December 5, 200916 yr Ok so basically, I am going to have this piece be all the planets and stuff.. SUITE STYLE (Should be Played all at once, but can be preformed without all movements) The Planets in it's Whole: (all of the parts put together so you don't have to click on every link) MP3: http://www.box.net/shared/4l8j8fb4y2 PDF: http://www.box.net/shared/2d90hutjys Part One: The Planets I. Earth: PDF: http://www.box.net/shared/st3zunm6nx MP3: http://www.box.net/shared/zz0q7icbn3 II. Jupiter: PDF: http://www.box.net/shared/f41bkr0ig0 MP3: http://www.box.net/shared/ysrzo6m1bq III. Venus: PDF: http://www.box.net/shared/718apx005c MP3: http://www.box.net/shared/jvah2sx1rp IV. Neptune: PDF: http://www.box.net/shared/y856a7ctq1 MP3 http://www.box.net/shared/qx0gybnhzy V. Mercury: PDF: http://www.box.net/shared/51l54k0fyj MP3: http://www.box.net/shared/zc3v8asmzd VI. Saturn: PDF: http://www.box.net/shared/7pvlkue6jt MP3: http://www.box.net/shared/5k0zbrlvpq VII. Mars: PDF: http://www.box.net/shared/02phdma3ay MP3: http://www.box.net/shared/13pienh0x2 VIII. Uranus PDF: http://www.box.net/shared/ji5dazpaoz MP3: http://www.box.net/shared/zhhtq7act1 IX. Pluto: PDF: http://www.box.net/shared/65c4kvp603 MP3: http://www.box.net/shared/2z9uo08fzq Part Two: The Outer Limits of Space I. The Sun PDF: MP3: II. The Moon PDF: MP3: III. A Blackhole PDF: MP3: IV. A Supernova PDF: MP3: V. A Galaxy PDF: MP3: MOVEMENTS TO COME: I. The Sun II. The Moon III. A Blackhole IV. A Supernova V. A Galaxy I will upload the rest as I get them done. Use head phones, because they are quiet for some reason, plus with headphones you feel more involved. :D ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Did you know that I just received news that I won 1st Place in IL All-State Piano Division for Composition: And that this is the piece that won it for me:
December 6, 200916 yr Those are delightful pieces, I enjoyed them. But, since you are to give them an extra characteristic I think each of them needs to be more individual. Also, names like planets are very biased subjects -listeners tend to compare and evaluate pieces with their prethoughts about each planet. Thus creating a new question. Are you going to use this bias, or avoid it and give them a new identity. Say, Jupiter is 'king' of all planets. So naturally, the first expectation is glory and majesty. But, Jupiter can be a king with power but without any true friends and lonely. Or maybe, Jupiter is not a king at all but a big fat boy? But, In terms of mere music they are very creative. As I said, I really enjoyed them. And also, style of pieces reflects the space; it urged me to think about it. Great work.
December 6, 200916 yr Author Thanks Mortrazel. I like the names how they are because the names are what gave me the inspiration. I know some people won't like how I named them but that's just mere opinion. I reason that they all have similar properties is because they are all planets and are completely mysterious... I varied them because they are special in their own way. Thanks for your opinion. Hope you will listen to them again when I compose the others... I'll probably have Mars, Neptune and Earth done tomorrow, hopefully. We will see. Thanks again, for viewing.
December 6, 200916 yr Author Those are delightful pieces, I enjoyed them. But, since you are to give them an extra characteristic I think each of them needs to be more individual. Also, names like planets are very biased subjects -listeners tend to compare and evaluate pieces with their prethoughts about each planet. Thus creating a new question. Are you going to use this bias, or avoid it and give them a new identity. Say, Jupiter is 'king' of all planets. So naturally, the first expectation is glory and majesty. But, Jupiter can be a king with power but without any true friends and lonely. Or maybe, Jupiter is not a king at all but a big fat boy? But, In terms of mere music they are very creative. As I said, I really enjoyed them. And also, style of pieces reflects the space; it urged me to think about it. Great work. I forgot. I'm curious as to which one you thought was the best in your opinion?
