String quartet 1st movement

Hi this is my first movement for string quartet and my first real composition apart from arrangements and smaller piano pieces. I'm planning to write a whole quartet. I hope you will give my some feedback, and maybe suggestions about how to improve the piece. I'ts not done yet, mainly because I'm not satisfied with the development.

The movement is in sonata form, with influences from mainly Beethoven. The two themes look wery much alike, I composed it that way on purpose so the main-theme itself includes the contrast-theme as counterpoint in the viola.

Any ideers regarding playing difficulties, voicing and harmony are welcome. The second movement is probably going to be a slow variation movement upon a theme.

I hope you will enjoy listening, I've attached the sound file along with the score.

audio file: Nikolaj Bak String quartet no. 1_ I - Allegretto.mp3 - 7.15MB

Nikolaj Bak String quartet no. 1, I - Allegretto, score.pdf

Hi, I enjoyed that. A few comments:

1) Bowing: can these instruments actually hold a note for 3 or 4 bars?

2) The cello is a bit monotonous, can you get it to wander more towards the top of the staff, and give it some melody to chew on? At the moment it's like a bored bear pacing its cage, and raising its head when a rare visitor throws a clandestine morsel of food at it. (if it makes sense...)

3) Not a big fan of the chord progression, bars 138-142 and 225-229.

4) It seemed to lose focus in the last third of the piece, but that may just be because I'm tired ;)

I liked the beginning of the piece but as it went on the work as a whole seemed to become tiring and overdone. As you said you made the two themes alike on purpose I honor that but you still need contrast in your composition or your not going to attract the listener as well.

Thanks for the feedback :-), I don't play a bowed instrument myself so i expected the comment on bowing issues. I have a friend who can help with it. I will rewrite some of the developement, so there will be some more contrast. I like the commet on the cello, hehe i will work on that as well.

In general I like the sonorities, but agree with the comments regarding variety.

You have the entire quartet playing together for the whole of the piece. Lightening the texture with one or two instruments at junctures would be a welcomed contrast. Also, varying the main themes to be strongly contrasted. During the classical/romantic period this was done with a more lyrical second subject countering a more dynamic 1st. A third subject was often included (earlyRomantic) and this too should be distinct.

But again, the harmonic writing was good. Looking at the thematic elements might go a long way...

Also, I like the sound library. What play back program did you use?

thanks for feedback, the sound library is sibelius essentials from sibelius 5. I'm studying musicology so I am familiar with the use of main, kontrast and epilogtheme. But as this was the first time, I tried to make as simple as possible. I'm trying to get better as a composer, so it's great to talk to people who knows about this stuff. I will post the piece again when I'm done rewriting it.

It's coming along very nicely, but I wouldn't yet call it done.

- You need to do something about the cello. The cello player will probably die from the kind of notes you give it. It's such a large instrument with such a large range - use it!

- It seems to drag a little as the movement progresses. Develop your themes - they're quite nice, but they would be so much more better if you expanded them.

It sounds nice! I like the key, but I have a problem with the tempo. To me, it might seem more 'Allegretto' if you up the tempo a bit.

Good work!