Salamat Po --- Thank You (God)

Here's the first stanza of the hymn I'm writing right now. I just want to ask all of you music geneuises on what you think about this piece..

The text is written in Tagalog, the official language here in the Philippines. I don't know if adding the lyrics make any sense.

I'll be glad to received any comment from you guys. God bless us all.

Not Filipino enough. Don't write music like your white oppressors.

You mean this is really bad?

He means it doesn't sound "ethnic" at all, which may be exactly what you wanted.

I think it's written very well; I'd have to hear it actually sung to be sure, but what you've written sounds nice: nice tune, nice harmony, nice suspensions/decorations. Only problem is how very short it is.

Sorry for the wrong interpretation of what he have said.

The song is intended as it is.

I'll post the full piece once I've polished it.

Thanks Matt. ;)

Hello Bryan,

Here are some of my observations when I played through the piece. It is somewhat technical. The music is yours so by all means you can do whatever you want.

1. The hymn is obviously written in common-practice harmony. However, some areas seem very vague when in comes to their harmonic identity. Taken for example b.1 of measure 3.

2. There are some spots where parallels occurred. Although there are intervening notes, it did not help in breaking the effect cause by parallels.

3. Vocally speaking, you are throwing in extra notes which does not actually enhance the text rather makes it more difficult for the singers to negotiate its tuning and blending since it only resulted on inappropriate lead for the voice. Take example the bass part on m5-6.

4. Another thing, there some spots where in your non-harmonic tones are sounding with their resolution. In this case, the effect of the NHT was nullifed.

5. It would be wise not to result into making the voices sing in unison unless there is no other option harmonically.

6. Your melody does not seem to call for the cadence you have written on the last measure. Listening to it, the melody still wants to continue to another half before final closure. I would suggest that the last measure be a whole note E then add another measure E(half)-D(half)-E(whole) to make a little amen section to finally cadence the piece.

All in all, it is a wonderful and serene composition worthy of "Pagsamba".

Sincerely,

TheusII

It sounds very pretty, and really reminds me of the songs we'd sing during mass at Manila. It definitely has that jazzy feel that most of the songs we sung had, and if it were longer, I could imagine it being one of them.

Based off what I've heard, it feels like it's just one phrase to a complete song. If this were Phrase A, I'd like to see it end on an inconclusive chord, go to a Phrase B, and then to Phrase A-prime as a conclusion. You could probably just cut and paste it and add more lyrics and it would still be swell.

Sounds great. I wouldn't change a thing. The parallels are very characteristic of the genre your writing for, as well as the dotted-quarter / eighth note rhythm. It'd be fun to sing.

Hello Bryan,

Here are some of my observations when I played through the piece. It is somewhat technical. The music is yours so by all means you can do whatever you want.

1. The hymn is obviously written in common-practice harmony. However, some areas seem very vague when in comes to their harmonic identity. Taken for example b.1 of measure 3.

2. There are some spots where parallels occurred. Although there are intervening notes, it did not help in breaking the effect cause by parallels.

3. Vocally speaking, you are throwing in extra notes which does not actually enhance the text rather makes it more difficult for the singers to negotiate its tuning and blending since it only resulted on inappropriate lead for the voice. Take example the bass part on m5-6.

4. Another thing, there some spots where in your non-harmonic tones are sounding with their resolution. In this case, the effect of the NHT was nullifed.

5. It would be wise not to result into making the voices sing in unison unless there is no other option harmonically.

6. Your melody does not seem to call for the cadence you have written on the last measure. Listening to it, the melody still wants to continue to another half before final closure. I would suggest that the last measure be a whole note E then add another measure E(half)-D(half)-E(whole) to make a little amen section to finally cadence the piece.

All in all, it is a wonderful and serene composition worthy of "Pagsamba".

Sincerely,

TheusII

I'll consider all of these. Thanks kuya. ;)

It sounds very pretty, and really reminds me of the songs we'd sing during mass at Manila. It definitely has that jazzy feel that most of the songs we sung had, and if it were longer, I could imagine it being one of them.

Based off what I've heard, it feels like it's just one phrase to a complete song. If this were Phrase A, I'd like to see it end on an inconclusive chord, go to a Phrase B, and then to Phrase A-prime as a conclusion. You could probably just cut and paste it and add more lyrics and it would still be swell.

Sounds great. I wouldn't change a thing. The parallels are very characteristic of the genre your writing for, as well as the dotted-quarter / eighth note rhythm. It'd be fun to sing.

wow, the one who wrote 'o pie jesu' and 'ave maria'

those are great pieces.

thanks kuya* matt.

I really appreciate your time studying this one.

thanks, thanks.

*kuya means older brother in tagalog.

I loved it! Good job with everything here. The harmonies are delicious. I think if you slowed it down A TAD it would be better. Maybe just enough to have time to HEAR everything.

I think if you slowed it down A TAD it would be better.

I don't know what you mean by this. But anyway, thanks Marivou. :)

If you lowered the tempo. You have it at a pretty quick pace.

If you lowered the tempo. You have it at a pretty quick pace.

Okay, sorry for my ignorance.

I think you're just right.

I really appreciate your time, thanks again.

;)

You are very welcome! :)