Danses de la Flamme - A Ballet for the Corps de Ballet - No. 3 - Danse des Braises

[Mark Nicol]

The third movement - Have yet to write the Prelude and Interludes - these will actually be vaguely modern. (P.S The middle section melody to No. 2 is 'stolen', appropriated from a guitar piece - Marietta by Francisco Tarrega - so I have that to answer for too.)

[Bob Porter]

I like this piece. Thanks for posting it. I admire the intricacy with which you put it together. By your own admission, you are not short on ideas.

[Mark Nicol]

Thanks Bob,

yes, I'm not short on mouth either - hey? I really don't know if the piece would work in performance, as the volume demands for the violin soloist - even given the small orchestra, are perhaps way too much. It is meant to be a histrionic expression - the tormented dance of a teenage girl whose lover has betrayed her. In my vision of the ballet script - she is dancing her expression of anguish around the gypsy campfire in a sheer dress, then, in the final moment dashes into the very flames - self-immolates. The piece was inspired by a beautiful young girl I used to teach guitar, as was the 2nd. movement in respect of another younger girl.

Thanks again for the compliment, but I am also much open to helpful criticism.

Mark.

[Bob Porter]

I'm not sure I qualify to offer much more. I would have to listen to it more than once. It does deserve a few listens.

I will say that it is very busy, and therefore possibly long on ideas and short on development. A score might help answer that. 

I feel that a new piece of music, like a book or a movie, needs to grab me right out of the shoot. If I have to go back and listen again, maybe I'll like it, maybe I won't. And if I don't like it, I also won't like the time I wasted.

Your piece passed the grab test. Not very deep, I know. But as you recall, I think music is more of a heart thing, than a head thing. If you are looking for something more indepth, I suppose I could give it a go, but it would take some time.

[Mark Nicol]

No, I'm not soliciting for commentary Bob. I totally agree with your 'grab thing'. It's not a piece that requires much analysis - (Ulysses or Abyss are the ones for that, and they, particularly Ulysses, are much, much more complex).