The Ultimatum

Okay, so I entered to be a part of a talent show and I wanted to write my own piece. Well, I may or may not have realized I only have days to perfect the piece writing wise as well as performing wise. So a quick critique would be nice. Thanks!

The Ultimatum.MUS

The Ultimatum.MID

Just a quick update of the files. Replies would be nice. Thanks!

The Ultimatum.MID

The Ultimatum.MUS

Any chance you could post us a pdf? Would be a lot better than .mus files.

I don't really know how. I just use Finale and call it good. I've never had anybody even ask for a pdf before. lol. Sorry.

I don't really know how. I just use Finale and call it good. I've never had anybody even ask for a pdf before. lol. Sorry.

A few suggestions. I'm not sure what this will be used for or if you will be playing this BUT.. first thing, add some rests. Silence will make a piece more interesting. Second, when constructing runs it is best to base the runs on your overall thematic material. Don't just do runs to do them, basically. Make sure they have a place to start and end. One thing that I do, when constructing runs of 16th notes in my piano literature, is to use a portion of the melody (called a motif) and sequence it along the harmonic progression that underpins the run. So for instance, if my melody contains A/B/Cnat.. I will sequence that according to the harmony that underpins the run. Aside from that, composing for a solo instrument unaccompanied is very difficult. One other suggestion would be to add something in here that contrasts the material you currently have. Hope this helps!

Well this piece seems to have three sections of ideas: the sixteenth note passages, the quarter note passages, and the dotted eighth-sixteenth passages and the music seems to move between these with no real transition. Also, the only little motifs that I actually retain in my head minutes after listening are the dotted eighth-sixteenth passages. Even though this is a solo piece and perhaps you intend it to be showy, in my opinion, there should be something for the listener to grab onto more. Also, you only use a very small range of the saxophone. Don't forget that it can play down to Bb and at least up to high F# in a virtuosic piece, you can write almost infinitely high.