Élegie for cello and piano

Here is a short piece for cello and piano, which I recently composed. It is an Élegie ( i.e. a sad piece), which could be associated with a funeral or other sad moments.

The (virtual) playback could be better, especially the dynamics, but I don´t have better tools for it. Maybe I can   get it performed with real instruments in the future (it is not very difficult).  

I would be interested to know what you think of it. Also, I am sure that there are some  speling and other errors in the score, and I would be very grateful if you could advice me about this.

Hi Panta, 

What made you compose this piece of music, to help us understand your intentions? Also, can you tell us more about your approach to music composition (ie. Structure, style).
 

As for the music itself, for the most part the piano serves entirely a homophonic purpose. I really feel that you can add some complexity, if your experience permits, to offer some contrast to the cello part. Otherwise, it does become monotonous at times. 
 

I like your harmonic shifts, which at first exposure at least seem to work well. But focus on adding interest to your music. 
 

Lastly, despite the mood being intended to invoke some amount of sadness, this still needs to be better balanced with hope, even if that is short lived. As for the sounds themselves, have you considered using MuseScore 4? It is free software, and the sound sets are excellent. 
 

Hi @panta rei,

The melody is so Schubertian, esp. the G Ab G emphasis which reminds me of the slow movement of Schubert’s Piano Trio in Eb major. I agree with @Markus Boyd on the contrasting issue like the mood and instrumentation, and your harmonic progression is real great. I love the one in b.40 which is my own favourite device as well by reinterpreting a dominant seventh as a German sixth! The cello melody is so touching, the registers are well used and it’s fitting to be an Elegie. I like Markus would really want the Piano to sing as well, or at least have some moments in a major key just like Schubert did in the slow movement. 
 

Thx for sharing!

Henry

On 2/6/2024 at 3:11 PM, Markus Boyd said:

Hi Panta, 

What made you compose this piece of music, to help us understand your intentions? Also, can you tell us more about your approach to music composition (ie. Structure, style).
 

As for the music itself, for the most part the piano serves entirely a homophonic purpose. I really feel that you can add some complexity, if your experience permits, to offer some contrast to the cello part. Otherwise, it does become monotonous at times. 
 

I like your harmonic shifts, which at first exposure at least seem to work well. But focus on adding interest to your music. 
 

Lastly, despite the mood being intended to invoke some amount of sadness, this still needs to be better balanced with hope, even if that is short lived. As for the sounds themselves, have you considered using MuseScore 4? It is free software, and the sound sets are excellent. 
 

Hello Markus,

I started to write this piece after being inspired by Fauré´s  op. 24. My compositions are usually in a classical/romantic style (frequently in the style of Schubert), but I have also written pieces in other, more contemporary styles, using for example more advanced jazz chords and uncommon dissonances. However, my music is always tonal and melodic.

Most of my music has an ABA format, where, in most cases, B is subdivided into free standing (C,D etc.) sections. But I always try to get a kind of coherence between the sections (unfortunately I am not always successful). It is difficult to explain how I am dealing with the many compositional issues. There are a huge number of things to consider, and these are different for every piece!  In the end, it is simply a question whether I think if it has made sense or not.

I agree with you that I could have given the instruments some individual lines. Or at least add more of a counter melody in the piano part. I don´t think that more complexity (it depends how you define this) is always desirable. Have for example a look at the famous piece “the Swan” by Saint Saêns. This is far from complex. In principle, the piano has the role of a simple accompaniment.  But there are some very refined harmonic grips, which makes this piece a jewel.  

As far as the overall sadness is concerned, I might have lightened it up a bit more, for example in the ending. I agree with you.

The sound is what it is. It generated by a VST (a pick of the solo Violoncello from a VSL ensemble package) inserted in Sibelius. I am probably doing something wrong. As I try to increase the velocity of the cello sound, it jumps suddenly into a different and ridiculous type of expression mode.

I will certainly have a look at Musescore 4. It would be great if this program can produce a better sound.

Thank you very much Markus for your valuable comments!

Unfortunately I can’t help myself but compare your piece with another that is written for the same instrument with the same title, same time and key signatures, same title (spoiler alert it’s Faure’s).

I can’t listen to it yet as I’m on traffic, but the score looks decent. Not extremely daring from musical or technical point of view, but this style of music doesn’t need too much adventurous writing either I think.

On 2/9/2024 at 2:43 PM, Henry Ng Tsz Kiu said:

Hi @panta rei,

The melody is so Schubertian, esp. the G Ab G emphasis which reminds me of the slow movement of Schubert’s Piano Trio in Eb major. I agree with @Markus Boyd on the contrasting issue like the mood and instrumentation, and your harmonic progression is real great. I love the one in b.40 which is my own favourite device as well by reinterpreting a dominant seventh as a German sixth! The cello melody is so touching, the registers are well used and it’s fitting to be an Elegie. I like Markus would really want the Piano to sing as well, or at least have some moments in a major key just like Schubert did in the slow movement. 
 

Thx for sharing!

Henry

Hello Henry.

Thanks a lot for your inputs!

I am really pleased to hear that you like the piece- But I agree that the piano could have a more prominent role. The Andante con Moto of Schubert´s trio op. 100 is one of my favorite pieces, and  I have played the piano part quite frequently. But the inspiration for my piece came actually from the famous Élegie of Fauré.

I might have a look in the future if can improve my Èlegie, but right now I am too busy with other work.

Best regards,

Johan

On 2/14/2024 at 11:40 AM, PCC said:

Unfortunately I can’t help myself but compare your piece with another that is written for the same instrument with the same title, same time and key signatures, same title (spoiler alert it’s Faure’s).

I can’t listen to it yet as I’m on traffic, but the score looks decent. Not extremely daring from musical or technical point of view, but this style of music doesn’t need too much adventurous writing either I think.

 

I am not surprized that you (as a cello player)noted that my piece was inspired by the(brilliant) Fauré Èlegie. Although the key, the meter and the title are the same, my music is quite dfferent. I would be interested to know what you think of it. I might make some revisions in line with suggestions from other people, but I don´t know if it is worthwhile.

Thanks a lot for your comments.