Work-in-progress

This is a string piece I have been working on recently. As of now I have finished two movements, and I am working on a third and final movement.

Description/Influences:

The piece is supposed to be about a journey. It is influenced by a story I've been working on.

Time Taken:

Collectively, I've been working on the movements for a few weeks now --I haven't been actively keeping track.

Techniques:

Since I haven't been composing for long, this piece is mainly just to try and improve. I was attempting to apply what I've learned so far in theory/composition, while making a piece that I am satisfied with.

Comments and critique appreciated.

Effed up Exploration.mid

fooka.mid

mad donkey rockzors.mid

HOT ROCK!.mid

Mvt.I.MUS

Mvt.II.MUS

Mvt_I.MID

Mvt_II.MID

I'll comment and/or critique if you'll post some description of the movements, how long it took to write each one, techniques you used, what your influences are, that kind of thing.

Updated with the requested information.

I just listened to the first movement.

There are some very nice things going on here; I definitely like the care you've put into making the movement a conversation between the different parts.

The beginning, where the violins are passing a melody back and forth every single beat, seemed strange at first, until you brought the same effect back later on, and a lot of possibilites started to open up in my mind. I think some thought needs to be put into exactly how you want the violinists to play this. Is it supposed to sound like a single flowing line? Do you want the violinists to accent certain notes? Or perhaps the 1st and 2nd violins could be playing contrasting articulations? And do you want it to be the same when that theme returns?

That said, it seems to me like that pattern is broken in bars 13-20, where it seems like the most logical way to maintain the effect of a conversation is to split the moving notes in the viola part between the viola and second violin. For example, in bar 13, you might consider having the viola sustain a F# in the second half of the bar while the 2nd violin takes over the moving line. (Similar for the next few bars, at least.)

Overall, it's a pretty good effort. The form is clear and well-organized, and the ending is very satisfying.

Only one further comment: I hope this is for string orchestra, because if you're writing for string quartet, the viola part is unplayable... can't play a double-stop when both notes have to be played on the C string.

Thanks for the critique.

It is for string orchestra, I just did not include a string bass part. Sorry, I should have mentioned that.

Being a violist, I know the viola part would be unplayable as double stops; that part was meant as divisi.