Prelude for Harp, Flute and Cello

I originally wrote this as a piano piece a year ago. I thought the harp, flute and cello combo fit perfectly with the mood of this piece, So I made this chamber arrangement for it recently. The score is a bit messy right now. I will upload the score as soon as I am done with the engraving. Constructive feedbacks are highly appreciated!

If I remember correctly, I already loved the piano version of this piece and I love this version also!  I think the odd meter of the piece sometimes can confuse the listener especially when hearing it without a score.  Because there's an odd number of beats per measure it can sometimes surprise the listener when there's two strong beats next to each other (because the 5/4 meter masquerades as 4/4 for the first 4 beats sometimes and then there's an extra beat it gets accidentally perceived as beat 1 - although don't quote me on that - I'll be really glad to look at the score once you finish the engraving to verify where this is happening).  Also, another reason I'd like to see the score is to make sure that the harp part is playable.  Have you written for harp before?  This piece is pretty modal which isn't a problem in itself, but if the mode changes often or if there's alot of chromaticism it can be difficult for the harp to change their pedals quickly enough.  I think your instrument choices are really beautiful however.  I love the color combinations in this piece.  I'd describe all the instruments as relatively "cool" in tone color which blends well!  Thanks for sharing!

17 minutes ago, PeterthePapercomPoser said:

If I remember correctly, I already loved the piano version of this piece and I love this version also!  I think the odd meter of the piece sometimes can confuse the listener especially when hearing it without a score.  Because there's an odd number of beats per measure it can sometimes surprise the listener when there's two strong beats next to each other (because the 5/4 meter masquerades as 4/4 for the first 4 beats sometimes and then there's an extra beat it gets accidentally perceived as beat 1 - although don't quote me on that - I'll be really glad to look at the score once you finish the engraving to verify where this is happening).  Also, another reason I'd like to see the score is to make sure that the harp part is playable.  Have you written for harp before?  This piece is pretty modal which isn't a problem in itself, but if the mode changes often or if there's alot of chromaticism it can be difficult for the harp to change their pedals quickly enough.  I think your instrument choices are really beautiful however.  I love the color combinations in this piece.  I'd describe all the instruments as relatively "cool" in tone color which blends well!  Thanks for sharing!

 

Thanks for listening, Peter! I really learn many new things from the feedbacks you give. I actually have not written for harp before but I am aware that a harpist needs to change pedals during modal interchange. In the beginning of the piece, the melody only hovers around the lydian mode. But during the 2nd section, the melody modulates quite a bit. Do you think a harpist is able to change pedals every 2-3 bars or so during the second section?

19 minutes ago, ComposedBySam said:

But during the 2nd section, the melody modulates quite a bit. Do you think a harpist is able to change pedals every 2-3 bars or so during the second section?

For that I'd have to look at the score!

Sure you can change pedals every two or three bars, but it depends on how many and whether they would be with the same foot.
Yes, the harp is complex to write and you have to get it out of your head that piano parts can just be extrapolated.
The piece, in general, is very nice and seems well written.
I think there is some "conflict" in the low range at some point (like 00:25 the first time) between the cello and the harp, but you would have to see the score.