The Sun Dappled Forest (3rd movement)

Hi everyone.

Hot off the presses, this is the 3rd and final movement of my Baroque style piece "The Sun Dappled Forest".

Interested to know whether you think the flow of the music works as written; or if there are places where I need to add more beats/measures or linking material?

Have added a very provisional score.

Some of the parts are out of range I know, and I need to add a viola to take some of the cello passages.

Also need to rearrange the choral parts; but at least it gives you a rough idea.

N.B. Later edits of the piece have been added further down the thread, along with the other two movements.

Edited February 18, 20233 yr by Alex Weidmann

Dear Alex,

I enjoy the overall atmosphere of the movement! 

11 hours ago, Alex Weidmann said:

Interested to know whether you think the flow of the music works as written; or if there are places where I need to add more beats/measures or linking material?

For me the flow is really great! It's more on the materials and structure. It's almost E minor throughout the piece and the structure is not contrasted enough for me. I enjoy the modulation in b.92 to C sharp minor (my fav!), but otherwise the tonal structure is not contrasted enough for me as a Baroque piece.

11 hours ago, Alex Weidmann said:

Some of the parts are out of range I know, and I need to add a viola to take some of the cello passages.

Yes the cello score has way too many ledgelines! You can use tenor clef or even treble clef if you want those high notes, and viola will be beautiful as well!

11 hours ago, Alex Weidmann said:

Also need to rearrange the choral parts; but at least it gives you a rough idea.

Yeah there's way too many notes in the soprano part!

In b.26 a single note for a harpsichord is not quite idiomatic, probably a chord will be better! Also I think the piano can be replaced by harpsichord as well!

You use the lowest notes for the Eng Horn in b.79, and b.92 oboe is unplayable even for a Eng Horn! A bassoon can be used for that!

Thanks for sharing!

Henry

Hi Henry,

Many thanks for your thoughtful review as always.

I wonder, where would be the best places to make key changes? 

Listening to it again, I think some of my entries are too early. Mainly the English Horn in Bar 104, and the cellos in Bar 116.

Doesn't quite sound natural to me: so I think I'll tweak the timings.

I will spread the soprano parts to the other voices. I just used that part temporarily to add chords, while I was trying out different harmonies.

Thanks again,

Alex

21 hours ago, Alex Weidmann said:

 

I wonder, where would be the best places to make key changes? 

I think for a Baroque style piece, modulations can be added more to push the motion more. I will also change key for a middle section probably!

21 hours ago, Alex Weidmann said:

Listening to it again, I think some of my entries are too early. Mainly the English Horn in Bar 104, and the cellos in Bar 116

It really depends what you want to present! For example in Quinn's piece he let all the instruments appear but only for a moment.

Thanks Henry.

I've worked in a couple of key changes during the build up to the tutti at the end.

Hope it's an improvement?

Do I need to add more key changes in the middle section perhaps; or would that be too much?

Also changed the two entries I mentioned, to make a more natural transition of motifs.

Edited February 14, 20233 yr by Alex Weidmann

Hi @Alex Weidmann,

I like the modulation around 5:30 to C minor!! Very interesting and nice change there, and modulate to E flat minor is a nice touch, even though it will be adventurous for a Baroque piece. But ending on E flat major will be unsuitable for a Baroque piece, but if the style is not your main concern it will be fine.

8 hours ago, Alex Weidmann said:

Do I need to add more key changes in the middle section perhaps; or would that be too much?

It depends on your conception of the structure of this movement. For example, do you want a dramatic middle section which feature frequent modulations, or a stable middle section in a related key like G major, B minor or A minor etc.?

In b.58 the bass will be out of breath with that long note!

Thanks for your new version!

Henry

Really good melody and harmonies, but maybe your piece needs some rhythmic variations. 

On 2/17/2023 at 6:41 PM, olivercomposer said:

Really good melody and harmonies, but maybe your piece needs some rhythmic variations. 

 

Many thanks for your suggestion!

Question is where to put the rhythmic changes?

Have made a few alterations to the movement recently: so I've attached the latest version below.

Have replaced the English Horn passage near the end with a short passage on harpsichord.

Plus I rebalanced the violin part, to make the long notes less harsh on the ear.

I've also attached the other movements, so you can hear them together.

Hopefully they work in harmony with each other?