String Quartet in Dm Moderato

Here is a part of a string quartet I'm writing, I welcome feedback

Quartet in Dm Moderato - Free MP3 Stream on IMEEM Music

I think your piece is in need of stronger melodic material, and more harmonic variation. There is a distinct baroque feel, particularly to the first half, but without clear changes, modulations, or dynamic melodic material, it sort of mucks around--which will bore the listener.

Consider a major key modulation in the middle somewhere, for example...

Without a score it is hard to say something more concrete...

Also, working with lightening/changing the texture would help a great deal (solo/duo/trios vs. full quartet all or most of the time), perhaps tying these to certain melodic ideas, etc...

Are you aiming at a particual period sound?

This sounds much more like the makings of a good organ prelude with some work. Why did you choose a quartet?

It does modulate into a major key. It goes from Dm into into Bb Major with the introduction of the Eb in the middle.

There are dynamic changes but the finale recordings don't pronounce those dynamics as much as I'd like.

I'm working on a string quartet to master the form. I'm writing from music styles that I like, not aiming for a particular period.

I do think you're right to say it needs to have more voice dynamics ( single voice to two voices to three, etc) I'll do some work on that.

As a modulation exercise, i wrote this short piece.........

A Little Celebration - Free MP3 Stream on IMEEM Music

but I must say that my goal is not to jar the listener, it's to modulate with as little discomfort as possible.

thanks for the feedback

I'd like to hear your music

As a writer of string music, I would rather hear a modulation to the subdominant or to the relative major, F major. In a string quartet, I find those are easy to follow while listening. And that is often a method of Baroque writing.

I'm sure others agree that you should stay in any one period stylistically, but a great piece for a starter.

Welcome to the forum.

I'd like to hear my music too!

I wrote a short minuet for quartet about 4 months ago, and have also posted a rough of a minor key quartet intro sorta-kinda in the romantic idiom.

I am now back tracking and trying to learn fundamentals of 4 part writing while listening to a ton of quartet music and studying scores--Haydn intensively but Beethoven's opus 18 and Mozart as well...

I've settled on the classical period quartet as my model, as it is most accessible to me at this juncture. But with a full time job, a wife and kid, and an old house, I don't have the quality time I really need to progress quickly. Hopefully I can have a 1st movement posted no later than October...

So, while my own writing is virtually non-existent, I hope this doesn't disqualify me from commenting. I understand what I hear and study, and am familiar with the basics of the conventions of the baroque, classical, and romantic periods.

I'm glad to hear your input cyberstrings. It certainly doesn't disqualify you from commenting in my estimation, in fact, I'm working on some changes to my quartet now you and others suggested.

I know it is an arduous task so I wish you the best.

I only ask to know if I'm communicating with one from who I can learn by listening to their music.

I'll be happy to hear a piece of yours in the future and in the present I am satisfied that you are interested enough to listen to one of my attempts.

Regards

Thank you MaestroMarvel,

There doesn't seem to be prominent melody or any bright textures or harmonic progressions... the register control is also a bit awkward; just looking at the opening, the lines seem to get jangled around oddly and don't really have a sense of cohering and if this was your intention nothing that happened later seemed to justify it.

I got lost in the form, as I said probably because of the lack of a sustaining theme or motive.