you could have brought a lot more out of the component parts.

Keep working though; You've got a really neat base here...

Now that I have looked at it with the score here are a few critics...

from measures 9 to 30 in the piano part you need to show the middle beat. the way you have written it you are sticking your foot out to trip the performer. When you piano player see that rhythm they are most likely to go into autopilot and play straight quarter notes on the beat in both hands, especially since you have that rhythm switching from one hand to another... thats just asking for trouble.

another thing, I would rethink how you spelled some of the chords, especially in measure that have a mix of both sharps and flats accidentals.

The rhythm in measure 56 might need to be re-written so that the formatas both begin on bear four of the measure. The way it is written now, you are indicating that there are basically two formatas in the measure. It helps especially due to the fact that your trombone player does not know when the piano holds for the formata. This also applies to 68, 69 and 77.

As far as how it sounds, the ending was a lot spicier than the beginning. The beginning of the piece was just lacking something and it could be due to the pretty boring piano part. All of those root position chords kind of get dull after a while. Once the piece picks up though it gets really good. If you apply a little bit of what you did towards the end to the beginning I think this piece will be very good.

But thats just what I think....