Serenade for Winds

This is a serenade for 13 wind players. It features pairs of flutes, clarinets, oboes, bassoons, 2 pairs of horns, and a single contrabassoon. This is the same instrumentation as Richard Strauss's Serenade, which was the inspiration for this piece. However, the orchestration itself is not inspired by Strauss, only the concept and instrumentation. The orchestration is much heavier, in my opinion, than tradional harmonie musique. Thicker than Strauss, and certainly thicker than Mozart! It opens with a flute solo, then a repetition with clarinet and oboe on the melody (F minor). It roams around in F major for a bit as a result of a Picardy third at the end of the first phrase. However, we eventually wind up in the tonal center of A-Flat for a horn solo. The piece reaches a climax about 3 minutes in. A slight break --- A clarinet melody accompanied by the other clarinet and one pair of horns. The oboe joins in. After a flourish or two, the upper winds wind us down to the denouement with a single oboe on a C. After a brief caesura, the horns recapitulate the beginning flute melody. The rest of the ensemble joins in for the last four chords (VI, half-diminished ii, V7, I.

Serenade for Winds

Great!! The piece has a very nice sound: full-bodied, earnest and passionate--I think it is the well-balanced chords and dynamics. I like the contrasts between solo and tutti sections throughout, and the melodies are quite beautiful and memorable. I really enjoyed the harmonic progressions, too.

Thank you very much for your comment!!

Very good! The only thing i have to say is that its very similar to an other piece. it dont remember right now, but its strikingly similar in some places, like the first theme. Does it matter? there are loads of pieces that are similar to each other and still original.

some of this is very romantic, and some sounds like pat boone- speedy gonzales (at bar 25)

this will sound very good live! Good work and keep on composing!

I like this, very evocative, and well-orchestrated to suit the particular emotions the listener feels throughout. I would have liked to see some more harmonic movement, since the harmony is pretty tame, especially for a romantic work. Good job!

Tidemand: I find your comment striking because at one point I listened and heard similarities to another piece of music too. However, it was at a different spot than you mentioned: The oboe solo before the caesura. I listened and heard a bit of the theme from Shrek. But, I liked it... and kept it. I feel it's unique. Thank you for your kind words. My school wind ensemble will be playing this sometime in the coming year!!!

ParanoidFreak: I had the same sentiments as you. I felt that sometimes it just gets too I or II or IV, V, or VI ish, if you understand what I mean. I do wish that I added a little more harmonic variety, as you said. Thank you for your comments!!!