A Peasant's Song (Lazarus's Theme)

Here's the trial audio to my composition "Lazarus, A Peasant's Theme"The opening misterioso delineates the pain and hunger of Lazarus as the night is storming as he has no food or home. He prays to God of his torment and wishes for food. He falls asleep and waits for the new day.The Pizzicato bass enters, Lazarus is begging for money and food. The rich man (along with other people) ignores him constantly. After this happens repeatedly, the rich man scolds him (as the soaring french horns enters with melody!)After the final discourse, the peasant dies (measure 75.) Abraham appears to him (measure 82) and tells him "Welcome home!" The Rich man then dies and the dark angels then take him to him to Hell. He finds himself in agony and begs to Abraham for his family to be notified of his transgressions (measure 94.) Abraham then proclaims ""If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead." Luke 19, WEB.Lazarus rejoices in being in heaven, falling at the feet of the Lord Almighty, God of Abraham.

A Peasant's Song (Lazarus's Theme)

Wow. This is genius. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I mean, wow. I nearly got a cill when the jazz feeling section came in after the 15/4 bar. And you had my attention from then on. I'm curious as to what program you used. Or is this a live performance, your sounds are incredible.

Wow. This absolutely amazing. I love everything about it! The horn melodies are amazing! I have nothing to critique. This is amazing!

thanks! It's real people!

Greetings,

This is aboslutely fantastic! I've been really getting into Jazz lately and this piece just makes me love it even more. Your use of color throughout the piece is inspiring and very evocative. Your use of meter shifts does this piece real justice and I couldn't stop tapping my foot. I was expecting something with more of a classical feel to it and you just flipped that notion right on its head by enforcing a style that really makes this piece unique and different; of course, you probably now that. :P You used each instrument very well throughout this piece. I will say my only gripe was with the opening Euphonium solo. It seemed a little random when I first listened to it, but it eventually grew on me as a very interesting prelude into the main thematic material. You really seem to understand each music and I particularly love the use of the Wah-Wah effect in the trumpets and trombones. Please, please, please continue to write music as you are very skilled! Also, congrats on getting the live recording!

Peace,

C.L. Winston

Greetings,

This is aboslutely fantastic! I've been really getting into Jazz lately and this piece just makes me love it even more. Your use of color throughout the piece is inspiring and very evocative. Your use of meter shifts does this piece real justice and I couldn't stop tapping my foot. I was expecting something with more of a classical feel to it and you just flipped that notion right on its head by enforcing a style that really makes this piece unique and different; of course, you probably now that. :P You used each instrument very well throughout this piece. I will say my only gripe was with the opening Euphonium solo. It seemed a little random when I first listened to it, but it eventually grew on me as a very interesting prelude into the main thematic material. You really seem to understand each music and I particularly love the use of the Wah-Wah effect in the trumpets and trombones. Please, please, please continue to write music as you are very skilled! Also, congrats on getting the live recording!

Peace,

C.L. Winston

Thank Sir for the the kind musical words!

This was quite enjoyable to listen to, and the audio of particularly noteworthy quality. Thank you very much for that.

I think the piece as a whole works tremendously well, from the somber opening to the pious scolding of the rich man to the glorious rejoicing. The jazz elements really worked in your favor, especially the spontaneous solos, which served to give each section of the piece a lot of character.

About the only thing I didn't like was the chaotic section (around 94 I think?). It wasn't that I didn't think it was successful structurally, but I found that it disrupted my enjoyment of the piece because it was too over the top in its chaos. I understand that you are trying to accomplish something here, but it was lost on me. Could it have just been the trial audio? Maybe it wasn't as tight, rhythmically, as you'd like?

All in all I'm kind of a bad person to critique this, as my jazz theory and appreciation are somewhat underdeveloped. I probably could have more feedback to give you if I were more aware of ways to spice up the piece, but as someone from a distinctly "classical" background, I genuinely enjoyed listening to this (several times!) and think it represents some of the best writing I've seen on YC.

This was quite enjoyable to listen to, and the audio of particularly noteworthy quality. Thank you very much for that.

I think the piece as a whole works tremendously well, from the somber opening to the pious scolding of the rich man to the glorious rejoicing. The jazz elements really worked in your favor, especially the spontaneous solos, which served to give each section of the piece a lot of character.

WHEW!!! Thank the Lord, I was hoping so!

About the only thing I didn't like was the chaotic section (around 94 I think?). It wasn't that I didn't think it was successful structurally, but I found that it disrupted my enjoyment of the piece because it was <i>too</i> over the top in its chaos.

Possibly, that's okay! I'm glad you said that because it was definitely what I was going for!

All in all I'm kind of a bad person to critique this, as my jazz theory and appreciation are somewhat underdeveloped. I probably could have more feedback to give you if I were more aware of ways to spice up the piece, but as someone from a distinctly "classical" background, I genuinely enjoyed listening to this (several times!) and think it represents some of the best writing I've seen on YC.

One of my goals was to fuse blatantly jazz and classical for symphonic band. After reading your critiques for about two years now, you definitely have the knowledge to offer advice. I hope to achieve a different way of programmatic composition and "Disrupt" the way the classical mind listens to music in a concert setting. Looks like mission accomplished!