am I running before I can walk?

Right feeling inspired after listening to tubular bells with the polyrhythms and layering etc I became inspired to write something a bit different to usual, push my limits create some funky music.

Thing is I've got so far and I've started hitting a road block musically and I'm wondering if I'm just meandering compositionally towards a dead end.

It's starts with a piano melody in 6/4 and then a counter melody comes in playing in 4/4 (00:03) on the repeat. Then after a bit the 4/4 piano melody (which is two bars long) is changed (note values) to a 6/4 melody (00:15) where the note values now match with the main theme. Then a 6/4 bell stab (00:21) comes in followed by brass (00:34) that doubles it by an octave but sustains the notes.

This build up is then released with just the main melody, 2nd counter melody and a bass line provided by some synth brass in 3/4 timing (00:46). Then the notes of the main melody are altered to be in 5/4 by playing same two notes of the original one at the same time and my use of rests (00:58).

In this piece I aim to make use of time signature changes, polyrhythms and some aspects of serialism and I'm inspired by tubular bells (as I said before) and various progressive bands.

Really all I want is to know how well I've done so far, if it sounds good or rubbish and if the latter how to improve/make it flow better.

Personally I think it sounds mostly alright, (I start to lose my conviction during the 5/4 version of the main melody) and I think all I really need is maybe some ideas on how to make music that changes around this much flow better and maybe some educational links to sites which can teach me things I probably should know.

I also wrote the guide to how it goes because I don't have a score to show.

composition.mp3

I think it's cool so far, but you don't believe it and don't really believe in the potential of it as expressed in your writing. You don't intend to have one ostinato over the entire work, I assume, yet this entire segment has one. It starts off developmental, but you turn it into a groove. I'd say keep at it, but make sure you know what you want. Do you WANT a groovy tune, for example? If not, then make sure you keep the backdrop interesting, even if it's subtle.

I DON'T think you're over your head. But don't feel badly if you get going, hit writer's block, and then wait several months or even years before writing more! :) I'd recommend forming a basic (very basic) roadmap to give yourself an idea of how you would like the piece to flower. Don't make it so specific that the music doesn't have freedom to do what you want it to, though.

Happy hunting.

Ah thanks. And no it won't be one ostinato it will change to something else I just wasn't sure about my ability to move it into other areas etc.

I'm gonna work on it and hopefully at some point it will be a new entry to the electronic music forum :P