Concerto for Guitar and Chamber Orchestra Islay Malt 3. With Friends

[Richard Vaughan]

Any comments gratefully accepted.

[Lennart Östman]

This is great! The only negative things I could think of is that the guitar could have more harmonic content (more chords) in the intro, and that it sounds a bit too obviously sequenced in some places. Other than that it's a very nice piece. The orchestration is good and the over all structure is good too. It's just that guitar intro that doesn't live up to the qualities of the rest of the piece, in my ears.

Well done!

[Richard Vaughan]

Many thanks. Good points, well made.

Lennart Östman said:

This is great! The only negative things I could think of is that the guitar could have more harmonic content (more chords) in the intro, and that it sounds a bit too obviously sequenced in some places. Other than that it's a very nice piece. The orchestration is good and the over all structure is good too. It's just that guitar intro that doesn't live up to the qualities of the rest of the piece, in my ears.

Well done!

[Richard Vaughan]

I have reviewed the opening few bars. I have tried to preserve the organic growth of the themes and still provide a little more harmonic interest. The vision I had was of a group of musicians sitting around, probably the worse for wear after sampling some of the local water of life. One then starts an idea which is picked up and developed by the others until finally they find their second wind to start again.

[Jon Brantingham]

Awesome piece. Keep it Up!

[Richard Vaughan]

Many thanks Jon.

[Lennart Östman]

That's much better : )

Richard Vaughan said:

I have reviewed the opening few bars. I have tried to preserve the organic growth of the themes and still provide a little more harmonic interest. The vision I had was of a group of musicians sitting around, probably the worse for wear after sampling some of the local water of life. One then starts an idea which is picked up and developed by the others until finally they find their second wind to start again.

[Ann Rodela]

A very lovely and lively piece. :)

[Richard Vaughan]

Many thanks Ann.

Ann Rodela said:

A very lovely and lively piece. :)

[Will Smith]

Nice! It has an unstoppable sense of direction and purpose- very effectively developed. The guitar writing is spot on, with an interesting mix of influences. Who did you draw on for inspiration?

My only criticism might just be personal taste, but I feel the timps might be overused in places. The repeated figures they play throughout a few sections I think make the otherwise light and energetic textures a bit heavy. Minor thing though I guess, the orchestration was generally very effective. Cool piece.

[Richard Vaughan]

Many thanks Will. Spot on about the timps. I was concerned about that but then I was looking for the bohdran, in particular I was worried that the timp part was too much like hard work for the performer. Couldn't really think my way round this apart for getting a real bohdran player in. Saw a fabulous one at our local boat station pub her in Germany. A German Bodhran player who was amazing. Can't remember her name but I will find out.

[Fredrick zinos]

This is very good work.

[Richard Vaughan]

Thank you for your kind comment Fredrick.