Hi all. Here's a piece...

Hi All,

I've been lingering around these boards but have yet to post anything. This piece is one of the few I've actually had the patience to complete.

I should probably say that I have absolutely no music training (or theory) other than some flute lessons in high school, so structurally I think it could use some work. It was written on three staves, so it would require two pianos to play parts of it. Any criticism and feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks guys...

Prelude__4_.MID

Hey.

I really really like that! Good work.

My only criticism is that i think the little virtuoso passage at 9 seconds could be extended a bit perhaps.

Sorry for not offering much musical advice, I'm tired.. but I really like listening to it.

wow, i loved it! the beginning i wasnt too crazy about but after that i though it was great! i especially liked between the 3 minute (about) and 3:40 minute mark. the ending is also beautiful.

awesome piece

Thanks for the kind remarks! I VERY rarely let others listen to my music (probably because I'm so insecure about it), so I'm glad you both liked it. I wish I could post the mp3 version; it sounds much better. It's about 6 MB though.

By the way, the part at 3:00 is my favorite part as well.

I was surprised that the opening cadenza didn't last that long. I quite liked it.

You've got some interesting ideas here, but I think you are right. You need to learn more form and structure. Pick up a book on Form and Analysis and start learning how that's al put together. That will help you better organize your ideas. It is amazing how much it can help you in the composition style.

And yes, the part around 3:00 is very beautiful. :D

The ending is quite nice too!

Prelude // I agree with what everyone has said so far. You seem brimming with good musical ideas and you have put them down well. The only thing you need is a bit of guidance on how to pull them all together! You say that sometimes the piece is playable by one piano, at other times by two. Have you notated this for pianos yet? You will want to consider, if this is a two-piano four-hands work, how the interplay between the two pianos will work. Think about the amount of time that each piano gets to play and the roles that each one will take on throughout the course of the piece. This is very much an issue of theatrics - it may help to see the two pianos as two individuals engaging in a dialogue based on the music you've already written.

I think that this forum could use a nice big series of threads on the concept of form in general that discusses the idea of form from the ground up. This is something I plan on starting up soon.

Hello, uh.. ''Fluke''

Here's a mood report for ya (I won't go into too much detail): This piece is exceptional, just like Bette Midler. It migth be even better. Did you intend this to be a movement preceding/introducing a larger piece? If so, you have set a high standard for yourself! The only thing that I would change is the sudden ending, nothing else, I actually ADORE the chaos like-structure you've got in the piece. It somehow.... appeals to me. Good work!

PS: And yes, that part around 3:00 IS beautifull!

Thanks again for the feedback...it's good to see a variety of responses to my music. It's actually helpful. It is titled as a prelude and was going to be followed by a larger piece; however, it ended being much longer than I originally intended, so I may just leave it as is.

The piece IS meant to be somewhat chaotic; that's just my style. I don't like things to get too predictable. That being said however, I do agree with aerlinndan and Matusleo as well. I would like to learn more form and structure, if nothing else, for my own edification. That way, if I do decide break any "rules" of form and theory, at least I'll have a basis of knowledge from which to work (rather than going entirely by intuition).

So...do any of you have suggestions on good books to start with?

Thanks.