The Western Gates

This work is for a submission for consideration to become a part of a composers/conductors workshop. I started this work on Friday and just finished it today - for the most part, I'm sure that if this work is chosen to be a part of the workshop - I will have to make changes based on performers, conductors, and advising composer members of the workshop. The inspiration for this work is actually a long story. I have always been intrigued by the vast antiquity of South American civilization. Some of the lesser known sites (outside of Inca and Mayan) date to well before 3000 b.c. The site that inspired this piece is called the Gateway of the Sun and is located about 10,000 feet above sea level at a city called Teohuanaco in the Bolivian Altiplano. The site was ancient and considered sacred by the local tribes when the Spanish first discovered the site in the 15th - 16th century. The site is pretty much baffling to academic scholars largely because the different layers are almost impossible to attain a very accurate dating. The gateway itself is a stunning site.. it's basically just a door that faces absolutely nothing. There's no evidence that it ever entered or exited any structure. It just sits and ages - no one knows what it was used for. Every time I see it, I just get such a profound feeling from the site itself - it stirs my very exsistence at times. Absolutely fascinating. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy this work. If this is chosen for the workshop, I will have lots of recordings of this and will update at that time. (I soooo hope it happens!)

The Western Gates

Hmmm... I don't think the MIDI does any justice to this piece.

So anyone else listen to this? Is it that bad?

So anyone else listen to this? Is it that bad?

I finally got around to listening. I like the beginning and what you've done with the bells and timpani (especially page 7 and the end), but I have a hard time following most of the piece. I mean yes, I notice imitation and I can trace motives and some pitch material, but shortly after the tutti orchestra comes in on page 4 I start feeling lost. Also some of the textures seem sort of thin (like when you only use a couple of winds plus a couple of strings), but I think the midi doesn't do it justice. Your style always shines through, which is a good thing. Have you given more thought to a serial work?

Geez, your like the umpteenth person to ask me that! I will get around to working on a serial piece, though I have to ask: why does everyone want me to compose one?

I agree that the MIDI work does not show it in it's best light, but listen past it, and theres a fine piece there! My only problem is that I felt the bells were a fraction over done. To me they lost their impact and dramatic effect because of it. It was only borderline though - perhaps it was more a case of the actual sound used rather than their frequency of use. Apart from that, I enjoyed listening to it. Good luck - I hope it gets chosen!

I enjoyed this. I don't know where I am, but it took me until 1:00 to realize that this is MIDI generated.

Other than the midi part, I really enjoyed this quite a lot.

I get the image of a prairie of some sorts.

Thanks Wendell, glad you enjoyed it.