String Quartet: To Jonnie

A companian piece to "Jonnie's Theme" for string quartet. Slated for performance in early May. :)

PDF

mp3

Comments on either piece are welcome! :thumbsup:

It had some interesting harmonies and had a nice storyline at times. I think in all it was a bit monotonious and linear.

By monotonious I mean it just went on a bit. It never realy left home. It tells a story but nothing unexpected or out of the ordinary happens. It could use some spice at times.

By linear I mean that all the voices have the same direction. Sometimes the voices take a different path, but often they fill the harmonies.

I'm judging you by the standard I think you write in, considering you symphony, primarily. And I consider your standard quit high for someone your age. So you must read my critism in that light.

I think it's an enjoyable piece, but it could use some adventure. You might achieve this by use more counterpoint and/or contrast.

very very pretty

some melodies touched me deeply

the strenght at the final minute is somehow unexpected as for a tune you could even name a lullaby,

I liked it a lot

This is a charming piece :) .

Perhaps I sometimes find that the rhythms could flow a little more freely, and take on a slightly more improvisatory role at times, perhaps more towards the middle I feel its rigidity wears slightly thin.

Good work again in my estimation.

Very well done imo.

Can't wait to hear the next quartet, if [assuming you are going to write another :D].

Hey all. This piece is getting performed tonight at Symphony Space. I'll be sure to give a full report and attach a recording should one become available.

I am not much for sentimental pieces but this one is a nice combination of sentimentality and reflection. Yes the rhythmic/harmonic flow could be a little more fluid - especially the lower voices as it seems the cello is mostly accompanying. But as the piece is short I think this is fine. I wonder have you thought of having this as a Preamble to several movements for a large scale string quartet? You could play with the concept of stasis and motion - eg next movement could be very, fluid variable and edge on the seat, the next could recall the static quality of what you have but undermined by quicker harmonic changes and modulations. In fact the concept of the string quartet could be a pursuit for the right balance of stasis and movement.

Congrats on the Symphony Space performance! I AM ENVIOUS - LOL. How did you get a performance there?

I am not much for sentimental pieces but this one is a nice combination of sentimentality and reflection. Yes the rhythmic/harmonic flow could be a little more fluid - especially the lower voices as it seems the cello is mostly accompanying. But as the piece is short I think this is fine. I wonder have you thought of having this as a Preamble to several movements for a large scale string quartet? You could play with the concept of stasis and motion - eg next movement could be very, fluid variable and edge on the seat, the next could recall the static quality of what you have but undermined by quicker harmonic changes and modulations. In fact the concept of the string quartet could be a pursuit for the right balance of stasis and movement.

Thanks a bunch for the comments! I am actually gonna write a new string quartet for the girls that played it and your idea seems to fit rather amazingly well. So thanks for the suggestion. :)

Congrats on the Symphony Space performance! I AM ENVIOUS - LOL. How did you get a performance there?

Through Making Score again, the same program that I got the NY Phil performance. It was played on their final concert of the year. Several big-wigs of the New York Youth Symphony including Ryan McAdams (Orchestra Director) and Barry Goldwater (Exec. Director). Ryan was so impressed that he wants to do a reading of it with the full string section on Sunday during their rehersal. I hope to get a recording for it!

Interesting. My first impression is the Hammond organ music you sometimes get at old school funeral parlors.

I love old school funeral parlors. Congrats on the performance.

Major update guys!

The piece was performed today as a string orchestra version. See the vid below:

To Jonnie

"To Jonnie" is a string quartet piece written for a girl in my old high school (FSSA). This recent performance of the string orchestra adaption is by the New York Youth Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Ryan McAdams.

Thoughts?

"me being to happy"

lol

Congradulations, sounds great

The performance sounded great!

Er, just out of purely intellectual curiosity, how does one go about having a piece performed by the New York YSO?

The performance sounded great!

Er, just out of purely intellectual curiosity, how does one go about having a piece performed by the New York YSO?

Write good music that impresses the director.

:thumbsup:

I'm serious BTW.

that's awesome.

so very relaxing to listen to, love the harmonies!

i have to admit... the first time i heard this i didn't care for it...

but upon second listen... its really really good. its very tonal, and sometimes i wish the parts moved with a less homogenous sound (especially about 1/4 of the way into it) but the climaxes really work... M. 30 is extremely effective and the release in M. 35 so its just the first violins is well done.

Great piece, great performance. well done.

I hope everyone learns from this how important it is to hear LIVE humans performing your composition.

The string orchestra version strikes me as Mahler/early Schoenberg (Transfigured Night). It is also a very good performance. Congratulations again.