Sextet for Winds and Strings

Hi,

This is one of the first pieces I ever composed. It's quite short, probably not really appropriate as a stand-alone piece but I'm not quite sure how to expand this.

It's written for Oboe, Bassoon, Violin, Viola, Cello and Double-bass. It's a pretty unusual chamber combination, but I really think it would make for a nice blend (I originally had a french horn in there as well but it was too unwieldly).

The piece is subtitled "Ma Petite Oiseau" because it was written partially for a great friend of mine, whom I lovingly refer to as my little bird. She's an oboist, which is why the instrument is featured so prominently.

Let me know what you think! I'd love to get some feedback, particularily on ways to expand the ideas I have here.

mp3 - here!

Ideas - Sextet for Strings and Winds.pdf

I like it. It's really pretty. However, I think you could do more to make it exciting. It gets a little boring at about... all of it. I would really liked to have heard a big crecendo to an awesome climax. But still, I think it's a good start. Reminds me of the piece I first posted here, kinda...

Thanks musicfiend, I'm glad you took the time to listen to it. I'll play around with that idea, see if I can fit a more exciting bit in to contrast with what I have already.

I agree with Fiend. Very pretty though I think it didn't sound exciting because your recording wasn't playing the dynamics. One thing you could work on is your transitions between different parts of the melody. Mm. 19-20, for example. I felt that change from triple to duple was a little too sudden. Maybe you could have the eight notes start in the cello or bass before you reach mm. 20. Or you could stay in the triplet section for a little longer.

The section right after the that I love. I especially liked mm. 24. I was hoping to hear that again before the piece finished.

Than there was the ending. While I am a fan of long held out notes, I felt that something else should have been going on here while everyone else is holding. Another repeat of the melody in the oboe, for example.

Overall, don't feel like you need to rush through each theme. Give each its chance to develop or work them into another theme. Your transitions just might be smoother because of it.

JT,

You're full of ideas, it's great. Thanks for taking the time.

I agree with you about the transition from triplets to duple, it seemed a little forced. I'll try to smooth over the transition there (and all the others, for that matter).

Cheers,

Joshua