Christmas Suite -2nd Movement

Hello all,

A little introduction about myself:

I actually had an old account here some 1 to 1.5 years ago, but I kind of forgot about it... So I made a new one. So yeah, for all of you that does not know me (which is probably going to me like 99% of the people here), I am Sir_Dotdotdot (pretty obvious), and I have composed for more than 2 years. I am mostly influenced by impressionistic music and 20th century music (basically: Ravel, Stravinsky, Debussy and all that). I also love orchestrating music, I always insisted that if music were different drawings, then orchestration must be the colour, so yeah... I am also an oboist, which is great since not many people play the oboe. But yeah, I guess explaining myself in words would take forever, so why don't we just get right to my music? ^^'

About the piece:

Well, I know it's kind of not right to post something Christmas-sy in June, but hey, it's one of the most recent and 'complete' work that I feel that I can share.

~~~

This piece is a movement of my 'Christmas Suite' which I planned for three movements (and this one is the second one). It's for a full symphonic orchestra with a pan flute and is rather simple musically. It doesn't exactly follow any forms or structure (so no ABA, Arc form, Binary or whatever), it's just basically a bunch of different sections, motifs and whatnot put in various structures to convey the atmosphere of 'Christmas'. It opens with a rather ethereal harp, flute, and percussion texture (I used some special percussions/percussion effects like wooden wind chimes, cymbal scrapes, finger cymbals and etc...) with a very soft celesta ostinato. Eventually, strings come in and change the atmosphere of the piece which leads to the next section where the clarinet boasts a dolce melody with strings accompanying it and the rhythmic tambourine playing. Eventually, it gets into the highlight of the piece where the entire orchestra flourishes (though unfortunately, I couldn't incorporate a maestoso tutti as I wanted to). In the end of that section, the bassoon ends the somewhat 'excited' atmosphere back to a relaxed and tranquil quality. Then the opening restates itself with some differences.

So yeah, that's my piece... I hope you'll enjoy it. :) All comments and criticisms are welcome.

A link to my piece could be found through here: Ichigo's Sheet Music - Game and Anime Sheet Music

Just click the Christmas Suite- Second Movement 'Pastorale' link and you'll have it.

Dear Sir Dotdotdot.

Loved it! I write New Age too, and this is definitely orchestral New Age (in other words taking its inspirations free-form and not shoehorning itself into any one particular genre). Great melody, great use of flute for the wind in the background - I can even hear the snowflakes.

Do think, however, it gets a bit suddenly loud about halfway through. I know you're building up for the climax, but I'd like to have the first half a little louder just so there isn't so sudden a jump. And if I was being hypercritical, I'd say you need an extra 40 seconds 'comedown' after that excellent climax. Loved the Japanese Koto, I've used one of those before. What package was that written in? Garritan?

Ummm.... if you feel like listening to mine, it's 2 threads down from yours and nobody's listened to it yet. You could be a trendsetter....!!

I know you're not supposed to spam up your own pieces in replies, already!

Yours harmoniously

Chris (ulrichburke on site).

Thanks for the kind comment~! I think instead of the koto,you mean the panflute. But again, thanks~!

I am not usually a fan of new age, but this is enjoyable. Well Done.