Viennese Waltz - Comments or Critique?

[David Lauber]

Hi everyone.  New to the forum.

This is my first full-length piece I've ever managed to finish.  I owe most of the credit to Finale 2012.  I'd been toying with these melodies on and off for a year or so.  I usually would play my wife to sleep before bed, hence the name of the piece.

Strauss and Shostakovich are two major influences of mine.  Anyone familiar with those artists will probably be able to easily identify their influence in the piece.

Here's the youtube link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0-U4oS6y20

[Adrian Allan]

If this is your first piece you should be proud of your achievements - it's really good.

Let's see the score - please attach a PDF here.

[Quinn Mason]

yeah, this is pretty good for a first piece, especially for orchestra.

[David Lauber]

Thanks for the comments guys.  Here's the score as requested.

[Jack Pickett]

"This is my first full-length symphony." I wouldn't get ahead of yourself - its a waltz for orchestra. It shows pleasing form in its introduction up to a meandering and well meaning first subject perfectly in keeping with the Viennese tradition. For me personally it is very hard to hear any Shostakovich (though I admit this is probably the most well known composer that I know the least about). Strauss of course is there in bucket loads however - and as a piece of pastiche this works very well indeed - the whole piece feels well meaning and fun to listen to.

For your next piece I would suggest working on stronger melodic lines - as although the piece is strong if you asked me to whistle any of its melodies in an hour or so I think I may struggle. I also think that this piece pays too much homage to what are clearly your favourite pieces of music - but with the other components in place (good orchestration and a sense of musical progression) I will be interested to hear any further works you release for dissection.