Journey (movie theme?)

July 4 2007-- Hop in your own personal jet and go anywhere in the world... thats pretty much what this piece is about!!

Do know that im not finish with this yet but i'm just taking a break from it and letting you guys hear it...

I was originally writing this for a movie up on youtube posted by a friend of mine but I kinda drove away from that (yes I want to be a film composer... how typical right)

This piece was a blast to write for 1) becuase I never used this instrumentation before and 2) becuase i'm writing in my favorite key and meter (c minor/ 6/4)

Please leave a comment if you'd like to share your thoughts!

And before anybody curses me out yes I know about the parallel fifths... I was going for an oriental sound right there haha

UPDATE! 1/15/08

Hey guys

Yeah I posted this last July and never got around to finishing this but I think I have a suitable ending for it! So i'm reposting this with the ending part. You'll know when the end part comes because there will be a measure of rest and the style totally changes up. So now all I need to do is finish up the middle part and i'll be all done!

-Steven

UPDATE: COMPLETED as of 5/5/08

MP3: http://www.box.net/shared/2rk0ciz48w

(Score upon request, trying to lower my storage)

I like the consistency of this. It kind of sounds like something out of like a chase scene or some sort of suspense moment. The instrumentation also makes it sound almost like a band or marching band piece, which is pretty cool because you could easily port it to one or the other. Marching band is also a show, so you're on the right track.

The E-natural at 28 was unexpected, but thinking about it gives me a good feeling, so I believe it was a neat little spice. The first time listening through it, there was a melody that sounded a little awkward, but on my second listening, I couldn't find it anymore, so I guess it was just me.

Great composition, I can't wait to hear the full thing!

Okay, the music here is really good, I like it. So I'm mostly going to critique the non-musical "iffies".

Measure 57, 2nd Violins: Why do you have an 8va symbol there? Just get rid of it, the music doesn't even go above the stave. Same at measure 66. Just lose the 8va and transpose the line up an octave.

Measure 62, Horns: Holy CRAP this is so way extremely too much high. Yes, you read me right. I often don't make sense. But neither writin for the horns to play that high. You want to go into the industry for scoring films, right? You'll probably have your score recorded by a live orchestra. If you gave this music to a live hornist you wouldn't have anything left on your body from the shoulders up. Never write that high for horns unless you are writing for a virtusoso. Never. Mind you, we start getting "iffy" around the concert B natural in the MIDDLE of the stave, anything above THAT needs some consideration. I would even consider taking the horns down an octave in measure 5 through 8, they tend to be more powerful and present a little lower. That one's is optional though, it doesn't go insanely high, you can still leave it. But please address measure 62 and after.

Measure 28, that E-natural in question: I like it, but it's too weak, I think you should have a lot more instruments just come in for that measure and play out that C major chord, I think it needs more attention than what it already has.

I really do like the choice of meter, I can't wait to hear the whole thing either.

I thought his score was in C? I'm not sure if that still affects the french horn because it isn't transposed. I'm relying on memory right now, so I might be wrong.

I thought his score was in C? I'm not sure if that still affects the french horn because it isn't transposed. I'm relying on memory right now, so I might be wrong.

The score IS in C, so that high concert A would transpose a fifth up to an E above the stave for written pitch for horn in F. Brrr....

A descant or triple horn could handle that no problem, but it's awfully high and shrill for your regular double horn in F/Bb. Get it now?

hey guys thanks for your comments and I will take in to consideration all the suggestions about the horns and everything.

thanks again

I'm on laptop so I don't have Finale installed. Just downloaded midi..

Wow.. this piece sure is breathtaking. Nice rhythmic ideas everywhere, and it remained consistent, but not at all boring. Nice glissandos (from what I hear).. Overall I like the orchestration. :P

This is a nice piece. I'd like to see the movie for this.

Yes, I have to agree with the above comments. This is kinda suspenseful. It definetly fits the theme you desribed very well. Truth be told, besides the fact I listened to this as a MIDI (not very good sound quality), I really would think it was professional. It really does sound professional and well thought out. I'd definetly recomend finishing this piece.

Impressive, it would fit a rushed scene in a movie OR a game. Nice :o

Thanks everybody for all your kind comments!! I (like alot of other people here) never had any music compitition classes or anything so this is really a big shock to me when I see alot of people saying nice things about a piece of mine. The only thing I can really say now is that I will try to make the next one even better! (*try*)

I listened to it and thought it sounded very professional. I could easily see it as movie music. In fact, it sounds ok to me as stand alone music, but it is suggestive of being the basis for a more contextual theme.

In fact the abrupt ending is very suggestive of a change in move scene. I think for it to be stand alone it would need something more done at the end. Either slow down to a close, fade out, or build up to a more convincing abrupt end. I think the ending as it is needs more context to make sense of why it quite so suddenly.

Just my thoughts.

i like it.

i can see fit in a movie easily.

the ending to me is fine.

Ok so i'm bringing this piece back from the dead but I only have an ending for it no middle part to go along with it. Just in case you didn't read up top there will be a measure of rest then the ending will begin it'll be obvious. So I wll try to get the whole thing up in about a month or so.. (does that sound familiar haha)

I love it! Especially the mallet stuff you got going on. I also like the extensive exploration of 6/4 rhythms. But yeah, I play horn, and if it was me, i wouldn't make them play any higher than a G or Ab above the staff (concert C and Db). Just consider that and whatever else people have said and it'll be perfect.

Ok... yes I finally finished this piece after almost a year. I just could not find a way to go after I stopped writting so I kept putting it off and putting it off. I still dont think the end of this is the same quality as the begining but ah well I was ready to end it.