26 Minuets for Piano (incomplete)

26 Minuets for the Piano-V.mp326 Minuets for the Piano-V.mp3Hi. It has been long since I have posted or visited this site, because I was very busy. I have, meanwhile, started a set of compositions called '26 Minuets for Piano'. Why 26, if you ask, if there are only 24 major and minor keys? Well, the other two are whole-tone and 12-tone. 

This task is quite challenging, and I have only managed to complete at least about 60% of it. Progress has been quite slow recently as I still have other stuff. Any feedback and comments are appreciated. (By the way, the harmonies are still like sh*t so please forgive me for that).

I will add the reflections and explanations for each piece in the future once I had finished everything.

Note: I am still deciding between two versions for VI (B minor). The first short one is rather contemporary while the 2nd one is rather more baroque. The VI is meant to be fugal by the way.

Incomplete: VI (still making a decision), VII ( I am still revising the first section), XVI, XXVI

Edited April 6, 20187 yr by zhenkang

What an effort! And, after listening to some of them, you have quite an ability to craft melodies. Yes, you have your work cut out for you in improving the harmonic structure here and there, but you know that already. Beware of Paukenbässe (e.g. c' c c' c c' c): They are difficult to pull off satisfyingly and thus should be used sparingly. Good that you did not fall into the trap of many composers that are not aware of the rich diversity of historical minuet compositions and compose only short Minuet & Trio-sets. However, some minuets could use some increased harmonic tension by following the  standard procedure of the 18th century, that you employed e.g. in minuet V, a binary with the harmonic structure |: I - X :| | X - I :|, where X is normally the dominant, but can be the relative minor / major or even something else, if you are able to lead the music smoothly into and from it. However, even in the 18th century, this structure was far from mandatory.

Your “twelve-tone minuet" is fine in its jumping mode, but hardly a minuet. Not even remotely danceable! The modern minuet XXV seems like a character piece, but lacks a dancing feeling as well. The chromatic surprises in minuet XIV give it a peppery flavour, well done.

Thanks for sharing this impressive collection.

OK, late, but I finally could listen to most of them.

I think you did great work. I like the "sincerity" of the language using  clear voices. The counterpoint is good and consistent.