Michael Bates's Page

"Hi Joseph, am I correct in saying the development section (in the first Mvnt) starts at exactly the 4:00 mark? The sudden harmonic shift was lovely. Lovely apt orchestration. Personally I would like to hear simpler harmonic lines and more daring…"

"Nicely orchestrated, Michael. Just about the time my ear began to feel things were getting a bit too repetitive, the strings came in gloriously to save the day. It actually had a somewhat Bach-like feel to it, being so thickly textured and…"

"Thanks so much guys, this is the latest from what I've been working on..Next%20piece.mp3 Hope you enjoy Mike"

"Lovely tune. Now I know the meaning of the term "joyful". This I think you absolutely should finish and build it even higher. The turn into strings only in the end, I doubt is the right turn but one never knows. Please finish and post…"

" A very nice piece - I'd class it as light music which we need more of! What makes it satisfying is the energy and easy harmonic flow moving through many different regions - I noticed an augmented 6th at one point! I think it's time…"

"Thanks guys"

"A delightful piece of music. It has a Christmas feel to it especially when the xylophone is playing. I look forward to hearing the full version. By the way I do agree with Gav about the accompaniment. I thought it should change and a little while…"

"Hi Michael,  A solid start. The piece has good harmony and melody in a light-and-airy style. One suggestion is that for me the accompaniment (repeated 8th notes I think, hard to be sure without a score) became a bit repetitive and I began to…"

"Wao, that was just simply great..... awesome sound. "

"Hi Michael What can I say, Bellisimo! molto bellisimo! Sounded great. Around about 2.14 or so on the first downbow of the strings when the tempo dropped I thought for a second we were about to get Land of Hope & Glory (might not have been out of…"

"Hmm maybe I should rename it to Tarantella.. Mike"

"I've just finished dancing around my study like a demented tarantula - very jolly and uplifting and good orchestration. There's nothing not to like here - damned good fun. Well done Michael - thanks for posting! Stephen"

"Many thanks for your input guys. Next thing I'm polishing off is a big orchestra/piano piece based on the the Italian folksong Bella Ciao. I'll be uploading that very soon. Thanks again guys Mike"

"I echo the sentiments expressed above.  The beauty and delicate nature of the theme could lend itself to being developed akin to the 2nd movement of the Grieg Piano Concerto (one of my favourites!)  As it stands, it feels more like a…"