Scherzo for the String Orchestra in A Minor, Op. 5

Hi everyone! I finally completed my scherzo for the String orchestra in A Minor, op. 5. It was commissioned to be performed by my school's string ensemble in a community concert, where the proceeds will be donated to a children's foundation for kids in need. The maximum stipulated duration for the piece was 3 minute 30 seconds (hence the short nature of the piece) and it follows an A-B-B'-A' structure. It uses an overarching melodic motif omnipresent throughout the piece with numerous rhythmic motifs along the way. Feel free to provide some feedback!

Scherzo for the String Orchestra, Op. 5.pdf

Scherzo for the String Orchestra in A Minor, Op. 5 - Scherzo for the String Orchestra, Op. 5.mp3

Great job!  I can definitely hear the influence of Beethoven's Scherzo from Symphony 9 in this although it does have it's own motivic and rhythmic identity.  I think the piece grows organically from those motifs presented in the beginning.  You use a variety of string techniques throughout with some well placed pizzicato passages.  Also, the dynamics in the piece are very scherzo-like (meaning that they're very active and are often quite sudden and surprising).  I think you also do a good job creating harmonic contrast with the sections in B minor and F# minor.  Your many cool chromatic transitions are great as well.  You manage to hit your target length with this piece!  Well done and thanks for sharing!

I loved 0:47-1:15, absolutely beautiful. And 1:20-1:30, wow. I love your harmonies, and your use of accents is really impactful in his piece. I love how your piece feels like it's alive, it grows and moves. Beautiful work. I don't mean to disrespect you by saying this, but I could so hear this being used in a film. Keep up the awesome work.

A superb piece. A little Beethovenesque but very well constructed and rendered. The instrumentation is excellent and the articulations are dead-on!

Your school string ensemble must be pretty elite if they can cope with it. I hope they can and that you get a chance to record it. You're going to have a lot of fun at rehearsals! 

8 hours ago, PeterthePapercomPoser said:

Great job!  I can definitely hear the influence of Beethoven's Scherzo from Symphony 9 in this although it does have it's own motivic and rhythmic identity.  I think the piece grows organically from those motifs presented in the beginning.  You use a variety of string techniques throughout with some well placed pizzicato passages.  Also, the dynamics in the piece are very scherzo-like (meaning that they're very active and are often quite sudden and surprising).  I think you also do a good job creating harmonic contrast with the sections in B minor and F# minor.  Your many cool chromatic transitions are great as well.  You manage to hit your target length with this piece!  Well done and thanks for sharing!

 

Thanks so much for the kind words! Yep there is the heavy Beethoven influence in the piece, and I decided to add the hints of chromatism and distant modulations to add my own flair to the piece. Unfortunately, due to the time constraints I was not able to add a coda, which I had really wanted to do. I think I may add one in another version that won't be performed.

6 hours ago, GospelPiano12 said:

I loved 0:47-1:15, absolutely beautiful. And 1:20-1:30, wow. I love your harmonies, and your use of accents is really impactful in his piece. I love how your piece feels like it's alive, it grows and moves. Beautiful work. I don't mean to disrespect you by saying this, but I could so hear this being used in a film. Keep up the awesome work.

 

Thank you so much! Yea I can see the possible use for film!

6 hours ago, Quinn said:

A superb piece. A little Beethovenesque but very well constructed and rendered. The instrumentation is excellent and the articulations are dead-on!

Your school string ensemble must be pretty elite if they can cope with it. I hope they can and that you get a chance to record it. You're going to have a lot of fun at rehearsals! 

 

Yep I believe in the ability of my school's string ensemble! Yep, I will be more than willing to share the recording of this when it is completed! Thank you so much!