Star Force for Brass Choir

After an effing long hiatus from composing, I present...

Star Force for Brass Choir (Op.27, No.4) - James Householder IV (Jul.2009)

:w00t: :w00t: :w00t:

"In the frosty reaches of outer space lurk wonders and perils beyond the human imagination. When earth is in danger - when alien princesses are in need of rescue - when there are strange new worlds to explore or savage monsters to subdue - only the crack team of spaceborne heroes known as STAR FORCE ONE is up to the task! Your mission, bold composer, is to create a musical tribute worthy of their daring exploits." -Maquis

I began writing this piece on Thursday night and just finished it Saturday night in time for the CMC deadline, so it's had only three days of work, but it's the first real piece of music I've written since January 2008 (yes, 2008), so I've been WAY overdue. For three days of work, I've very happy with the results, and was more than surprised that it came out to over four minutes in length (the competition only requires two, actually.) I hoped to invoke a title theme from a video game kind of feel (so it's cheesey), so it's basically incidental music, though I've written it specifically with live musicians in mind. The intended level is collegiate or advanced high school to professional.

Before someone comments on the extreme registers of particularly the first trumpet, bear in mind I play trumpet. I know the consequences of my actions. :laugh: There's a high bit I gave to 2nd trumpet to rest 1st to prepare for a high note, but left in the 1st in case (s)he wanted to get their ear ready. I forgot to mark this cue, before anyone points it out. The orchestration isn't really that imaginative, I tended to block the instruments together by family (i.e. trumpets usually together, horns, ect.), going more for several choirs within a choir rather than a more intricate orchestration.

This is the fourth of a set of pieces (Opus 27) all for brass choir (some with percussion as well), two others of which where also composed for CMC competitions. The third of course was Erlkoenig, which was for a YC competition. Can you tell I love BRASS?

Comments on the piece as a whole, it's reflection of the given theme, and the score are welcome. You may notice near the end I couldn't decide whether F#'s or Gb's seemed more intuitive for the trombone parts... different notes seemed more intuitive for the different parts, so I left it a mixed bag until I make up my mind.

Star Force for Brass Choir on the Young Composers Music Network

Hi, James:

I really enjoyed listening to this. It has a great out-of-this-world action/adventure feel to it. Pretty not too bad for only a couple days' work. It does remind me of the sci-fi tv shows from the 80's -- if that is what you were going for. It works, in my opinion.

Now get busy and write some more stuff!

Sincerely,

Brian Sagraves

The piece is very well put together. I didn't notice any notational errors which makes this very performer ready.

Some personal opinions...

The piece overall sounds like an 1980's side scrolling video game. For me, that made the piece a bit novelty-esk which is good for some, just not for me. For me,it was cute at first but the novelty wore off towards the end of the piece and begun to fade into the background, much like video game music would.

There were some parts that made me tune back in, such as some of the trumpet lines and horn lines, but overall it didn't keep my attention very long. My only suggestion would be to consider some more dynamic changes in the music.

But then again thats just me.

I listened to this last night.

I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the mp3, I did not read the description of the piece|went directly to the mp3 file|.

I liked how you use the brass choir in this piece, a lot. The trumpet parts I found that I liked the most.

I also found the main melody in the piece to be very enjoyable.

-Thumbs up-

-TWO Thumbs up-

Hey man, I'm really digging this! This is good stuff. I really appreciate the cheesiness (I see absolutely no problem with cheesy music!) and it does sound very heroic and out of a video game. It had a strong emphasis on melody, which I loved, and the harmonic progression wasn't super complex but instead stayed simple and very, very effective. I didn't see any issue with any of the ranges. Perhaps the last 1st trumpet note is little high, but I still don't see a problem with that. My friend plays trumpet, is a very serious player, and many many times he's had to play notes like that.

Also, I love the horn parts! You really used the horns well =) That is my favorite instrument and I love hearing (and playing!) parts like these.

Measure 42 seems a bit odd. I don't understand why the 2nd trumpet goes down instead of up, like the others. Or why the 2nd trumpet part isn't switched with the 3rd. Minor thing though, it still sounds really good as is!

