String Quartet

Hi!, i am Diego from Santiago, Chile (16 y.o.), new here in youngcomposers.com

I am a guitar player, since 13 years old, and i compose rock music (prog, hard, metal, etc.) and i start composing "classical" music since 15 y.o.

I listen, many kinds of music, but most of the time, prog rock music, bands like Pink Floyd, Genesis, Yes, King Crimson, Rush, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Dream Theater, and many many more, and contemporary classical music, like Stravinsky, Bartók, Prokofiev, Varese, Messiaen, and others of classical music like Liszt, Beethoven, Dvorak, etc etc...

I only shared my compositions with a friend, and he always says me problems on my composition, like the orchestration (more common and the one that i really care), the absence of tensions and the lack of development on my music, that really frustrates me.

I bring you a string quartet, done since no more than 2 months, with some clearly influences on my music. I really like this composition, I think that is one of the best composition that I have made (well, my compositions are not so numerous). I want to you tell me how make it better and tell me your opinion about this (this i really care). Well, I think that the music speaks for itself:

cuartetocuerdas.mp3

Cuartetocuerdas.pdf

Thanks!

Hi Diego,

I couldn't see the score or listen to the music you tried to post. Why not post them to this website instead of redirecting us to another one?

Thanks

Mike

THANKS MIKE!, now there are the files to your facility. Sorry, i didn't know how put files here

26 people have listened the string quartet and none have written something... please, if you don't like it, writes "i don't like it because...". Am very dissapointed, I thought that here (on this forum) could be helped.

Thanks anyway

I really liked this.

I don't think that a lack of development is a problem here. You said you like Stravinsky, and certainly some of things you do here developmentally are sort of similar how he develops his ideas. Motivic material is presented in contrasting blocks which appear static, but as each little idea comes back, it's changed slightly or not so slightly. The section where each measure repeats is also very exciting, and it would be cool for it to be extended with more stuff in-between steps which show a more gradual process of transformation.

Orchestration definitely isn't a problem, you switch focus between the various instruments frequently enough, and there are a wide variety of textures. The only thing maybe is that instruments are all sort of sitting right in the middle of their ranges, and for this style it might be more dramatic and exciting if you have more stuff at the extremes (very high bass + Cello, low violins, viola all possible). High stuff doesn't always have to be in the violins, string instruments have very extended ranges. This kind of stuff is risky with performers who are going to be sight-reading your stuff though.

The main problem I have is probably the notation, and mainly the notation of rhythm. Stuff like measure 8 in Violin 1 and measure 12 in Violin 2 (there are many other spots) is very difficult for the player to read. You should rationalize all the rhythms to the prevailing pulse in each measure. That means, for instance, in a 4/4 measure, the the four quarter notes should always be visible to the player. Syncopation should be written so that notes which are played across beats are tied over the beat. Example: if you have an 1/8th note starting on the fourth 16th note of the first beat, it should be written as a 16th note tied to the first 16th of the second beat. If you're in an odd meter, like 7/8, it's common to group things into 1/4 note and dotted 1/4 note beats.

This probably explains it better and has pictures, which are nice:

http://www.ars-nova.com/Theory%20Q&A/Q57.html

Very nice though! I'm excited to here more.

hey,

lol...wow When I clicked on the link to listen I did not expect what I heard...and I liked it, it has a funky sound, and does indeed remind me of stravinskies rite of spring...I personally do not like that type of music(I think stravinsky's rite of spring gives me a headache...but just my opinion). lol Although it might need some polishing up...I mean some parts sound really really good, but others seem more like fillers.. like from 0:45 the pizz. starts to sound like random notes are being played...btw I am a beginner composer too, so keep in mind this is a beginner's opinion..hahaha

I like how the section from bar 21 begins, alot! lol but the Double bass seemed to me like it started a little random too.. but slowly becomes less random...I am not sure if you did that on purpose or not...but yea....

well I dunno if this will help, but its a listeners prespective, and overall I liked its funky sound, felt like I was in a jungle, and then in a horror movie!

hehe, alright tc,

Hi to both,

To last life:

-Yes, I think that probably a gradual change will sound better, i will work on it, or unless try it.

-Well, i will try to experiencing with the instruments ranges, maybe will get a better sound, i really don't know.

-About the problem of the notation, YES, you are correct! I don't checked the score before sent it.

To terexyun:

-I don't care if you are a begginer, I am also a begginer hahahahah, but i really apreciate all the comments that anybody can leave here. My music don't will be listen ONLY with people with a great level of composition, or with too much experience on the 20th century music, etc.

-Maybe you're right, i must polish it more, always exist something to improve ;)

-YES!!, the pizz, i chose some random notes, but is the sensation that i wanted to cause in that part, and also is my favourite part on the string quartet LOL.

-The 21st bar (the chord), is the less random on this composition, i take MUCH time to find that chord hahahah, then, the section of the double bass, starting on the 24th bar, i also take MUCH time on that double bass's line, that was that i wanted, staying on a 4/4 time signature, but causing a different sentation and something not commom.

HORROR film... hahahaha, yes, everyone that had listened this string quartet tell me that it sounds like incidental music. Is not really that i want to my music, i must work more on it, i really don't know how make it sounds like the rite of spring's style or something that changes all the time of idea, but is interesting and make you concentrate on the music.

The sound that actually have the string quartet is the one that i wish to do, that atmosphere, i was really surprized when i finish that i had done, and i really like it.

I corrected now the score (the notation problems), i will send soon the composition corrected and also with new things, that really don't convinced me too much... but maybe you like it.

Thanks to the both comments!, I really apreciate your time and your opinion

Diego

Liked your composition.

Now that I listen again, I can say you some things about it.

First, I can feel an atmosphere of mystery. Like you said, it could be used in a horror movie.

I love pizzicato(!!) and you used it very well, but I think I prefer to listen to less pizz. notes.

Continue composing y show me more of your compositions. :)

Hi javiercmh,

I'm glad you like it. I think that the pizz is ok, no excesive, is what i want. Maybe, the midi sound is the problem, i don't know. I trust the pizz will sound great lol.

Well, now i have a blank mind. I have some compositions but i think that aren't ready to publish here. When i continue with those works, inmediatly i will show you my others works

thanks for your opinion