Adagio for strings, Op. 5

Hello... here's the main theme for an Adagio that I'm working on... the orchestration it's kind of odd at the beggining but I have some reasons... and I screwed up... writed the 1st vln part on the 2nd vln stave. Maybe will replace the Solo Violin for the 1st Violin section...

Haven't placed the bowingsand some divisi yet =P

I would appreciate a lot some feed-back, as always... Thanks guys =) Maybe will replace the Solo Violin for the 1st Violin section..

Click here, and then download the MP3

Seb

Finale 2009 - [Cuerdas].pdf

I liked the opening thing with the high 5th and pizz. stuff, but the rest was not to my taste. I found it very hard to descern a melody because there was so much going on in the lower parts. This is a good passage of music, but not for the beginning of an Adagio. I could imagine it in the middle of a development section.

Well I like the opening measures - wonder if you could make the lead into the first theme more gradual. You have many ideas in the accompaniment which may help you make this transition.

Also the voice leading is a little rough in a few spots - just the harmonies shift a little too quickly. I like the idea of a lush restless romantic sound but just be very careful you do not cross the line to clunky and square harmonic movement.

Also you have two staves for viola and cello - I am not sure this is correct unless you label it Viola 1 and Viola 2 etc.

But it sounds promising.

I generally like the "lush" romantic sound. I didn' t like the abrupt entry of the full orchestra.

Also, as noted, a simple statement of some thematic material before the agitation would highten the sense of direction and clarify for the ear what is going in in this more turbulent sample. More bang for the buck...

A nice start though!

I'm going to echo everyone else...you shift your harmonies just a bit too quickly...you need to slow down the melody, make it more slowly developing, and then gradually bring in the orchestra...feel free to take your time, you have some excellent ideas and it seems you want to put them all right there at the forefront...give them time to develop, let them take their time.

Thanks for the feedback - really helps. So I will bring the full orchestra more gradually and will be more careful about voice leading. Also, maybe thinning out the accompainement by taking off some double notes should work.

But I have a question about the harmonic movement. By slowing down means to remain in one chord more time?

Not necessarily, just build the tension up slower, hold it longer, and then release it...right now you seem to barely scrape the surface of your tension before releasing it...you can go further and make it more diverse before you need to return to relief.