Op. 4: Symphony No. 1 in G Major

I'm done with this website.

I've just listened to the first movement:

It's very enjoyable. 'Light' in mood, and very much harmonically rooted in the classical or early romantic tradition (although you have strayed from this a little) which isn't usually the kind of thing I listen to, but I did find it pleasant to listen to and quite catchy too.

Structurally I think you've done well. From a first listen I can tell exactly where you're going and never felt lost as you have a lot of melodic unity and a well planned structure in the piece.

I did feel that some of the sections could have benefitted from more counter-melody. When your main theme recapitulates at around 2:50, it would have been nice to have heard some kind of basic melody (that would exist in its own right) supporting it. The same goes for the progression at 3:20-3:32. The counter-melody could just be constructed of harmony notes, but it would add a lot of depth to your piece.

Overall a very charming and enjoyable piece of music (Occassionally made me think of Dvorak). But consider adding more counterpoint for future compositions!

Got scores?

Got scores?

I'll be working on them this week. Unfortunately, it might take awhile since I don't have a lot of time to work on them.

John

Welcome to YC.

Usually Print music's samples are hard to listen to, but this works for this piece.

Nicely done

Ron

You seem to have a very playful Beethovenish spirit in this symphony, John, particularly in the scherzo and finale which I both found exciting to listen to. Lots of good tunes dotted about in all 4 mvts. I'll listen to the first mvt again since there is a lot in it to absorb, but my first impression is that it is very well constructed but the 'big tune' is probably too much repeated. My main problem was the slow movement: the main chordal theme was fairly good, but I could not see why you introduced the perky (and catchy) tune late on. I rather detracted from the grandeur of the movement IMHO.

Well done on a very pleasurable piece of work.

PS the sound quality of the clip on youtube did not sound very good on my pc.

I couldn't help but laugh at you're reference, Cheese Messiah, to Youtube's poor sound quality. I agree with you completely! I suppose I'll have to find another site like box.net or something.

Nonetheless, I'd like to thank you all for your comments!

And as for the second movement, I have no idea why I decided to add that scherzando-type tune. Originally, this movement was to a Piano Concerto in C Minor which I didn't keep. I really liked the theme so I wanted to adapt it in a more bold piece. I decided to add more development and got a little out of control. :)

Thanks for the info, John. You certainly have a lot of talent and there are some very good ideas in your symphony. I especially liked the finale which I thought was very organic and tightly constructed. I only wish I could hear it in better quality.

I tend to agree with the other commentators here that the last two movements are the best. I find the scherzo particularly original whilst the blistering pace of the finale reminds me of Beethoven's 7th symphony. I think the first 2 movements tend to be rather repetitive and could do with a bit more variety.

Anyway, congratulations on your first symphonic achievement. Its so refreshing to hear a symphony in the traditional style without those nasty avant garde noises!

Cheers,

John.

you should work on the dynamic , no dyanmic at all

dark

You're right, Darkangel. I just hate Midi so much! But, I do write dynamics in my music. Unfortunately, I'm too lazy to put them in my midi.

Well Done! Wow John I thikn you really have something going on. I think that your symphony it's very good. It's a really "pleasure" to listen a work that is more con the classical-romantic mood, made me think of Beethoven in some harmonic constructions, and maybe (as other user said before) in Dvorak, in matters of "rhythm". The themes and ideas are very well presented and estructured, and you can mantain an almost (if no full) coherence in all the symphony. Even in the 2nd movement that you said it was based on a piano concerto, when I listened to it I could still feel the first movement going on. But (there's always a but) I thought too that the first mvt could have more counterpoint, more "moving" variations of the ideas. The 2nd mvt it's rather repetitive, you could have added another idea or section to complement, to carry more attention for then, present the main ideas again. And maybe use some of those new ideas in the wo next mvts, but still, I thought the 2nd mvt was great, better than the first. The 3rd movement I thought was the best, It's very energetic well constructed and it's the one that has the more "complex" development of the ideas I think. And the finale I love how you present the main ideas and the you go into that awesome and powerful final, but I think repeating the final of another mvt It's kind of... again, repetitive. And you could have done (and this speaking of all the sympony) a lot more developing of the main idea (the "really big tune").

Overall, original, wery well constructed (I couldn't make a structure like you lol), very energetic and coherent (no slope chords, notes or sections), pleasant and it's lovely how you include romantic and classical elements, I'm a little tired of new sounds and dissonant chords. I think you have very good ideas, but you could develop them much more and add more complex counterpoint and rhythmic stuff and more ground changes, with that, your music could improve a lot, I think you are good John. I miss the dynamics, I understand the MIDI problem I know it would sound great with the dynamics. Please when you can, upload scores.

Hope my english it's not so bad, and hope my review It's good, I liked your symphony;

Sebastian

Well, to start, your English is better than 80% of the people I know, so good job!

I am really glad that you enjoyed this Symphony and especially glad to see someone who is also tired of modern music! I like dissonances, but I think people are just getting to lazy or comfortable with them. I liked when dissonance was a nice trick in the Romantic era to add beauty to your piece as I tried to do in the second movement.

As for development issues, I've taken your comments in to perspective. I've been working on development with more recent compositions because I agree that my music could and should see some more of it. I'm taking my first composition class over the summer so hopefully I'll gain some practice!

Thanks so much for your comment, Sebastian!

I like your compositions' Mendelssohnian character. Good job!