Writing the piece for the individual "choirs" rather than a more complex orchestration works really well I thought. Helps to bring out the character of each section a lot more.

Anyway, great job! =)

James

So this is your first posted piece since Jan 08. I checked to see how many pieces I have posted in the same time frame. Care to guess? First off let me preface this by saying that I compose alot more pieces than I post. Some of them are just not ready yet and some just smell like last weeks socks, but I am at least getting in the trenches and composing. So what's your guess? 10? 20? 30? Would you belive 70 pieces since Jan 08?

Now do you wonder why I don't get into the shoutbox very often?

I just listened to part of a piece I posted in Jan 08. What a difference between then and now. It's like a whole different composer. Well that's not entirely true. The music is still my style, but it sounds so much better today. I have learned so much about how to present the music in the last year and a half.

I checked out some of the other entries in this contest and can tell you now that you will not win and it has nothing to do with the composition itself. The ones I listened to were presented better. I have had the same outcomes in a number of contests I have entered. People said they loved my music but the renderings were just not up to par with everyone elses. So I dug deep and studied to find out how to get a better recording. I am just now starting to get a decent recording out of my compositions, but I get better with each and every piece.

In the music world today, having a good composition is not good enough. You are up against guys that not only can compose well, but can present the music so it sounds like a live recording and not all of that is from the samples. Much of that is just in the techniques used to render the music.

So have I torn you down enough yet?

The piece itself is everything I would expect from you. It is interesting with nice chord progressions and good movement. The score looks decent, but I wouldn't tear it apart anyway.

Well done.

Ron

I like how you introduce your theme. Overlapping the sections to build a chord gives it a full sound, and it makes the motif quite clear. The use of the different sections, playing each one a little, helps keep it interesting, as well as your use of triplets. Usually I love a piece with lots of contrast in sound, but for its purpose, I think it has the right amount. If it were actually intended for a video game, I'd say there was too contrast much when you "slow it down" on page eleven (measure 65ish). Anyways, it sounds great. It reminds me of the Star Wars flight simulator games for the PC. Well done.

As a trumpet player, I've gotta ask...ummm...why? There is absolutely no reason to write that high E at the end, it does nothing for the sound (you could achieve that upper partial by doing some *better* voicing on the last chord, good players and the science of sound will do the rest for you...)

I also have to ask, who's the audience and who is intended to play this? It sounds like a marching band/drum corps fanfare (with the oh so beloved 4-3 suspension used so many times). Despite the marching band-isms, I like that you're playing with color a little bit, but you tend to cadence a lot, and do it in the same way (try to mask your cadences and harmonic movement within the texture, that way you have consistent forward movement and also a sense of "coherence" so to speak.)

Now another thing, uhhh texture. Your approach to orchestration could be pushed a bit, try taking a couple of chances and play with the texture a bit more. It seems to be full ensemble sonorities for the entire piece, or soli "fanfare" sections, and I think you can do more than that. You could also do more with deconstructing that theme and actually developing it. You don't develop any ideas very much in this piece, let me give you an example of you COULD have introduced the theme...

You start out, and you want to have this sort of murky texture with solo instruments playing truncations of the theme. I believe you sort of just started with each voice playing the theme in full and stacking up high to low. Sure that's an okay gesture, but it would say a lot more to have this idea of the unclear shifting into the clear. Is that the musical idea you're trying to convey there? I await your response.

I was going to mark trumpet I as an optional piccolo trumpet, then I figured I didn't have enough high notes to justify asking the player to double, so I stuck with the Bb trumpet. High E. Why? Fun. I don't really intend the piece to be taken very seriously by an audience and I thought I'd yield a chance to display one of those clich

James, it's a shame that you don't write more music. It's always logically and beautifully crafted. I liked the texture in this, but I agree with Gavin that it could have been pushed. I know you were writing this in crunch time for CMC, I would just keep it in mind for the future. Nice work man, compose more!

Vince

I'll admit, I'm not a huge brass fan, but I enjoyed this! It had a video-gamey feel to it (not just because of the samples, which aren't bad, by the way), and I just couldn't help but chuckle while listening to it. Brings back memories of when my junior high band director chose "Star Trek" one year for summer band class. Good times. Great job!

