Cheese with Walnuts (A Polka)

Inspired by George Traugott polkas from the 1880s. That composer is practically unknown, so you might as well say it's my own style ;)

I think I'm not there yet in terms of harmonic and rhythmic variety, the melodies don't always seem to be developed the right way, but at least the general mood, form and dynamics are laid out.

I'm composing in this style of music all the time for 4 years now and I think I've met that barrier when I can't compose any more complex without some help. So any advice on the harmony, rhythm and melodic contour are appreciated. I know the theory on diminished sevenths (there's one in the piece by the way), augments, Neapolitans, borrowings from minor, etc, just don't know how to use them in this context.

Cheese with Walnuts.pdf

Post removed due to Zero Response

Edited 15 hours ago15 hr by interlect

Hello!

*disclaimer, I know nothing about Polkas

I listened to the entire thing and on first impression is that ending seems a bit too abrupt. With all the nice loud right hand chords...just kinda feels like it's needs another punch in the right direction at the end. Maybe it's because you modulate to Bb and end on the F, which feels like ending on the dominant? Maybe just do the last note with both right hand an left hand? I don't know, but yeah, if that's the not fully resolved sound that you were going for then, mission accomplished I think.

Listened to a second time, ending still felt weird. Then I tried to play along with the piece on the keyboard

Sometimes, the chords just kinda clash with the melody and the harmony feels a bit off. Like in measure 6/7. Bb, C D in the right hand, and F root triad going to D octaves in the left hand. You end up with this sort of weird class between the A in the left hand and the Bb in the right hand and this sort of "power chord" without any thirds in in the beginning of measure 7. Maybe instead of a F root triad, gotta throw in a first inversion C7 chord. And instead of the D octaves, adding a third somewhere in there.

For the nice big loud part (around measure 25), personal preference for my ears...I'd add a F to nice big G chord in the right hand in measure 25, play the G/F with my thumb to make it all sound a bit thicker and maybe transition from the Bb chord nicer. It sounds nice enough the way you had it, so more of a preference thing for my ears.

The title is amazing, do all Polkas have funny song titles?