Ok I think this is orchestral.

Instruments used:

1. String ensemble mix

2. Violin

3. Piano

4. Harpsichord

5. Piccolo

6. Pipe Organ

7. French Horn

8. Basson

This song took me a few weeks to compose. I would work on it for an hour or two on the days that I worked on it. I didn't work on it every day, but I usually didn't go more than two days without working on it and there were plenty of consecutive days.

My piece starts of with strings and then a french horn and violin com in. Then the harpsichord and piano is added. Then a new section starts and it starts with the strings, harspichord and a piccolo, Then the another similar section except fast comes in without the harpsichord and with a french horn. The 3rd section continues by adding a pipe organ and then a basson. Then it wraps up with an ending.

The biggest obstacles when I compose anything is that my sounds aren't very good quality and very limited. Eventually I plan on getting Finale (or a cheaper version that still suites my needs) and some really good orchestral sound packages. Also sometimes I couldn't think of what to do next... I think my pieces aren't always very good structurally and that is something I have to increase my skill on.

This piece was inpired by imaging majestic clouds but that is quickly forgotten after the first few measures. From now on I think I'm going to try to keep my pieces from being too free in which way they go. I'm going to plan what moods I want to convey and in what order before I start composing.

IMPORTANT!!!

If you reply please offer advice if you have any and if there are things you didn't like please let me know. I understand it is possible to like a piece and not have any advice to offer but if you don't like it there must be a reason... even you if do like it please let me know why. Constructive criticism is always good.

Fanfare for Winter.mid

By the way I'm having trouble thinking of a name... If ou could let me know what you felt when you listened that could help me out alot.

newer_song.mid

Well, my first comment is that the Basses are to close together in the opening passage. It's generally a bad idea to have thirds in bass parts, unless they are higher in the octave. The reason is because the typical audience member will only hear muttled noise at this depth. Typically, bass parts move in 4ths, 5ths, or octaves.

The introduction of parts was a little scattered, and it sounded like you were trying to do to much too soon. Also, the flute player may not appreciate going straight into a coloratura passage without a little more substance to introduce it. And your organist will certainly not enjot going through all the trouble of getting the organ prepped up to play such a minor part.

Many many many great ideas, but all of them are too close together with no development. Spread the meter out a little and concentrate on one idea at a time.

Sean C Stork

Nightengale, Inc.

Hey!

I like the ideas for this song, and other than what Nightengale said i have one thing. The piccalo part needs to be brought out a lot more. The way i get the file in Finale 2006, you might as well dropped the whole line because it was just not audible. So yea, bring that out because it sounds awesome!

I agree with the other members who have posted. The ideas seem like that could span out longer. Also, it ends rather abruptly without much warning. Otherwise, I think this could turn into a nice piece of music.

One thing you said before troubles me, however. It seems that more and more people think that having sound samples is going to help them compose. I highly disagree with this. While this computerized "orchestra" can help give an idea of what the music may sound like in a performance like setting, it cannot help one compose. Even if all you have is Anvil Studio, you can still write a brilliant work. Just don't think that these people with GigaStudio and whatnot are the best composers around because they can make their music sound closer to a real ensemble.

I'm not saying that samples are worthless. For many videogame and even movie composers, their scores would not exist if it weren't for these tools. But that's simply what they are; tools. A hammer can't build a house on its own.

Oh no no no! I don't think sound samples will help me compose. What they will do is make what I compose sound better. Right now the piece I'm composing next I'm doing completely on paper with only some sounds from my keyboard for picking the instruments. Other then that it is my mind and paper. I know the greats have for the most part thought that the best work came when you composed in the mind completely before writing anything down or even playing it (I can't quite do that yet but I'm working toward it). Sorry to trouble you but don't worry there is nothing to be troubled about. And I thought this compositions wasn't drawn out enough either. I'm making sure my next composition is far better and I'm taking everyones advice (because it is good advice). Thanks for all the help guys!

One thing you said before troubles me, however. It seems that more and more people think that having sound samples is going to help them compose. I highly disagree with this. While this computerized "orchestra" can help give an idea of what the music may sound like in a performance like setting, it cannot help one compose. Even if all you have is Anvil Studio, you can still write a brilliant work. Just don't think that these people with GigaStudio and whatnot are the best composers around because they can make their music sound closer to a real ensemble.

i disagree when you say that "people think that having sound samples is going to help them compose". but i agree when you say that "...don't think these people with GigaStudio and whatnot are the best composers around because they can make their music sound closer to a real ensemble."

having good sound samples can help you compose. it just doesn't make you a better composer. for quite a few of us, we don't have the musical talent to simulate an orchestra in our head. and quite frankly, midi isn't going to cut it either. but those who can, they can pretty much hear a real orchestra inside their head. for those of us who can't, we'll need the constant samples to keep the piece going. otherwise, we're not going to get anywhere.

anyway, it's a pretty good piece. i don't like midi. but from the sounds of midi, it sounds nice. good job.

I've noticed it more on other boards than here, but there are an increasing number of people that will respomd to a critique of music as "d00d, u need betr samplez!!!LOL"

I feel that the virtual orchestra is both a blessing and a curse. While it is a great tool to get a feel for what a live performance would sound like, too many people seem to use it as a replacement for a live ensemble. In certain cases, this is necessary (such as a video game, as I said above.) But for a composer who doesn't wish to write electronic music, trying to substitute even just a reading for an MP3 made by a program is just silly.

trying to substitute even just a reading for an MP3 made by a program is just silly.

yeah, i wholely agree there. i've noticed a few people on here simply just run their midi through with samples and says it sounds better than the midi they post. it still sounds like midi. if you're going to use samples to make it sound better, you'll need more than just notation, it takes a whack of a lot more effort in producing real orchestral sounds than just finale or sibelius. and rendering a midi song straight out of finale/sibelius to mp3 from sample is, as you said, downright silly.