December 6, 200916 yr I forgot. I'm curious as to which one you thought was the best in your opinion? My favorite is Pluto, for now. Though, competing with Mercury :)
December 6, 200916 yr Lovely stuff! Nice and clear-sounding. What libraries and effects did you use to create the mp3s? The mid-range notes like the first bars of Pluto have a really interestin character. Pluto should sound much nicer live or with a different plugin - to get rid of that machine gun effect from the hammer on some notes. There's a really wierd effect at 0:28-0:30, a weird interaction of the upper harmonics. I like it but I can only assume it wasn't intended - it's actually inspired me to do something like that. But anyway, these are only production issues! Musically I really liked it. I didn't like Venus. The high ostinati were quite grinding and not too interesting. I heard a bit of a iv-i-V progression which really brough me down to Earth. My one suggestion would be to avoid chord progressions that were very common in the common practice period. Mercury. Loved this one! I was grabbed by the first melody. The second melody above worked quite well but I think you could make the counterpoint better. I found the melodies of Jupiter to be a bit generic - like the ones you hear on those new age relaxation CD's. But the effect of the whole was nice.
December 6, 200916 yr Author Lovely stuff! Nice and clear-sounding. What libraries and effects did you use to create the mp3s? The mid-range notes like the first bars of Pluto have a really interestin character. Pluto should sound much nicer live or with a different plugin - to get rid of that machine gun effect from the hammer on some notes. There's a really wierd effect at 0:28-0:30, a weird interaction of the upper harmonics. I like it but I can only assume it wasn't intended - it's actually inspired me to do something like that. But anyway, these are only production issues! Musically I really liked it. I didn't like Venus. The high ostinati were quite grinding and not too interesting. I heard a bit of a iv-i-V progression which really brough me down to Earth. My one suggestion would be to avoid chord progressions that were very common in the common practice period. Mercury. Loved this one! I was grabbed by the first melody. The second melody above worked quite well but I think you could make the counterpoint better. I found the melodies of Jupiter to be a bit generic - like the ones you hear on those new age relaxation CD's. But the effect of the whole was nice. I used Finale Printmusic and exported it as a midi to a software known as Pianissimo (which I love). Yes, Pluto sounds way better live. My teacher played it for me and it's splendid. I'm sort of sad that you don't like Venus, but thats ok. Thanks for listening, hope you will come back when I complete the others. I have Neptune started and getting finished.
December 6, 200916 yr Author Considering Altering the end of Neptune, the sound doesn't exactly represent what I was thinking... So please don't judge that last little bit on Neptune.. Thanks.
December 6, 200916 yr Just listened to Neptune. The main melody is the first phrase of Frère Jacques played in minor - the same as in Mahler's first symphony third movement, although he decorates it slightly ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtWv8BzWvM8 ). This didn't spoil my listen but just thought you should know. It fits very well with the other pieces and is still interesting on its own. Can't wait for the others :]
December 6, 200916 yr Author Just listened to Neptune. The main melody is the first phrase of Frère Jacques played in minor - the same as in Mahler's first symphony third movement, although he decorates it slightly ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtWv8BzWvM8 ). This didn't spoil my listen but just thought you should know. It fits very well with the other pieces and is still interesting on its own. Can't wait for the others :] I'm composing Earth right now, thanks for listening... and interesting finding... :)
December 7, 200916 yr First off, I must commend you on undertaking such a lofty suite. I find the idea to be amazing on many levels and feel you did a good job at executing your ideas. My only complaint, however, is that there was little variation between your movements. All of them were at slow tempos and used minimal variance in accompanying patterns. The patterns created a very hypnotic effect which you used to good effect but after awhile grew rather boring. That said, there were also points in the music where you had the pianist perform rather vast extensions [intervals of more than an octave should be avoided in most circumstances - particularly when you have the left and right hands busy]. I hope this helps. Thanks for sharing!
December 7, 200916 yr Author First off, I must commend you on undertaking such a lofty suite. Thanks I find the idea to be amazing on many levels and feel you did a good job at executing your ideas. My only complaint, however, is that there was little variation between your movements. All of them were at slow tempos and used minimal variance in accompanying patterns. The patterns created a very hypnotic effect which you used to good effect but after awhile grew rather boring. I think that I repeat a lot because I love the works of Philip Glass, and minimalism. I can't seem to write a fast piece for this particular Suite. I'm thinking the fast parts will be more in the "The Outer Limits of Space" part, like Blackhole and Supernova. I can see Supernova being a really fast piece. I wouldn't necessarily think that one would have to play all the movements/sections in order but could mix them up if he or she felt, but for concert... this is how I would like it. That said, there were also points in the music where you had the pianist perform rather vast extensions [intervals of more than an octave should be avoided in most circumstances - particularly when you have the left and right hands busy]. I hope this helps. Thanks for sharing! I think it is playable, I mean look at scribin, or rachmoninoff, or anything crazy; the pianist has to zip up and down the piano at a high velocity... At least so far the pieces are slow. Thanks for your comment.
