Woodwind Choir

This is a little suite for a woodwind choir (3 flutes, oboe, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, bassoon) that I've been working on on-and-off for the past month or so. It's just kind of a fun and quirky 3 movement work, and I tried not to take myself too seriously. I definitely enjoyed writing it, though.

The movements are mislabeled in the PDFs, but they're in the right order in this post. I was going to add a 4th movement, but I scrapped it and forgot to change the wording.

Any and all feedback is appreciated!

edit: I used Finale 2010 and the default sounds it comes with, not the GPO package.

Movement 1:

Wind Choir Mvt I.mp3 - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

Wind Choir Mvt I PDF.pdf - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

Movement 2:

Wind Choir Mvt II.mp3 - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

Wind Choir Mvt II PDF.pdf - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

Movement 3:

Wind Choir Mvt III.mp3 - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

Wind Choir Mvt III PDF.pdf - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

Mvt one had a cute beginning... really nice :)

The rest of it was great too! I like this one! Keep writing! :)

hi

I really liked this. It was fun indeed, but I still would consider this to be a serious work. One little remark: I would remove the big reverb in the last mp3. Sounds a bit too unnatural to me...

I noticed the reverb too, but I have no idea why it's there or how to get rid of it! I'm not the greatest computer-literate person :D

Thanks for the kind remarks!

Haha it sounds good! I like this...it's very Hindemith. :] (Mvt. 1, anyway). Very enjoyable, but the ending was a bit abrupt; I felt you could've developed the material just a biiiiiiit more, the make the movement (1) lengthier.

The second movement has a really cute pastoral feel to it, I like it! Reminds me of Final Fantasy music...in a good way! Not too gamey, fit for the concert hall. The ending, though, again, was a bit abrupt. ><

Third movement is just fabulous.

Overall, good work! It's a very lighthearted and sprightly piece; right now the world needs more of that. :] Keep it up.

Well first.. I think your link to the scores for movement 2 and 3 were mixed up :).

But anyway.. let me be the first to say that I absolutely ADORE this piece,

Movement I was fantastic, that melody you had there seemed so playful I could almost imagine it being played as backround music to Tom and Jerry or something. Your use of syncopation throughout the piece only intensified my interest, the little off-beat 16ths gave this movement an almost march like feel to it at times. Your harmonies were interesting as well.. the dissonance that you have going on throughout (in this context) made the the music seem very comical.. I'm not sure if that's the effect you were going for, but that's what I took from it.

Movement II was such an incredible contrast from the first, I really wasn't expecting it at all actually (which by now I'm sure wasn't by chance :P), but it was beautiful. The only part that seemed faintly reminiscient of the previous movement was measures 17-19 where you have those little staccato 8ths being played.

Movement III was an excellent movement to wrap this piece up, I was half expecting you two quote previous themes from the preceding movements not sure why though, lol. This movement like the first seemed very playful.

Overall, like I said earlier, this piece is great. I love how short this was, playful, and to the point. Oh, and really the only thing I have to recommend is that you maybe use more polyrhythms in your works.. I think they would add more to your already interesting rhythmic tendencies :P

Thanks to you guys for taking the time to comment. I appreciate it!

These were alot of fun to listen to.

The third movement's reverb just puts us in the back of the room even though we were sitting up front for the first 2 movements.

Right between the two would be perfect.

What program are you using to compose this and what samples are used? Add that info to your post and I am sure someone will point out to you how to work the reverb.

Nice work

Ron

First movement - I like the monothematic movement - you took a very telegraphic motiv and integrated well into a full movement. Only quibble is you could have taken it much farther. Yet, as it stands it is a nice atrium to the second movement. Second movement I agree with others the sustained harmonies and rocking major 3rds (darn I thought they were minor - a bit narrow for maj 3rd but not much) are quite beautiful underneath the plaintive, sweet melody. Again I almost wish you did more with it but it is fine as it is. The third movement is a good example of taking material in the first movement and taking in more interesting directions (the harmonic interruptions and imitations is a bit more interesting due to harmonies and your sequencing). I find your 2nd and 3rd thee strongest mvmts.

Also, the harmonies are quite neo classical and bright (except for most of the 2nd movement) which to my taste are fine for awhile but can get a little tiring. Fortunately your handling of timbres and varying the pairings is a big help in making this interesting. Plus I commend you for incorporating some motivic units from the first mvmt into the third and a general musical concept of "interruptions" that don't disrupt to the point of upheaval but rather as a mischevious interplay against the more placid material. So bravo.

All I can say is to explore further your harmonic language and larger forms. This is an excellent step on your path to becoming an excellent composer.

I will echo everything CO has just said. Everything presented here is WONDERFUL! If I had a live recording of this, I would definitely put it along-side my Whitacre and O'Regan and Mozart and Beety to listen to in the car! Well done!

Just, maybe think more in terms of OVERALL structure. Your chords were nice, but to what did they contribute? I think chords have a way of developing. One comes from another. Have a key change somewhere, a modulation. Have a consonant chord in the middle of a dissonant piece... just TRY some things and make your music more "well-made". More, professional. If you make the piece MOVE somewhere (I felt that we "ended" in the same place we "started"), I will be wow-ed. But, with this style and orchestration technique, I would be astounded if you couldn't come up with more creative and fun ways to twist your music!