Yearning For Pastures Greener

Hello maestros!

Here's a piece I've been working on for the last couple of weeks.

It's for vibraphone, clarinet, violin, flute, bass flute and synth. 
I included a strange little dissonant passage in the middle, as a contrasting section.
Possibly this should be longer (or have a slower tempo)?

Far as I know my melody lines are original: so I do hope I haven't unconsciously copied something by another composer.

I tried to use unexpected harmonies in the synth. Not sure I've been successful there?

The melodies are supposed to represent striving or yearning: hence the title.

(Newer versions will be posted lower down the thread.)

Hi Alex,

The combination of the instruments is very soothing and relaxing to listen to. I love the 1st part very much; it's simple and immersed with calming atmosphere, as I particularly like the vibraphone and clarinet melody here with the synthesizer background.

For the second section it's more dissonant and have a more complex texture in the beginning. I'm not going to lie, it reminds me the opening of Bach's Mass in B minor. 

That chord change in 3:11 is very nice (a E-F#-G#-B-C#? very nice), and the chord changes are interesting. Combined with the synthesizer sound it's like colored lights changing their colour in every few seconds. This section is particularly soothing. I find myself nearly sleeping comfortably. Maybe I'm yearning for a pasture to sleep on it!

This is very enjoyable. Thanks for sharing Alex!

Henry

11 hours ago, Henry Ng Tsz Kiu said:

I'm not going to lie, it reminds me the opening of Bach's Mass in B minor. 

I actually heard this Mass at a concert 6 months ago! Guess I must have subconsciously drawn on it, without realising.

I can't hear the similarity myself; but your ear is much better than mine!

Think I can get away with it though, because it's not similar enough to be all that obvious. 
 

I've attached a very early stage score to the original post now.
I made this with Notion for iPad, instead of MuseScore.
It's just a simple translation of the midi data, with no editing.

Many thanks once again for your review Henry, and all your hard work here.

Here's a slightly amended version. I've changed the tempo of the dissonant passage at 1'12", to create a greater sense of mystery.

Made some further tweaks to the tempo in the dissonant section, and also near the end of the piece.