The Earth Symphony

Hi YC,

This is my 6th symphony, about the earth. I've been working on it since April, and now, it's done. Let me tell you about it.

Mvt. 1 is about the creation, where dust and rock come together and create Earth.

Mvt. 2 is about nature. Water, trees and animals are all depicted in this.

Mvt. 3 is about the weather. It's constantly changing, and so are the keys in this movement!

Mvt. 4, the finale, is about everything together, and at the end, the earth comes to it's end.

Please enjoy!

Heklaphone

The Earth Symphony

I'm finding that the MIDIs are not playing back properly, and why do you have a Picc. Trumpet in A and a Heckelphone?

Both because I like them and they are a part of the sound I wanted.

Both because I like them and they are a part of the sound I wanted.

:facepalm:

Do you *actually* know what they sound like? As in, have you ever actually used one or heard one live in an orchestra before?

Okay, let me tell you.

Yes, I have heard an A Picc. Trumpet LIVE.

And Yes, I have heard a Heckelphone LIVE.

There! :happy:

No you haven't because the Piccolo Trumpet in A is one of the most rare instruments out there (even more than the Heckelphone), so much so that it is practically non-existent. Perhaps you've heard the Piccolo Trumpet in Bb, but thats all.

Tokke,

You're my buddy. Don't take this personally. But to steal a quote from Bill Cosby,

"Let me ask you a question:

You're wrong."

Picc in A is as common as picc in Bb. In fact, in classical applications, A is more common than Bb picc. If you've ever been to a wedding and heard "trumpet voluntary," the guy was probably playing picc in A. If you've ever heard any of the numerous baroque piccolo trumpet pieces played on a non-natural trumpet (natural = baroque/valveless), it was probably picc in A. You may not realize this, but the only difference between A and Bb picc is the leadpipe, it's the same horn otherwise.

However, you are right in that they are rarely seen in full orchestra. The sound doesn't blend well into the brass section. You only put it in there if you REALLY want to hear a piccolo trumpet, because you're going to.

I stand corrected I guess. Indeed I was thinking in an orchestral context and I've never seen Piccolo Trumpet in A called for, ever.

Neither have I, honestly. There are pieces that ask for it, but I haven't ever seen one. There's one for this Kansas concert with the orchestra that's coming up soon here, apparently. ...hardly standard orchestra fare.

The midi is screwing up it sounds like there are breath noises in there on mine and a kinda sparkly fairy appearing noise that my pc midi calls jingle bells I think, either way point I'm getting at is I'm pretty sure I'm not hearing what you want me to hear instrument wise.

The first movement sounded good very dramatic a few notes that I wouldn't have necessarily agreed with but toe-may-toe toe-mar-toe (realised writing tomato tomato didn't convey much meaning) but what I'm saying is the notes aren't wrong by any stretch and its all subjective

Movement two heard something that sounded like an alien ray gun so midi obviously is still bad... like the bells/cymbals (beginning to think opening score files would be easier but I'm in the middle of something on sibelius and don't want to lose my place plus when there's a lot of stuff happening it takes me a while to understand whats going on and I unfortunately dont have the time) But anyway 2nd movement in my opinion better than first no notes I heard that I disagreed with.

Movement 3 I'm not too far through this but there are periods when weather doesn't do much like when its sunny, although of you're living in England then the weather might be apt we've had very aggressive rain and wind etc past few days, however I do think some periods of calm would be nice. I think you pulled off the key changes very well however (although movement 2 still my favourite). I can't comment on this knowing if you have or not cause I haven't opened the score but I would do this movement as a rondo with each episode representing a different type of weather.

Movement 4 by comes to its end do you mean like the apocalypse cause it sounded forlorn in places but it was great.

No 2 and 4 are definitely fighting for supremacy in my mind.

Good work though unique piece that (from what I can tell *curses midi) is well orchestrated

I know... I hate MIDI too. Always messing around with sounds and stuff :P

Anyways, thanks a lot for your comments!

Actually, yes, in one or two spots in mvt. 3 I do want it to be sunny. :happy:

Thanks again!

Heklaphone

I just heard strings for flutes, oboes, heklephones, bassoons, brass, strings, etc., so I was like "Screw this," and didn't listen. So, you might want to fix that.

Hey sorry it took me so long, but:

I know that Picc trumpet in A is a loud sound, and in your face trumpet, but, I pretty much want that, which is why I didn't use Bb.

I'm sorry, but if you want the sounds better, you'll have to invade my house, because I'm the worst person in the WORLD with computers :P

Heklaphone

Since when is the Piccolo Trumpet in your face? Sure, its "distinctive" because of its color, but it can be very tame and quiet, indeed, pleasant. Just check out Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 2.

In my experience, a true Trumpet player on a real Bb (or C) trumpet can outplay any Piccolo Trumpet in terms of loudness and audacity. Piccolo trumpets are not a replacement for the upper range of the Trumpet, rather a unique color tone that could be desirable sometimes, much like the Eb Clarinet. But that is just my experience...