Theme and Oscillations

Piece for Brass Ensemble, Percussion, and Organ. There are some issues with the score, and the organ part doesn't work at times, but other than that I like it. OCU Brass Ensemble performing it with Dr. Tim Olsen on Organ, and Ben Nilles conducting.

Theme and Oscillations

I really like the registration of the organ. Whether that was your or the organist or conductor's choice, it's a marvelous match with the brasses. You know what you did around bar 28 with the trombones - that nasty slur. Have you considered switching the trombone and euphonium parts for a short period of times there? Just switch those few bars and surrounding bars for congruity and the euphoniums could handle a slur like that effortlessly. Very good introduction of the percussion, gradual, effective, purposeful. I never thought much of high percussion being a good match with brass, I usually think of it as a better compliment to woodwinds, but you pulled this off. 3:00 to 3:30 the organ sounds like woodwinds (surprise, surprise), very good simulation whether you were trying or not. At 4:30, I love the interaction you bring up between the tuba and trombones. 5:30 OMG epic. Well done, that climax hit like a ton of bricks. I was going to comment on my inability to detect a primary motif or melody in this (if it's there, it's not obvious, it's more atmospheric and emotion than "I am motif. I art recognisable."), but that climax really justifies everything and I think is the reason this piece makes the impact it does. Maj.7th for a close. Nice, if cliché touch. I like it.

Yes, it's a THEME and oscillations, but I didn't hear said theme. The piece was so atmospheric and textured I couldn't really focus on the pitch content, but more that sonic landscape you created. Beautiful sounds. What did you mean by "oscillations"? Is that a word of your own, or have other composers applied that word before?

Nice work! It bought back some memories of when I used to play in a brass ensemble many years ago. Sometimes you can't beat the power, and yet, at times delicacy of brass. I would say you have captured it there. I'm afraid I'm not very good at technical reviewing, but I know what I like, and I liked that. I'm quite tempted to dust off my cornet again (I don't think my old lungs are up to it though)! You've done a commendable job with that, and bought a smile to my face - Thanks!

Great piece. I thought your French Horn writing was a little too safe. Horns can go above a written D (concert G) and would be a nice change of color to all the higher trumpet action taking place. Of course, it's not good to over-do it, but in that climax those Horns could probably do so much more for that moment. Just a thought.

Great work.

-AA

Wow: fantastic build up to a climax, man! But is it just me, or are much of the percussion on the score being a little too subtle? Anyways, this is really great work.

When you say "oscillations", do you mean like a fan? Are you trying to say the melody sort of comes around full force after traveling around?

The oscillation is just the 'back-and-forth' nature of the harmony.

The theme consists of the first 21 notes of the piece. It's fairly cyclical and simple, returning to the first pitch.

Hope that clears it up a bit.

Very nice piece, I always like life recordings :), but the climaxes and especially the organ part is so well written! Keep up the good work, I'd love to hear more of your work!