Talbot Hill and The Mysterious Man

Inspired by a hill of the same name at the University of Western Ontario. It is a snowy day. A dark figure walks across an icy Talbot Hill. From a distance, the scene looks peaceful, but up close it is a different story.

I wrote this a couple weeks ago and made a few changes today. The score is from one when I first wrote and thus it sounds a little different then what you will hear.

Enjoy!

-John

Very interesting piece. I love the sonorities that you used in this. My one complaint is in the treatment of the ostinato pattern (the 4 quarternote, descending motif). I'm not sure it really served much of a purpose being brought it the second time. That's a very small thought though... I wouldn't worry about it. I love this work though! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks a lot, Jason.

When you said it didn't really serve much of a purpose being brought in a second time, where exactly did you mean?

Peace on Earth,

-John

Nice piece! I love the motif voicing used! I'm not the personally the biggest fan of some of the dissonant sections, but they are still enjoyable. That's just me, so don't let it discourage you! At times it almost seems like the sustain is bleeding too much, and needs to be released more often?

Thanks a lot, Jason.

When you said it didn't really serve much of a purpose being brought in a second time, where exactly did you mean?

Peace on Earth,

-John

Measure 57. Which would actually be what, the third time? I see what you went for... BUT.. it just seemed to interject periodically that nice passage the measure preceding.

Nice piece! I love the motif voicing used! I'm not the personally the biggest fan of some of the dissonant sections, but they are still enjoyable. That's just me, so don't let it discourage you! At times it almost seems like the sustain is bleeding too much, and needs to be released more often?

Thanks a lot, Drew! The dissonant sections were a break from all of that fluffy snowfall business. Plus, they add to the mysterious quality of the MYSTERIOUS MAN! :shiftyninja: :)

Sometimes the pedal IS bleeding a lot, it's true. I did it for the blizzardy, blurry effect it creates. Don't worry! You didn't discourage me, Drew :P

Thanks for your comments

see what you went for... BUT.. it just seemed to interject periodically that nice passage the measure preceding.

Huh :eyebrow:? What did you mean by that sentence?

Peace on Earth,

-John

Very nice - very eerie. Love it!

I also really like your idea of indicating a speed up of the trill - no idea if it's your original idea, just never seen it written before.

Keep it up mate :phones:

Very nice - very eerie. Love it!

I also really like your idea of indicating a speed up of the trill - no idea if it's your original idea, just never seen it written before.

Keep it up mate :phones:

Thanks, John! I'm glad that you appreciate it's eerie flavour. As for the trill, I thought it was a pretty decent idea. I just wanted a clever way to say speed up and get louder here.

Peace on Earth,

-John

Yes, I do like the eeriness of the piece :) I like how the top hand in measures 21-53ish is coupled with a completely "unfitting" lower hand harmony: if you were to hear the right hand play alone, you wouldn't think that the lower hand would accompany it the way it does :lol: It gives the piece a "contradictory" feel, like this man is torn about something...

Thanks for sharing, interesting work here! :D

Yes, I do like the eeriness of the piece :) I like how the top hand in measures 21-53ish is coupled with a completely "unfitting" lower hand harmony: if you were to hear the right hand play alone, you wouldn't think that the lower hand would accompany it the way it does :lol: It gives the piece a "contradictory" feel, like this man is torn about something...

Thanks for sharing, interesting work here! :D

Thanks, Zach!

I wouldn't say the left hand melody is completely unfitting; from 21-36, it's just playing D minor and Bb minor chords/clusters. The notes of these clusters are also the notes of the melody. Similar deal with 38 onwards, the notes of the melody are also the notes of the harmony.

Thanks again for the comments, Zach,

-John

nice harmony - nice use of register - distinctive. this is nice! also great title and you have nice handwriting easy to read. not much else to add. good work

Thanks a lot, jaime_B! My handwriting could use some improvements. I was adamant that I wasn't going to write this one out by hand because it takes forever! But, I came to terms with it and finishes rather promptly.

Thanks for the comments,

-John

That was awesome! I really enjoyed listening to this piece! Thank you for sharing. -Minoxor.

I love this. Very well structured. Good use of the motives, good development. And I love it when different themes get intertwined.

This has some nice moments you could try and do some rotations and change your melodys and reuse some of your ideas.Really cool cords and an overall great pice