Wish I could say more...but I don't know what else to say, since I'm not versed in either brass or orchestration. :P Keep it up.

We got the results back from the CMC and I ... *drumroll*

... actually placed 2nd! Out of eight entries I had 19 pts, vs. the winning number's 22 pts., and a large lead over 3rd place, which had 11 pts. I'm ecstatic with this result - it's very nice to know the I can complete on the same level as folks that have invested great bucks in sample libraries and the production of their music - my music has effectively zero production on their standards (no GPO, no EWQL, just Finale), so this is a very encouraging for me as an effective composer. Here are the more significant critiques I received from voters - feel free to draw from them and/or discuss them when reviewing my work. :)

It's a well orchestrated piece of music.. but a little bit too much of what is to be expected to be heard here. The samples are "OK", in a day where anyone can really afford the East West libraries, It's time for an upgrade. Also, sometimes the brass seems to wander without a purpose and there are some fairly inconsistent vilocities abound. It definitely reminds me of the likes of the Space Quest, but parts of it are a bit too close to the theme from Ikari Warriors (NES) for me.

ahh i can see composition essence here. melody, build ups with pure notes, not special effects!its hard to judge since everyone else invested their effort and time in production so it wouldn't be fair for them, or would it?

Too bad the synth sound isn't too good (maybe adding reverb would help). It's interesting to decide to use only brass, but sometimes in the piece it sounds a bit "naked", and the addition of other timbres would maybe make the sound richer. Otherwise I like the rythmic bass, and the harmonization of the theme along the piece.

I admire that you've composed for yourself, and not for a commercial audience. I realize that this is a "conceptual" competition, but it showed individuality. However I still think it a good idea for you to invest in some samples, be it GPO (which I use, btw), EWQLSO, or some other one. Not saying you have to buy it either, if you catch my drift...

Fanafres are definitely appropriate, and it's a very heroic theme, but it just gets a bit samey for me- i really think it could really benefit from some arrangement and instrumentation.

This is harmonically fairly bold and ambitious and musically dynamic. I feel the material could have been slightly more compressed and somehow the music didn't quite capture the profundity, if you will, of Star Force One. Solid, solid piece though.

Householder's got stronger melodic statements, but I think Singer's more effectively captures the wonder of deep space.

Responses in this thread:

AMDG, thank you for listening and for your support, I will!

Plutokat, I understand what you mean. It's kinda like the Star Trek theme (the only thing I can think to compare it to off hand), but is quite a bit longer (more than twice the duration), hence the tendency to get old rather quickly. Thank you for letting me know!

SaX-AlT, Haha, thank you for your support and enthusiasm!

Jared, thank you for listening as well. The piece seemed to really work for you, so I appreciate your positive review. About the measure 42 (AHAHAHAH... 42) , I just felt like mixing it up. Something that I should do more often and more carefully, I agree that it doesn't quite fit all the way, but I'll become better at effective orchestration over time. I just wanted to incorporate a motion contrary to what was going on - an aural expansion, rather than just a rising upwards.

Ron, thank you for checking this out - you have been very devoted to listening to everything I post, I appreciate your support very much as always. I AGREE, I have no excuse to have stopped composing for such a long period. I had been suffering from a lot of stress through school and what to do about colleges/uni., and I just hadn't found the time to devote to inspiration. In spite of all these things, I should have been taking them and turning them into music rather than letting them become a barrier to my music. You are absolutely right and I should get crackin' more regularly. The result of the competition kind of goes against what you said - it appears my music alone can potentially compete with composers' products that are better presented, however I should not let that sit on my head. I appreciate your concern, as it is well founded and ... of course, right. This round of CMC has just proved to be the odd antithesis to the general rule.

