Etude for Clarinet

Hello everybody,

A few months ago I discovered minimal music and I immediately fell in love with the simplicity and rest it gives me.
At the moment minimal music is one of my favourite genres and I tried to compose a minimalistic piece for Clarinet in A or Bb.

Melody for Clarinet.pdf

The score is already transposed, so the part will sound different when played by a Clarinet in A than than when played by a Clarinet in Bb.
The performer can choose how many times he or she wants to play the repetitions.

Glass' masterwork Glassworks is a huge inspiration for this piece. Check it out! (the title of another minimalistic work by Reich)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Stu7h7Qup8

Check it out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqXhvPIgDL8

Feedback or any comments would be nice!

Maarten

Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't see this as a melody. It's more heterophonic, especially in the beginning, since the mind doesn't process all of those notes in the triplet to be part of the melody, it latches onto parts of a cluster.

also, the charm to a minimalist pieces is when and how it changes to something else as much as it is the written material. You might want to explore that more.

im sure it sounds okay from looking at it (can't listen well from my phone) but it need more points of intrigue, in my opinion.

11 hours ago, Monarcheon said:

Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't see this as a melody. It's more heterophonic, especially in the beginning, since the mind doesn't process all of those notes in the triplet to be part of the melody, it latches onto parts of a cluster.

also, the charm to a minimalist pieces is when and how it changes to something else as much as it is the written material. You might want to explore that more.

im sure it sounds okay from looking at it (can't listen well from my phone) but it need more points of intrigue, in my opinion.

 

Thank you for your feedback!

The title was made before I finished the piece, because I call many pieces for solo instruments "Melody." I agree that the name Melody is somewhat misplaced. Some friends asked me for an etude for clarinet, but it still has to 'sound interesting.' I will call it an etude.

Ah, that's why I feel that the piece is "boring!" I should have studied Minimal Music and not only listen to fragments of music before trying to write someting. . . I shall create a second contrasting theme.

With 'more points of intrigue' you mean that there should be another contrasting theme? 

Maarten

Here's some homework for you, haha:
Reich: Come Out
Reich: Music for 18 Musicians
Reich: Electric Counterpoint (mvt. 1/2)
You'll see what I mean about "moments" with those.

Writing good minimalist music is deceptively difficult.  I've tried myself and ultimately gave up since everything I wrote sounded so unconvincing.  There's a very fine line between the charm of subtlety in repetition with minor shifts in tone and color and well, repetitiveness.

Your piece is okay, though to me it sounds like a parody of Glass's solo part in his violin concerto no. 1.  There definitely needs to be be more contrast than just constant arpeggiations.

1 hour ago, bkho said:

Writing good minimalist music is deceptively difficult.  I've tried myself and ultimately gave up since everything I wrote sounded so unconvincing.  There's a very fine line between the charm of subtlety in repetition with minor shifts in tone and color and well, repetitiveness.

Your piece is okay, though to me it sounds like a parody of Glass's solo part in his violin concerto no. 1.  There definitely needs to be be more contrast than just constant arpeggiations.

 

Thanks for commenting!

I listened to the violin concerto and I completely understand your thoughts.

I did not know of the existence.

About the contrast, I am planning to create a second contrasting theme, so hopefully this improves the quality of the piece!

I love minimalism. But there is much more than repetitive structures or figures. You will easily find information on the net, about the style.

Tonal background, modulation note by note, phasing, addition, subtracting, relative lack of dynamics, drones, etc...

I love Glass, I would suggest on several works:

Piano Etudes

A Madrigal Opera Part III (viola solo)

Akhnaten

(just to say some examples, all on you tube)

ON the other hand I think it's even harder writing minimalism for a solo instrument (no polyphonic). The Madrigal Opera (III) is a good example.