December 7, 200916 yr Author Just listened to Neptune. The main melody is the first phrase of Frère Jacques played in minor - the same as in Mahler's first symphony third movement, although he decorates it slightly ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtWv8BzWvM8 ). This didn't spoil my listen but just thought you should know. It fits very well with the other pieces and is still interesting on its own. Can't wait for the others :] Haha, that was not at all intentional... There are quite a bit more posted since you were last on here.. Tell me what you think... Thanks.
December 7, 200916 yr Scriabin, Rachmaninoff, and Chopin are all playable with practice. But all maintain a standard for piano performance - meaning, that a person can play all three utilizing the same piano technique - despite their technical demands. And yes, while your music is slow and allows for more maneuverability for performance, there are passages that would be difficult for pianists to execute without changing the passage themselves [examples: Neptune measure 10, 14, 19, 21 - this is really the only movement I was referring to.] Those measures you have the left hand playing a suspended octave while the right hand is playing an interval of a 12th. Certainly, after the left hand hits the suspended octave it can go up and play the notes written on the lower or upper part of the treble stave BUT at the same time??? And, yes, I did notice the minimalistic tendencies. I do believe, and correct me if I'm wrong, minimalism isn't just about repeating the same idea over and over without any intervallic, rhythmic, or harmonic change - even in the works of the most ardent minimalists you saw change on a very slow clip occur within the individual cells. And note, you don't necessarily have to have a speedier tempo to create contrast within your works. You can create interest by variating any number of things within your work - it's all at your discretion though. I hope you didn't think I was being overly critical of your work. Those were just my suggestions, based on my own compositional background - your more than welcome to take them or leave them. Your work stands on its own - and that's what matters over all.
December 7, 200916 yr Author Scriabin, Rachmaninoff, and Chopin are all playable with practice. But all maintain a standard for piano performance - meaning, that a person can play all three utilizing the same piano technique - despite their technical demands. And yes, while your music is slow and allows for more maneuverability for performance, there are passages that would be difficult for pianists to execute without changing the passage themselves [examples: Neptune measure 10, 14, 19, 21 - this is really the only movement I was referring to.] Those measures you have the left hand playing a suspended octave while the right hand is playing an interval of a 12th. Certainly, after the left hand hits the suspended octave it can go up and play the notes written on the lower or upper part of the treble stave BUT at the same time??? And, yes, I did notice the minimalistic tendencies. I do believe, and correct me if I'm wrong, minimalism isn't just about repeating the same idea over and over without any intervallic, rhythmic, or harmonic change - even in the works of the most ardent minimalists you saw change on a very slow clip occur within the individual cells. And note, you don't necessarily have to have a speedier tempo to create contrast within your works. You can create interest by variating any number of things within your work - it's all at your discretion though. I hope you didn't think I was being overly critical of your work. Those were just my suggestions, based on my own compositional background - your more than welcome to take them or leave them. Your work stands on its own - and that's what matters over all. I do not think that you were being overly critical, I actually like being told. I had realized the Neptune difficulty in those measures after I uploaded them. I will make a note to fix them (alter a little). Could you tell me which one you liked the most? Just curious. Thanks, again.
December 7, 200916 yr I do not think that you were being overly critical, I actually like being told. I had realized the Neptune difficulty in those measures after I uploaded them. I will make a note to fix them (alter a little). Could you tell me which one you liked the most? Just curious. Thanks, again. I really liked the contrasting passages in Mercury [mm. 10 & 16]. Those were very nicely executed, I felt.
December 7, 200916 yr Author I really liked the contrasting passages in Mercury [mm. 10 & 16]. Those were very nicely executed, I felt. Wow. Everyone seems to like that one. :hmmm: I really like Mars and Uranus, though...
