Nocturnal Sunset

I wrote this piece to resemble the emotions during a sunset on a cold winter night. the setting is a wooded area during sunset, in the middle of winter, with a layer of snow on the ground. Updated Feb. 9th 2011

Nocturnal Sunset

This piece is actually pretty good. I found it very moody, despite being a bit too static for my tastes.

The intro sets the mood well, also setting the rhythmic pulse. The cymbals at about 1 min are really unnatural sounding because of the MIDI, but I don't think it doesn't work. I think that's something wit h this whole piece -- you apologize for the MIDI, but even when it's not acting "right" it sounds alright.

The chimes in general, setting the pace and keeping a strong sound, worked very well.

That swell at about 3:50 really caught my attention.

Overall it's a bit samey, but is an effective mood piece.

Thanks a lot for your feedback. I just have a few questions, when you say moody what exactly do you mean? Also I am unsure what you mean by "samey" ?

Sorry if these are silly question I am new to the forums. I will be listening around to some other peoples compositions later, I'm in a class now and can't listen.

Greetings,

I know you mentioned you are new here so I would like to send my humblest greetings to you. This is quite the work. I don't usually listen to many lyrical pieces, but I've been really getting into them lately (Peter_W has some good compositions on this forum). The underlying mallet percussion accompaniment was a little static/repetitive, but it really does set the mood of the piece. I'm not sure if I agree with Ferkungamabooboo on the piece being moody, but it did seem to hold onto a somewhat somber feeling to it. I guess I was actually expecting it to be a bit more happy (sunrise gives this happy feeling). The midi does give me a good idea as to how the piece sounds and it sounds like you've really put some time into it. I would work on getting better sounds like Garritan if you have the money. Being a concert band composer myself, I can see this being played by some high bands or even some middle school bands for a concert or contest. The piece doesn't really sound difficult. Try shopping this piece around to different band conductors if you know any. It would've been a lot better if you provided a score for the piece, but I understand it is in the editing stages. Please continue to compose music and you'll be reading more reviews from me.

Peace,

C.L. Winston

Greetings,

I know you mentioned you are new here so I would like to send my humblest greetings to you. This is quite the work. I don't usually listen to many lyrical pieces, but I've been really getting into them lately (Peter_W has some good compositions on this forum). The underlying mallet percussion accompaniment was a little static/repetitive, but it really does set the mood of the piece. I'm not sure if I agree with Ferkungamabooboo on the piece being moody, but it did seem to hold onto a somewhat somber feeling to it. I guess I was actually expecting it to be a bit more happy (sunrise gives this happy feeling). The midi does give me a good idea as to how the piece sounds and it sounds like you've really put some time into it. I would work on getting better sounds like Garritan if you have the money. Being a concert band composer myself, I can see this being played by some high bands or even some middle school bands for a concert or contest. The piece doesn't really sound difficult. Try shopping this piece around to different band conductors if you know any. It would've been a lot better if you provided a score for the piece, but I understand it is in the editing stages. Please continue to compose music and you'll be reading more reviews from me.

Peace,

C.L. Winston

I agree that the mallet parts do seem alittle static, however what might not be too audible in the recording is that though the rhythms remain the same they follow the chord progression the ensemble is playing. It's funny you mention Garritan as I am actually saving up for their concert/marching band pack right now. When I am finished editing the score and parts I plan to take this piece to a few High School conductors that I have become familiar with, wether it be because I went to that High School or I have done events with them, to see what they think and hopefully get a performance out of it somewhere. I have placed the current score up to view now, however keep in mind there are no phrase markings in the current score and no notes for performers. I have a full printed out version of it and have been doing most of the editing by hand and have not had the time to sit down and enter the edited notes into the score as I find myself always working on my other large concert piece when sitting at the computer rather then editing the one that is most close to being done. Thank you very much for your feedback, and If you have anything else to say after viewing the score I am all ears.

(Carly, thanks for the kind word!)

First thing I just need to get out of the way:

Sunset...at night? By definition, the sun does not set at night. It sets in the evening at twilight. So the title is kinda paradoxical, which I'm pretty sure isn't your intention.

Okay. Welcome to YC! :lol: I'm sure you'll learn a lot here.

Positive. I like the tone painting and use of voices. That's always a cool thing, band people in a program worth half its salt tend to have better tuning when singing than when playing. I think you did a fine job of capturing a dusk, winter sunset. A loooooong sunset.

Criticisms:

I felt the "samey" thing in just about every section except the beginning. Not enough happened throughout your major sections. A big offender is the ending: it's too long, IMO. Yeah, the sun takes a while to set, but come on, 10 bars of the same held note? It's all one harmonic canvas, there are only three basic textures (voices, tutti loud, tutti moderate-soft) with no real interesting melodies.

A quick convention thing: you usually don't write different voice parts in different instruments. You write it divisi (in concert pitch) for everyone to see and pick which voice they are ( SATB ).

Don't abbreviate "chime(s)" to "chim."

Write "sing" or "play", not "insert instrument name here."

Other than some convention things, the score appears very clean! And the midi was NOT that bad, trust me. Your percussion writing is also very tasteful and appropriate.

Thanks for sharing! Keep it up, man.

-peter

(Carly, thanks for the kind word!)

First thing I just need to get out of the way:

Sunset...at night? By definition, the sun does not set at night. It sets in the evening at twilight. So the title is kinda paradoxical, which I'm pretty sure isn't your intention.

Okay. Welcome to YC! :lol: I'm sure you'll learn a lot here.

Positive. I like the tone painting and use of voices. That's always a cool thing, band people in a program worth half its salt tend to have better tuning when singing than when playing. I think you did a fine job of capturing a dusk, winter sunset. A loooooong sunset.

Criticisms:

I felt the "samey" thing in just about every section except the beginning. Not enough happened throughout your major sections. A big offender is the ending: it's too long, IMO. Yeah, the sun takes a while to set, but come on, 10 bars of the same held note? It's all one harmonic canvas, there are only three basic textures (voices, tutti loud, tutti moderate-soft) with no real interesting melodies.

A quick convention thing: you usually don't write different voice parts in different instruments. You write it divisi (in concert pitch) for everyone to see and pick which voice they are ( SATB ).

Don't abbreviate "chime(s)" to "chim."

Write "sing" or "play", not "insert instrument name here."

Other than some convention things, the score appears very clean! And the midi was NOT that bad, trust me. Your percussion writing is also very tasteful and appropriate.

Thanks for sharing! Keep it up, man.

-peter

Thanks for this, I will be sure to note all of the "visual" aspects of the score in my current stage of editing. As far as the divici SATB, Im not sure how to do that, if you have sibelius and could help me out that would be great.

With the title, I was thinking of it more as Nocturnal being defined as a describing word in which characterises something to belong to the night. So in theory the sunset would belong to the night because after the sun has set the night has come. I know its not technically all right but I liked the name "Nocturnal Sunset"

As far as what you say about the melodies, I was going for a more simplistic type of sound, however...I still want interesting melodies. If you have any tips for writing slower and simple melodies while keeping them interesting they would be greatly appreciated.

And thanks for the compliment on the percussion, I am a percussionist so I would hope I wouldnt have any problems with it ha.

The score and Midi file has been updated with new edits of the score. (January 20th 2011)

Also, A side note, Hopefully soon I will be bringing this to my old high school to have them read through it :P

I really enjoy this work. It fits the mood you're aiming for quite well. In the end, I might have some moving instruments instead of holding that one note. I know the percussion is moving, but I would move some wind instruments too. Overall though, a nice piece! I enjoyed listening to it.

Updated February 9th 2011