Jump to content

The Mandolin


Recommended Posts

I haven’t posted anything to a music forum in a long time, but I figured I’d share something I recently wrote. I’m a pianist, but I’ve been listening to a lot of guitar players lately. I decided it’d be interesting to turn the piano into a fake stringed instrument (in this case, a “mandolin”), supported by a fake orchestra.

 

https://app.box.com/s/9o21auov75u3eq08eb10g73pg4qy8xxm
 

Thoughts/comments/criticisms always appreciated!

P.S. I am aware of the very cruelly-spelled C/Bb at 2:53-ish, but I thought it was funny, and I lacked motivation to change it, so I left it that way 🤣

 

EDIT: someone said the mp4 link above was giving them trouble, so here’s a YT link as well.

 

 

Edited by SergeOfArniVillage
Added YT link
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 years later...
  • 3 weeks later...

@Albayrak thank you! I also think it'd be interesting to hear what a literal orchestral representation of this would sound like. I looked at this through the lens of "something orchestrated being reduced", except in this case, the reduction comes first, so it'd be funny to hear it *actually* orchestrated! I have no clue what that would actually sound like.

@murphybridget thank you! I actually had a lot of fun writing this piece. It's a completely different approach from what I normally do.

@Aw Ke Shen that's a flattering comparison, I happen to really like both of those composers. They both had a unique way of expressing themselves.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 1/21/2024 at 4:32 AM, SergeOfArniVillage said:

@Albayrak thank you! I also think it'd be interesting to hear what a literal orchestral representation of this would sound like. I looked at this through the lens of "something orchestrated being reduced", except in this case, the reduction comes first, so it'd be funny to hear it *actually* orchestrated! I have no clue what that would actually sound like.

@murphybridget thank you! I actually had a lot of fun writing this piece. It's a completely different approach from what I normally do.

@Aw Ke Shen that's a flattering comparison, I happen to really like both of those composers. They both had a unique way of expressing themselves.

 

You're most welcome, I truly enjoyed listening to your work.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is an interesting piece.  I like the imitation of the mandolin.  I think my favorite section is that begining around 0:40 (and the later repetition of the same idea) with the imitation of flute and harp.  On the other hand, if I were to level a criticism at the piece, it would be that the section beginning around 1:33 (with the "horn" part in block chords under the "mandolin") feels a little static.  With real horns, I don't think this would be the case, as they could keep the interest up with small crescendi across the whole notes, but with just piano that texture gets perhaps just a little bit boring after several measures.

That's a minor complaint, though.  Overall, I liked it a lot!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...