Rejoice

Hey guys. Here's a piece I've been working on for ages. In fact some of you may have even heard it before (if you ever visited my sibmusic page) because it has been in the works for literally years, on & off.

Since it's based loosely on a song by my mum I've said I can give her a final score as a birthday present in mid-August. I don't want to disappoint. It's well on the way, but there are a few parts I'm not sure about, mainly:

1. Bars 72-89, the 4/4 bit. Not sure if this part works. I could take it out altogether, or take out some of it, or change it, but I really don't know what to do! Some people say it's a nice variation from all the syncapation though.

2. The ending. I've made about 6 or 7 different endings now! I think the one attached is the best I've done so far.

Anyway, enough babble. MIDI is attached :D

Rejoice.mid

Nice opening, very exciting! You have a distinct style of writing, if I hadn't already known that you wrote it, I would of -on having first heard the piece- said: this sounds like the guy who wrote "Into the Ether", which i listen to very often. lol this sounds like it could be the soundtrack for superman or something. I like the rythms you use for your melody, they are very different and very unpredictable, very original. Wow, you use so many different types of themes (happy, dramatic, angry) in one piece, but the way you string them together is remarkable. ANd your orchestration is amazing, you have this constant oboe thing (i think oboe?) that plays throughout the whole piece pretty much - really cool. So many thing stacked on top of each other! You truly are an amazing composer. I have no bad things to say whatsoever, nothing that i can say bothered me. Everything is Perfect, good job - you are incredible!!!!

I just wanted to let you know that I gave this a listen, and I think its great. Unfortunately it is 3:30am over hear, and I'm just off to bed, so I can't give a review now. But expect one from me within the next few days. Also, could you either post the score in here, or PM it to me? For some reason Finale doesn't want to open the MIDI.

Thanks, and great work!

Awesome Dude.

Very spirited. I love the trumpet part somewhere around like '45. Overall, your trumpets are really great. I play the trumpet, and I know that any trumpet player would enjoy this piece.

You managed to blend everything together really well, it flows smoothly from section to section, and you really managed to keep a great spirited feel throughout the whole piece.

The ??oboe/clarinet?? duet at 3'23 is great.

Just curious, this was Finale or Sibelius? I'm looking to purchase one of these two softwares, but I don't know yet which one to get.....

Well, I definitely feel "Rejoice."

Great piece man, keep up the great work.

Just curious again, what were you celebrating? What were you rejoicing?

Heshi friend,

Daniel

Unless you're mom is Clara Schumann (and even she were) she'll love this piece.

First to tackle your "issues."

1) Measures 72-89 I think were fine. They added a touch of instability in an otherwise fairly stable piece of music. I wouldn't suggest changing them in this piece at all, but in subsequent pieces you might want to tighten up the texture a little. The harmonies were fine, but I found the texture get just a little cluttered, which is why you might think that this section does not work. I mean, putting two separate melodic patterns together with two different accompaniment figures takes a master to pull off well, but I'm certainly not saying you couldn't do it right in another piece!

2) The ending was the only part that honestly was a bit unsettling to me. I would have liked for the piece to settle down in one key for the last few measures. What I heard was an exciting rush through several different keys and then an abrubt finish. What I would suggest doing is maybe lingering on the figure that you bring back in m. 222 just so that the key of Db can get firmly established in the listener's head before stopping the piece.

Otherwise, I really enjoyed this piece. My favorite moment had to be at m. 81 when you switched from a 3 beat feel to a 2 beat feel. It gave the piece a sense of breadth. Also, your orchestrations are brilliant. I kid you not! With the exception of the thick texture at m. 72, I think you handled a massive orchestra very well. I can't wait to see you start writing symphonies.

And also, I just want to let you know that my mom's birthday is in mid-august as well and I wrote a symphonic movement based on a piece SHE wrote and gave it to her for her birthday. (yours, of course, is 50 times better) But i just wanted to point out that unlikely coincidence. :D