Train: Journey

This is my very first band piece and I was inspired by the 5/8-5/4 feel. After realizing that I could have the piece in 5/8 but yet have it conducted in 5/4 was ready to write. Comments please.

Train: Journey

You should definitely upload a mp3, so that I can listen to it directly from young composers, rather than making us download the MUS file. Some of us don't have finale. I do, but it's really a pain in the donkey to download it, just so you know, since I rarely use it.

I was finally able to down the .MUS file, but it's only 40 seconds into it. Have you completed more than that yet?

@twilexia: I tried to download as an audio but I couldn't that's why I have it as finale.

@themaskedtrumpeteer: This is my first band piece and I do plan to write more, I have written other works though.

All you need to do is go to file>save special> and depending on what version of finale you have you should be able to save your file as an mp3 from there.

I was able to download the .mus file, and i must say, this needs a bit of work.

Let's start with your orchestration...

You have an Eb Clarinet, Soprano Sax, English Horns, and Recorders.

Eb clarinets have basically dissolved in band literature,

Soprano Sax and English horns are only used as cues for solos, in a piece like this, individual staff placement is unnecessary.

Recorders of any type are going to be impossible to place in a band setting.

Also, you only have one clarinet, alto sax, trumpet, trombone, and NO horn part.

You should be enhancing orchestration in these sections instead of trying to include unnecessary intstruments.

So add a second/third (or just second) clarinet, second alto sax, HORN(at least two parts), second trumpet (maybe third.) and second and/maybe third trombone!

Your percussion is all kinds of messed up.

In typical band parts the percussion is grouped in 1-4 staffs in which they are related.

Percussion One: Mallets: (marimba, glock, bells, chimes etc.)

Percussion Two: Skins: (Snare Drum, Bass Drum)

Percussion Three: Cymbals( crash, suspended, ride, gong, etc)

Percussion Four: Woods: claves, woodblock, etc.

Percussion Five: Metals: Triangle, windchimes, bell tree tree, etc

Obviously you are not going to use all of those groups but choose the related groups to use in your piece and go from there, example, you might not even use mallets or woods. so make skins your percussion one staff, and cymbals and metals percussion two and three!

but to put EVERY individual instrument on a staff is impractical so please, don't do it? :P

As for the piece, I think it goes no where musically. you have clarinets going to waste playing one note, where if you really want that part heard, it could definitely be doubled with saxes. Also, your key signature may be too hard for a younger concert band, which I assuming this is written for?

You have the potential to build this piece up to something good and playable! Keep it up. Great work so far, and if you need any more help PM me.

Happy composing.

P.S. i hope none of this offended you, and i hope you could make sense from it and use it to help you!

Hmm..ok ok, I will reorganize the work, well I've started already and thank you for the advice, I wouldn't have known if I wasn't told. :facepalm:

mkay.

good luck!