As the sun descends - Large Orchestra + SATB Choir

Please let me know your thoughts. Enjoy

This is truly a STUNNING piece of work.  There are many spectacular passages.  You very adeptly allot enough time for each segment to Blossom.  I am not trained in classical music (more pop, now easy listening), and I know classical music has a much wider dynamic range.  There are a few sections on my system where I hear distortion. Even though levels are far within safe ranges, mixing something this complex is truly a challenge.  I find that after I have set volumes, I go back to do some adjustments to individual instruments and groups of instruments.  

It certainly gives me a new respect for conductors.  I might suggest going through the piece and each section, and shrinking the dynamic range by maybe 10 - 20% if that makes sense to you.  I would search out the softest and loudest passages, and notice the db range.  Another possible area is change lengths of different movements. Once you have clearly made your point, move on.  Again, these are things I notice, and may not apply to you or other composers/listeners.  

I look at a long piece as a journey through a beautiful English garden.  You might have a lot of one particular flower, and then a more exotic plant may be only one flower.  You want to employ the yin/yang of things. consonance/disonance - bright/dark - soft/loud. Volume and tonal color changes of an instrument are the equivalent of brightening the spotlight on a certain instrument or motif you want to draw attention to.  Employing these and other techniques creates a living, breathing entity that has plenty of variety.  The sound palette you use can vary widely - or, in your case, create a consistency that keeps the 'wholeness' of the work stable 

Again, I cannot overemphasize what a beautiful thing you have accomplished.  Keep up the brilliant work.    

Mark Styles   

A  beautifully crafted work.  I am curious to know what the motivation/intent is for this creative extensive Symphonic/Tone Poem?

Mark

On 1/9/2026 at 12:23 AM, mark styles said:

This is truly a STUNNING piece of work.  There are many spectacular passages.  You very adeptly allot enough time for each segment to Blossom.  I am not trained in classical music (more pop, now easy listening), and I know classical music has a much wider dynamic range.  There are a few sections on my system where I hear distortion. Even though levels are far within safe ranges, mixing something this complex is truly a challenge.  I find that after I have set volumes, I go back to do some adjustments to individual instruments and groups of instruments.  

It certainly gives me a new respect for conductors.  I might suggest going through the piece and each section, and shrinking the dynamic range by maybe 10 - 20% if that makes sense to you.  I would search out the softest and loudest passages, and notice the db range.  Another possible area is change lengths of different movements. Once you have clearly made your point, move on.  Again, these are things I notice, and may not apply to you or other composers/listeners.  

I look at a long piece as a journey through a beautiful English garden.  You might have a lot of one particular flower, and then a more exotic plant may be only one flower.  You want to employ the yin/yang of things. consonance/disonance - bright/dark - soft/loud. Volume and tonal color changes of an instrument are the equivalent of brightening the spotlight on a certain instrument or motif you want to draw attention to.  Employing these and other techniques creates a living, breathing entity that has plenty of variety.  The sound palette you use can vary widely - or, in your case, create a consistency that keeps the 'wholeness' of the work stable 

Again, I cannot overemphasize what a beautiful thing you have accomplished.  Keep up the brilliant work.    

 

Mark Styles   

 

Dear Mark,

Thank you for your comprehensive and kind words. Yes, I do give some time for each segment to blossom. Though, I am always aware of trying to keep the attention of the audience and inject a sense of unpredictability - a change in direction. It is a fine balance.

Yes, to my regret, there is quite a lot of distortion in this recording. That is my error.

I very much enjoyed your analogy of looking at a long piece as a journey through a beautiful English garden. It has been three years since I returned home to England. Although I was born and raised in South-London where beautiful English gardens are not exactly readily found.

On 1/10/2026 at 10:49 PM, MJFOBOE said:

A  beautifully crafted work.  I am curious to know what the motivation/intent is for this creative extensive Symphonic/Tone Poem?

Mark

 

Dear Mark,

The motivation/intent to for creating this piece was because composing keeps me going. There is a lot in my heart and mind which I would like to convey to other people.