Happy Days (original composition)

Hello! I'm new to these forums but it looks like my kind of place! I just wrote a new piece for piano called, "Happy Days", and would love some feedback.

I have had very little formal training, just a theory class back in high school. I learned from my grandparents and self-study. This is supposed to mimic the style of one of my favorite composers, Jon Schmidt, but mainly it's supposed to sound happy. I have some other pieces on my YouTube page if you want to hear more! Thanks!

Video Link: 

Sheet Music Link: https://musescore.com/user/26861998/scores/4800085

I really enjoyed listening to your piece. Though it is inspired by Homecoming, it surely stands on its own feet. It is well-structured. The passages at the end where both hands play in the upper register are also very effective.                                                                      

Edited November 4, 20178 yr by Willibald

Thank you for the feedback @Willibald! I tried to structure it in a simple way that would be easy to remember. I know it may not be the most musically-interesting piece ever written but I intended for it to be fairly simple and straightforward. Also, I’m glad you liked the passages at the end! Thanks again for the feedback!

The structure is simple, yes, but it works and helps sustain interest. Also, the piece is more coherent than "Odyssey", though that comes with the territory. (Which Odyssey has ever been coherent?) If I understand you correctly, you have accomplished what you set out to do, and in a very professional manner. 

Btw, "Odyssey" and "Memories" were interesting to listen to as well. But "Happy Days" is my personal favourite.

@Willibald thanks for listening to the other two! I agree with what you said about the odyssey entirely; it was my first ever piece so I focused less on overall structure and more on fitting two (seemingly opposite) themes together—one in e flat minor and the other in major. Odyssey and memories I would classify more as experiments if anything else. I’m hoping to learn how to hold more complicated ideas together and am studying some of my favorite (but often difficult :/ ) composers, Liszt and Rachmaninoff. Their works are absolutely beautiful in my opinion! I can’t wait to learn more about how they piece ideas together and use harmony. 

@ilv I think you wanted to post your comment in another topic as in “Happy Days” there are no strings present.