December 7, 200916 yr Wow, this one's getting a lot of attention! Congrats, Caleb! But it seems ironic to me that this is so: these are all good pieces, definitely so, but, this suite seems so...well, average, really, when compared to the other amazing pieces you've written, that I think are much better, and more inspired. I can't blame you at all for this, because it's quite demanding to be expected to look at an object--even something as grand and far-out as a planet--and be expected to convey what that planet "means" on an abstract, musical level. But I genuinely think there is room for improvement is some of these pieces that isn't there in most of your work. Don't get me wrong, though: these piece are obviously well thought out, and are still high quality, nonetheless... Earth: I think the tone of this work is how you would see it from space (which is perfectly fine), because it sounds too tranquil for it to be expressing how it would be to live on it, so I assume that it's the same for the other planets. Judging from this, you're trying to convey the repetitive, slow path that the Earth roams around the Sun... well, you succeed at this, but at a price. The piece is, frankly, somewhat boring! :unsure: Your minimalistic approach has worked wonders previously: you've been able to convey all sorts of wonderful things, and with astonishing power and accuracy. But, the difference is, again, in the source material. Before, you told the abstract story of "small" things: the beauty and power was felt in how you masterfully used simple musical phrases to piece together something simple, and yet profound at the same time. But now, we are talking about celestial bodies: these things are deeply complex, they're grand, they're awe-inspiring! There needs to be a "bigger" feel to this piece, I believe... Jupiter: this piece is, again, fitting, and this time not at a price at all! :) I don't know how you accomplish it, but you make this planet sound "big" somehow: I think it's in the upward and downward scaling you do, with the grace notes at the apexes and troughs: I believe it gives it a sort of subdued grand feel to it. This is partially the kind of thing I was referring to above: there is subtle "bigness" in this piece... very nice! Venus: it sounds very refined, and very proper...are you trying to give it a feminine feel, or am I reading into it too much? :lol: I like this: that subdued grand feel (minus the subtly pompous feeling of Jupiter) again works for this piece as well! Neptune: this is interesting... what are you trying to imply by the sudden bangs on the piano in the lower octaves? :hmmm: I have absolutely no idea...? I'm a hundred percent sure I'm wrong about this, but if I were you, I'd have done that to try and imply that Neptune is sort of the forgettable one of the planets in our solar system, and he's saying "Hello! Don't forget about me!" (Seriously, how many people will say their favorite planet in our system is Neptune? It's a pretty boring, forgettable planet...) This is well done! Mercury: it's funny, because as I heard the opening phrases, I thought to myself, "Huh, he gave it a pretty hot feeling with that quick note in the lower part of the piano!" And then I looked at the Pdf, and it's says to play it "Hot"! Again, a testament to your abilities with that piano of yours...again, very nice! Saturn: Oh for shame, Caleb, you're far better than this! :jedi: Honestly, this is without doubt my least favorite of this suite: this piece isn't particularly interesting or standing-out in any way! :( It's atmospheric, but it lacks personality... I wish I had a helpful suggestion as to how to remedy this, but I don't :unsure: I know that's not particularly helpful, and I'm sorry, but I'm quite sure that this piece is missing something critical. Mars: This is very good! This strikes me as the most down-to-Earth (no pun intended) of your pieces: it doesn't have a spacey feel to it as much as the others, and it gives the piece power, and conveys the "power" of Mars very well. I think this is my favorite one It's just logical the piece sounds as it does: after all, Mars is supposedly the closest of the planets to Earth, as far as their conditions are, so it makes sense it would sound more "grounded". Uranus: This is very good, but I have nothing really to say about it :blush: That "rolling" sound, as though it's being rolled like a ball onto the ground, spinning vertically, is probably just my imagination... Pluto: this is good, and the smallness of the music works in this case, because of how small Pluto is, obviously. I second what DJ Fatuus said about the plug-in: I'm sure it sounds nice played on a real piano, but the midi makes the quick repetition of the high notes very hammered, and it's grating. That's not your fault, of course :thumbsup: Wow, that took a while! An hour of my life has passed before my eyes without me even realizing it! That's a sign you did very well, Caleb: hopefully you'll start to get the recognition you deserve now! :toothygrin:
