Bagatelle in D for String Orchestra

A short, tense Bagatelle in D Minor for String Orchestra (+ Triangle), the second movement of a Suite still in progress.

The form is roughly A-B-A, with the A parts in Agitato cut time, D Minor, and the dreamy B part Assai Meno, written on the contrast between mute sustains and pizzicati/short sforzandos.

Apart of some notational distractions (I forgot the 8vb in the Violas, last bars and to write divisi in a couple of Vl.I passages, let me know If you note some scoring errors (I'm not a string player).

Audio and score:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0E-f7GmxXE

This was really cool! Short form, but very effective. Mainly you just need to add some divisi markings (string players always ask even when it's obvious), but very good work!

I don't hear a Bagatelle. That form is for one-offs and trivial things. This is powerful and deserves more than the time you've given it. At least two or three times. The Sfz stabs could use a bit of context, which you will get with a longer length. I love the harmonic landscape you're working in, so full of energy and tension. But it needs more time to develop. What's the hurry?

Obviously, I'm only an observer, but I don't see the point of adding more movements when you're already sitting on a raw gem.

I agree with Ken.  The title is very misleading!  While a fine piece in its own right, it definitely has potential for expansion into a larger work, certainly leaves the listener wanting more.

On 15/8/2016 at 3:05 AM, Ken320 said:

The Sfz stabs could use a bit of context

On 15/8/2016 at 4:28 AM, bkho said:

it definitely has potential for expansion into a larger work

Thanks for the feedback! In fact it was intended as a movement of a series of short pieces with some traits in common. For example, the pizzicato thirds at the opening.

I agree with the above - already the cover picture sets the tone (Otto Dix is terrifying). At the first bar, already, I knew this wouldn't be a Bagatelle.

Now, the music fits perfectly with the painting and its drama is masterfully written. But you shouldn't call it a Bagatelle, which immediately had me expect a dum-de-dum tralala tune (perfectly fine in itself, I don't mean Bagatelles are not good) - you will agree, however, that this piece has nothing of a gay, bouncing and uplifting tune.

The suspenseful part from bar 28 onwards I found really good, it's basically film music material. This definitely deserves to be delved further into, you could make a fantastic longer piece out of it.