Bretter, thank you also. "If it were actually intended for a video game, I'd say there was too contrast much when you "slow it down" on page eleven (measure 65ish)" Entirely right - not intended for a video game, but more of an attempt at a concert simulation thereof. You have pointed out one of the faults, thank you for the keen ear.

tg, I'm glad you like my works and your understanding, it's encouraging to know this. Yes, it could have been "pushed". Quite something I'm not good at yet but working on. Thank you for the listen!

blackballoons, glad to have made the brass work for you. Usually when I write my music it is with the intention of gaining greater appreciation for the instruments I use - I feel brass choir is a very able ensemble and with good writing won't even tire on the ear for extended periods of time. That is what I strive for, yet surely have not yet reached. Glad you made the Star Trek connection - it was sort of what I was going for without being of ripoff on any account. I regard the endeavor as such rather successful - not a shameless copy or ripoff, yet filling a similar niche. Thank you for your support!

i like 7 up

He, I share allot of the comments, don't like brass, but stayed interested by the nice form. minor issue (comes with the poppy-feel) is sometimes the standard harmonic turns. I liked the harmony ms 73 and 74, sadly dissolving in the cliche 75.

Congrats anyhow with your 2nd place!

Sure, it's a good piece. I think one could easily place too much of an emphasis on sound libraries though. I think people really judged the music here for the most part and I doubt the scores would have been much difference if you had had access to a good quality sample library.

I did notice a fair share of people in their critiques mentioned about voting equally in favour of decent and poor sound libraries - understanding that some people are working under limitations. I'd like to have some to make my music sound better, but I'll worry about writing music idiomatic for performance before I worry about making it sound good on a computer. :happy:

I tend to work with naked general midi anyways - no fonts at all. Finale 2002 doesn't have a VST anyways. I think it's better because I can hear an outline of the music without it being just barely realistic enough for me to make judgements based on the playback output. Working with SoftSynth or GPO would drive me to hell and back.

Me, having enthusiasm?

Why thank you :D

I take that as a compliment !

I really like this! The videogame feel is definitely there, but in my opinion, it isn't overdone, and it kept my attention the whole time. I really liked some of the things you did with the french horn (my favorite brass instrument I must admit) and normally, though I don't listen to just straight brass, that was something I would listen to. ^.^

It was well put together, and had a very rich feel to it that was easy on the ears. :)

Excellent work!

I liked this a lot. It started with a good "introduction" and you then developed the main ideas well. There was also a good interplay between the parts.

I thought the ostinato rhythm you've written at times for the bass instruments was particularly effective - it reminded me of the ostinato in Mars from Holst's The Planets suite. Holst used percussion and I think your piece would also sound even better if you added some percussion.

My only other comment is (and please note I've never played a brass instrument) it does look very complex writing for brass players? Maybe I'm talking rubbish but some parts look very difficult to play compared to those in professional scores I've seen. I know you said you play the trumpet so if I'm talking nonsense please ignore me! ;)

Congratulations on your second place. (Perhaps, my paragaph above was definitely rubbish!) I don't know what the CMC is but well done.

Hey James.

I like the major sevenths in the horns. Also, the i think i quartal harmony at the beginning works nicely. Very seemless modulations, there weren't any chords that seemed out of place.

I think you should put a ritard. at 11-12 and when it comes back again after the recapitulations.

Overall, I liked the harmonies, especially at 104 ish where the trumpets are moving up in half-steps and the bass stays on the c. Very nice.

Sam Parrilla

wow this is pretty awesome. i haven't gotten the chance to read the entire thread but will this be performed?

Nice, I like the '80s kind of cheesy feel, and I absolutely love brass. :wub:

i know its an old thread and maybe james wont be here to read...

but KUDOS!!! you are great! i mean to say, that your writing is focused on pure music and to me, that is so RARE! its been diced here production VS composing etc, but you've proved that good composing can actually beat the crap out of production, which i think is a proof of your abilities if you had any doubts regarding them.

quality composing.

Thank you very much! That's a very positive outlook, thanks for listening!

First, in regards to your comment on the range of the trumpets, any 1st trumpet that's worth his/her spit should be able to play this (range-wise). (this is coming from a former 1st trumpet player). However I would watch the horn ranges in certain sections---it's reaching some pretty high limits.

In your comments above notes (i.e. mutes, breathing, etc.) you seem very hesitant... be more sure of what you want---it's your music.

Overall I loved your piece . It made me want to pick my trumpet back up and try it!!