December 7, 200916 yr Author Wow, this one's getting a lot of attention! Congrats, Caleb! But it seems ironic to me that this is so: these are all good pieces, definitely so, but, this suite seems so...well, average, really, when compared to the other amazing pieces you've written, that I think are much better, and more inspired. I can't blame you at all for this, because it's quite demanding to be expected to look at an object--even something as grand and far-out as a planet--and be expected to convey what that planet "means" on an abstract, musical level. But I genuinely think there is room for improvement is some of these pieces that isn't there in most of your work. Don't get me wrong, though: these piece are obviously well thought out, and are still high quality, nonetheless... Earth: I think the tone of this work is how you would see it from space (which is perfectly fine), because it sounds too tranquil for it to be expressing how it would be to live on it, so I assume that it's the same for the other planets. Judging from this, you're trying to convey the repetitive, slow path that the Earth roams around the Sun... well, you succeed at this, but at a price. The piece is, frankly, somewhat boring! :unsure: Your minimalistic approach has worked wonders previously: you've been able to convey all sorts of wonderful things, and with astonishing power and accuracy. But, the difference is, again, in the source material. Before, you told the abstract story of "small" things: the beauty and power was felt in how you masterfully used simple musical phrases to piece together something simple, and yet profound at the same time. But now, we are talking about celestial bodies: these things are deeply complex, they're grand, they're awe-inspiring! There needs to be a "bigger" feel to this piece, I believe... Jupiter: this piece is, again, fitting, and this time not at a price at all! :) I don't know how you accomplish it, but you make this planet sound "big" somehow: I think it's in the upward and downward scaling you do, with the grace notes at the apexes and troughs: I believe it gives it a sort of subdued grand feel to it. This is partially the kind of thing I was referring to above: there is subtle "bigness" in this piece... very nice! Venus: it sounds very refined, and very proper...are you trying to give it a feminine feel, or am I reading into it too much? :lol: I like this: that subdued grand feel (minus the subtly pompous feeling of Jupiter) again works for this piece as well! Neptune: this is interesting... what are you trying to imply by the sudden bangs on the piano in the lower octaves? :hmmm: I have absolutely no idea...? I'm a hundred percent sure I'm wrong about this, but if I were you, I'd have done that to try and imply that Neptune is sort of the forgettable one of the planets in our solar system, and he's saying "Hello! Don't forget about me!" (Seriously, how many people will say their favorite planet in our system is Neptune? It's a pretty boring, forgettable planet...) This is well done! Mercury: it's funny, because as I heard the opening phrases, I thought to myself, "Huh, he gave it a pretty hot feeling with that quick note in the lower part of the piano!" And then I looked at the Pdf, and it's says to play it "Hot"! Again, a testament to your abilities with that piano of yours...again, very nice! Saturn: Oh for shame, Caleb, you're far better than this! :jedi: Honestly, this is without doubt my least favorite of this suite: this piece isn't particularly interesting or standing-out in any way! :( It's atmospheric, but it lacks personality... I wish I had a helpful suggestion as to how to remedy this, but I don't :unsure: I know that's not particularly helpful, and I'm sorry, but I'm quite sure that this piece is missing something critical. Mars: This is very good! This strikes me as the most down-to-Earth (no pun intended) of your pieces: it doesn't have a spacey feel to it as much as the others, and it gives the piece power, and conveys the "power" of Mars very well. I think this is my favorite one It's just logical the piece sounds as it does: after all, Mars is supposedly the closest of the planets to Earth, as far as their conditions are, so it makes sense it would sound more "grounded". Uranus: This is very good, but I have nothing really to say about it :blush: That "rolling" sound, as though it's being rolled like a ball onto the ground, spinning vertically, is probably just my imagination... Pluto: this is good, and the smallness of the music works in this case, because of how small Pluto is, obviously. I second what DJ Fatuus said about the plug-in: I'm sure it sounds nice played on a real piano, but the midi makes the quick repetition of the high notes very hammered, and it's grating. That's not your fault, of course :thumbsup: Wow, that took a while! An hour of my life has passed before my eyes without me even realizing it! That's a sign you did very well, Caleb: hopefully you'll start to get the recognition you deserve now! :toothygrin: WOW! I appreciate the time you took to look at all of them in detail. Some of them probably need more, but get this: I started composing these on Friday December 5 and Finished Sunday December 7... So got to give me credit that I did 9 pieces in less than 2 days. Thanks Again.
December 7, 200916 yr All in two days?! :blink: Wow! That probably accounts for why a few of your pieces here feel rushed, like Saturn...but regardless, that's very impressive! :o
December 7, 200916 yr Author All in two days?! :blink: Wow! That probably accounts for why a few of your pieces here feel rushed, like Saturn...but regardless, that's very impressive! :o Thanks. I hope I can get it done, for the most part by next weekend.
December 13, 200916 yr Very nice! All of the pieces sound amazing they really capture the feeling of space. My personal favorite was Earth. Can't wait to hear the rest!
