Number Theory

I posted this one last year under the name of Gauss and Quadratic Reciprocity (mod 521).

The day after I posted it, I decided to work on the file some more and my computer froze. I rebooted and could not find the file where I had put it. I looked for the file off and on for weeks to no avail. The back-up I had made of the file was corrupt so I thought I had lost this piece. I still had the wav but nothing else. A few months ago I moved all of my Cakewalk files to a different hard drive and a number of weeks ago I noticed that the file was back. I have been working on it ever since. About 80% of this was played in real time by me on my trusty Casio. The other 20% are the fast runs that I just can't convince my fingers to play.

I have updated the piano to the new Garritan Authorized Steinway and have done extensive work on the piano part.

The new version is here (bitrate of 224)

http://composersforum.ning.com/profile/RonaldFerguson

here is the boxnet link

Number Theory (Boxnet).mp3 - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

I composed this in Sonar and since it is not a notation program it does not like to make decent scores. I did however make a score up of the piano part only and this was done just to get the idea across, not an invitation to say how bad the score is.

Here is the score for piano

http://www.box.net/shared/x8e2lc7359

I have been playing the piano parts in this for years but this was the first time I put it all together.

The piece uses GPO, JABB, GASP, EWQLSO Gold and EWQLSO RA.

Comments are appreciated

Ron

Ron

The URL for the 224 bitrate doesn't seem to work but piece is here as first entry:

Ronald (rolifer) Ferguson's Page - Composer's Forum

My comments to follow - Steinway piano sound is great!

I was going to hold off until after a some guests visit tomorrow but curiosity got the better of me. The production quality of the 224 bitrate is extremely good. There are some intriguing orchestral effects. Do you consider it a piano concerto - the piano does seem to play a central role?

I really like it - it brings out the complexity of number theory although it may also reinforce the "scariness" of math for those who aren't "mathphiles". It is a very enjoyable composition.

My only slight quibble is that I'm not sure that the ending is fully prepared although you may have intended an indefinite feel to the end of the piece. I felt that the actual ending was fine but before it the piece seemed to be gathering steam and then changed to stop.

You are really getting some amazing sounds out of those samples! :thumbsup:

Herb

i like it

thx for your tip on composing

dark@@

Wonder if you could disclose the score? I would like to know more about the calculations done behind it. :)

Herb

I know that I am not finished with this piece, There is a spot about 3/4 of the way thru that I have tons of ideas for, but they need to ferment some.

If I called this piece a Piano Concerto, I would have some of the members here jump down my throat whille explaining to me why it cannot be a piano concerto. So for now I call it a Symphonic Piece that showcases the Piano.

I composed this one in about 4 hours. But I have over 50 hours in it just getting it to sound the way I want. It's not there yet, but it is getting closer.

Dark

You are welcome

Cupnoodle

I have posted the score for the piano part in the 1st post of the thread. Since I composed this in a sequencer and have 50 tracks opened to do that, the score for the rest has to wait until I have a spare 50 hours to fix it all up.

In Mathematics, Number Theory has a lot to do with finding patterns. The pattern in this is fairly simple. Over 95% of the notes are C, C#, Eb, E, Gb, G, A, Bb. The pattern is note plus the note a half-step up. Skip the next half-step note and use the next 2 half-step notes, skip a half-step...etc until you are an octave above where you started. So there are 9 notes in this scale as opposed to the normal 8.

Thanks guys

Ron

Octatonic or half diminished scale. Really cool ideas. You have a way of really extending ideas and making something out of them. Something I enjoy in your compositions is that you have this ability to sustain a piece and when I listen, I can tell you really take your time with it. While I spend a good amount of time on my own pieces, I tend to compose shorter pieces..Perhaps I have some ADD that was never diagnosed, but your musical maturity is represented here. You have some nice orchestral colors throughout. I particularly like the trumpet (I think) runs at around the four minute mark. They are a really nice color in a piece that mostly is piano and strings up until that point. I think if anything, you could make more use of the winds as I feel that when they interrupt the scene that it becomes very interesting. I guess I feel a little more would be effective, but perhaps too much will not sound unique any more. As I listen, the piece does seem somewhat stagnant at points, but perhaps this is not so bad and is simply part of your writing style. I think the lack of obvious thematic material contributes to this. You are surely an intelligent musician that is able to see the big picture better than most. If you wouldn't mind, I would appreciate your feedback on my piece "In Pursuit" on this forum as feedback from someone who composes at your level would be much appreciated.

Ben

Last night I started a piece and got stuck at around the 2 minute level. This is the 4th or 5th in a row that has been under 4 minutes in length. I like pieces that are around 6-8 minutes, so it has been irking me that I haven't been getting there lately.

That is a Trumpet doing some strange work in this, but I think it fits the piece. Until you said something about the winds, I didn't really notice that they are often in the background (except for the Clarinet). The Oboe has a few nice lines but the Flute is rarely up front.

I have 3 main themes in this, but I often try to disguise that there are any. Perhaps I went too far?

Feel free to PM me whenever you post a new piece in case I miss it.

Thanks

Ron

As far as the themes go, I am sure that they would become more obvious with a few listens, but I will say that with this style of piece, I am not necessarily listening for a melodic theme as much as the atmosphere of the piece.