Spring Overture

Dan -

First off, bravo for taking on the challenge and having the conductor LIKE it that it will be performed.

The balances are well done and your writing for instrumental groups very well done. You may consider yourself "learning" but you seem to have learned quite a bit.

1) I find the Allegro is quite enjoyable but the opening repetition of the eight note figure by the violins by the third time around msr 93 to be a little monotonous. This is compounded many strong suggestions of the opening motive of Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (the inversion of it recurring around msr 88, the celli around 44 having a bassline which strongly suggests Eine Kleine nachtmusik plus several other instances). I do like this about the piece but I wish you could have a little more "fun" with it.

It could use more "surprises" --- the pizz was excellent and the run into the diminished chords during the development was good. In fact, some of your surprises could be "mistakes" -- writing in an early entry or late one or a few wanderings into the wrong key because the strings or woodwinds apparrantly go a step too high or low. The kids would LOVE it if done judiciously.

2) Msr 10 and 20, esp msr 10, the whole note held by the strings will seem like an early stop to me. Why not have them repeat a portion of the rhythmn? On a broader note, your cadences tend to fall on the strong downbeats. For the Allegro, this offers good stability to wealth of melodic material. Yet, this goes back to 1) it'd be nice to play a little with it.

3) The opening though quite good (and very good horn melody) does not relate as well as it could to the Allegro in my opinion. You do an excellent job using its motivic material to form counter and secondary melodies and I like you reiterate the dotted rhythmns. Yet, I wish I could hear a more dramatic intertwining of the opening melody (esp the rising 6th at a slower tempi) and the repeated eight note figures in the violins - especially toward the end. I read you want to keep your developmentn short but have you ever though of inserting a "false development" later based on my suggestion before repeating your opening material in the Allegro? Again, goes back to point 1) just a small surprise.

Ok, I have written enough and you have heard a rehearsal of this so you may have ideas already. I do hope you do consider my points. These suggestion imply small edits. The piece is well done and I think the kids will be greatly rewarded.