Midnight Strings

OK, this is a very rough beginning section for a new piece I'm working on. However....I'm stuck. As always. C+C and ideas much appreciated. I was trying to echo the time of night I was composingthis using strings and flute (not too sureon the flute though, might change it to a harp. Yes, I have a thing about harps, if you hadn't noticed...)

midnight strings.mus

Midnight.mid

OK, that was ODD. I just checked that midi, and it sounds really weird compared to how it sounded in Harmony Assistant.

I can't access the .mus file (using Notepad)

It comes up with an invalid file message. I know notepad is useless but it usually opens files.

Says: "Invalid file type, file C:documents and settingsauthorised userlocal settingsTemporary Internet Filescontent.IE5COTG73R1midnight%20strings[1].mus.

(I think the %20 is ' ' (space))

Could you give it a check? Ta.

As you say, the midi is weird - apprears to have transposed the flute down a couple of octaves.

Strange - I did it with HA, and the two are usually compatiable. I'll try re-saving the midi and see what I can do about the .MUS.

sounds good

better than all my music for sure :toothygrin:

keep up the good work

lol! Thanks, Saxo!

Again, I couldn't open it in finale. Again, I am commenting without a score. Do you have any education in basic voice leading? Your strings (harmonically) sound awful and purposeless. What do you want to achieve? The flutes sound good (you mention one flute, but I hear 2)!

It has a odd rhythm to it. I think the first thing you need to do is establish what your melody is and then work on some variations of it. keep working at it. Go in different directions ans see if you like it. If you like it keep it if not, well thats why they created delete.

Again, I couldn't open it in finale. Again, I am commenting without a score. Do you have any education in basic voice leading? Your strings (harmonically) sound awful and purposeless. What do you want to achieve? The flutes sound good (you mention one flute, but I hear 2)!

As I commented on the other thread, I simply have no space or RAM available on my computer to download yet another program to transpose the file to and resave for finale users, when HA is a free download and can easilyopen those files. Sorry about that.

As the answer to your questions - Nope. I have no musical training whatsoever (save the few piano lessons I took when I was about ten.)

Strings - hmm. Maybe if I changed it from slow strings to synth strings, that might work. That's often a problem with using slow strings. I also didn't have a set melody in mind, so perhaps I ought to work on that first.

You hear two flutes? OK, how did that work?

Rolifer - yip, it's exactly like you say. I hadn't found a melody to work with, I think that was the major killer. OK, thanks for all your advice, I'm not giving up on this one. :blush:

Your lack of voice leading shows. Painfully. Get some training on that. Now. After that, use it or drop it at will. But, for now, please do learn your voice leading. :)

Slow strings have nothing to do with that.

Is there one flute? I heard 2 flutes, in thirds. Ok, maybe I should consult with my neurologist! :blush:

Hmm. I think the summer holidays will have to be devoted to that. And what little money I have left over from uni will go towards theory books. *sigh* Life's a never-ending circle of study, isn't it?

It's not that hard to know some basic voice leading rules. Maybe you can learn from some threads here, where knowledgeable people devote their time to teach music theory. But learning good voice-leading will be definitely worth your time-money-effort.

*sigh* Life's a never-ending circle of study, isn't it?

Whose isn't? In ancient greek, there is a saying: "Ghrasko, aei didaskomenos", "I get old, perpetually learning". Yikes! That's an awful translation! :P

Thanks, Manossq, I'll definately peruse those threads thoroughly.

Heh - yes, there's a similar saying in OE (Old English - Anglo Saxon).

Here is a lesson thread that I feel might be very suitable and helpful for you. Why not sign up for a lesson?

http://www.youngcomposers.com/forum/lesson-josek_yung-7753.html

Care to share the Old English saying? Just curious...

Ooh, thanks for the link! Yeah, I think I will sign up - but like I say, not until my exams and everything are out the way first.

Oh, I can't remember it off hand now. I came across it when going through one of my books. I'll try and find it again for you, but not sure where I read it.