Unfinished Orchestral Work

So a friend of mine set me the task to spend two solid hours every Monday composing - no getting discouraged by lack of inspiration and allowing myself to become distracted. So I've been working on an idea that I found buried in my computer from 2007. This is really the first thing I've written since 2007.I'm a weeny bit stuck but I'm enjoying the process and I would really like some criticisms/feedback/suggestions of what I have written thus far.Question: is it too simple, too tonal, too cliché, too boring?Any kind of feedback is very much welcome!(sorry about the messiness of the score, written-out trills etc, it is a work in progress after all).

Unfinished Orchestral Work

And apologies for not being more active around here, I definitely have meant to, but busy life gets in the way! Will make more of an effort :)

I really like it and there is a lot of potential with the piece. I think the way you have used the percussion is really good Personally I'm not too sure about the opening, it just doesn't fit with the theme at bar 36 (which I think it great!) At bar 22 when the chords just stop it sounds a bit disjointed. Also at bar 13 you have the flute playing the C sharp just above middle C which is pretty low for a flute so it would struggle to be heard over the strings at that point. I personally don't think it's boring or too tonal at all. But it's certainly a good start

No no, is not too boring, too simple or too tonal, I like your language, you will improve the rest with the time, your current orchestration seems good to me, the harmony was good too.

If you really stuck with this project, try some retornellos, and repeat the main parts and build and ending with those.

The only think I have to tell you is the low C# on timpani is too low, some, I have explained this several times, (not to you of course) so if you don't mind I will only quote myself.

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The entire timpani part is very low always, it will sound very loose, contrary to the effect you want:

(most or orchestras don't have the 20'' one, so high G would be the highest recommendable note)(others have the 20'' but not the 32'', low E would be the lowest)

All pitched drums have a natural range of an octave tops, where will be set that 8va range ? depends entirely on the circumference of the drum, the first notes of that 8va will sound very weak, let's say that 32'' kettledrum, it may have a natural range of C1-C2, (below C it will difficult produce a defined sound) C#, start sounding a little better, D, sort of very low timpani sound, E to A, good sound, A# still good I think but kind of forced, B very forced, C, like it would be about the break.

There are larger timpani, but they don't come with the common timpani set, they're sold separately and are indeed expensive. The timpani is not like a tuba, the middle range of the timpani is the strongest one, in overtones and power.

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Also, I will move the Forum Thread to the "Incomplete Works" section, you page in network where the music is, remains untouched.

Thanks for the feedback, will follow up on suggestions.

Thanks for the info about timpani as well, nobody's ever told me any of that and I've had plenty of people look at my work before. Will keep that in mind in future!

Have added more to piece, will post again when I've written a few minutes more, thanks again.