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World's Longest Piece
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Harmony and the Rudime...
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Simon Godden's Discussions
Your least favourite composer
Replied 12 hours ago
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I cant stand Chopin, way too happy gimpy bleh. I absolutely love Rachmaninov tho! His orchestrations arent as deeply thought out for each instrument as some masters but he creates great melody and supports it with amazing piano parts
Simon mentioned CPE (Carl Philip Emanuel) Bach. And of course there was WF Bach. I don't know if i've related the story before, but in the halcyon days of my youth I studied the many non-musical sons of JS Bach
There was
CPA Bach, and accountant
...
This is a really interesting one; yes, I've felt also that although Liszt does use a lot of interesting progressive devices for his time, his execution of these devices feel more gimmicky than intuitive with the flow of music, even compared to com...
Me too - JS Bach changed the course of my compositional life by completely pushing me over the edge for having a liking for contrapuntal textures as a basis for dialectic/development. CPE Bach is also a great composer in his own right, and conside...
I can hoestly say I've not heard any of CPE's work. The reason I mentioned was because Kristofer is an ardent JS fanatic. So am I, come to think of it.
CPE is very underrated, though for a different type of music! I actually find his music to be pretty emotive as well, and preferable over other composers of the time such as Gluck depending on my mood.
Hey Chris! Is it true that only the composers that have handed in their files, can listen to what has been written altogether so far?
Nice one, Alimar! I see you got my message!
Will do!
Exactly! The transitions are the most important issue/aspect. If they're ultimately smooth enough, I would be quite happy to hear Mozart metamorphasise into Flavor Flav. Let's have some fun!!!
Great stuff! Give us a couple of weeks.
Also, far be from me to advise you, but now that interest in this project is gathering much needed momentum, wouldn't it be worth making an announcement of its popularity on the homepage, as I'm pretty sure...
I can send you a wav. file, no problem. It sounds to me as if you've already received some sections of it. It's just a pity that it's impossible to hear preceding sections so that we can develop on them for continuity of style. Still, should be a ...
Ok, Chris, I'll take track 13 (Cm - Gm). Just 2 questions:
a. Is 2 minutes each really long enough to create the worls longest piece, or have you given the figure 2 minutes as a guideline minimum?
b. In which format would do you want us to prese...
I like that each section moves up in a circle of 5ths. This is very well organised and will give the piece some real momentum.
Chris (Alpiar), stop complicating it with your jazzy transitions. You'll just confuse everyone..... naughty! :-)
Thanks Adrian, it's fantastic to know that my music is being put to good use. Let me know of any outside comments you get.
Cheers,
Simon
Profile Information
- What have you composed for? Or what medium do you work around?
- Choir, Orchestra, Small Ensemble, Big Ensemble
- What is your favorite genre or style of music?
- Classical - Modern freestyle (eclectic)
- Is music your main income source?
- No - Not Yet
- Where do you live?
- Canterbury
- About Me:
- I am a success in many ways and a complete failure in others, as a composer. But for me, the most thrilling pleasure of all time is watdhing a live orchestra play every single note that I have wirtten, especially under the baton of a good conductor who can interpret my every whim. Anthony Halsead was such a man when he conducted by debut orchestal piece "Alphabet Green". I was sitting about 7 feet away from the leader of the orchestra and the experience was thrilling. Ever since then, I have composed avidly, all the way through my a'levels and degree course at Queens. Last year (2008) alone, I completed a full-length string quartet, a concerto for orchestra and piano and half a symphony. I am currently working in collaboration with Craig Hopkinson from soundwrx, so things are finally beginning to look up. Please feel free to listen to my music. I can't promise that you'll like it, but I'm sure you'll find it interesting.
Hardware: Intel Core 2 duo, 2.5 gb RAM, Midistudio - 2 (PROKEY), M-Audio 2496 ASIO soundcard.
Software: IK Multimedia Miroslav Philharmonik, HALion Symphony Orchestra, Sampletank 2.3, Finale 2010, Garritan and Wizooverb
Prologue to my new novel - "Ludwig's Hi-fi"
Prologue
Vienna – March 1827
The grey-haired, emaciated figure awoke gently and surveyed the room slowly. They had left, thank goodness. He knew they meant well, Herrs Schindler and Hutenbrenner, but the effort to accommodate their presence in his mind was physically exhausting, painful even. There had been someone with them, a mysterious looking gentleman, very quiet and unassuming. He was short and stout with curly hair and glasses. Was he imagining it or had he remembered his friend Schindler introducing him? If so, he had not caught his name. He recalled this strange fellow nodding to him nervously whilst he placed a portfolio on the far corner of his bed. Was he another of those confounded lawyers coming to meddle in his affairs? His affairs were sorted, thank you very much, no more portfolios. His latest annuity would keep him until the very end, so that his nephew might inherit his estate.
His breathing became more shallow to avoid the pain of coughing as he tried to shift his shoulders up against the bedstead. All of his body was wracked by a dull persistent aching as the cirrhosis affected the surrounding muscle tissue. When he finally managed to sit up, he turned slowly to the cabinet on the right side and reached for the bottle of imported laudanum that Herr Hutenbrenner had kindly brought with him. He raised it to his lips and drank a small mouthful of the soothing liquid, slowly swilling it around his mouth before swallowing. Was that enough? he wondered. He examined the bottle carefully but could not find any instructions. He took another drink, screwed the lid back on and placed the bottle back on the cabinet and waited. Fifteen minutes later a warm glow began to engulf him as the opium and alcohol took effect. He lay back and drank in the comforting sensation, almost floating. He was ready now.
He gently rose, gripping the bedside cabinet for support. When he was upright he stood firm, waiting for any sign that he might either fall or faint. The laudanum made him feel pleasant but weak and slightly giddy and he knew he couldn’t afford the chance that he might fall. He slowly raised both hands and reached for the large oak beam on the sloped ceiling, carefully avoiding possible splinters, and started to walk towards the commode past the foot of the bed. He knew that once he had finished his business he could relax more, maybe take another drink of that glorious beverage. As he sat above the basin, he noticed rhythmic vibrations in the wooden door as someone knocked. He desperately wished it was the maid and not more visitors.
“Nicht jetzt! Ich benutze die Toilette,“ he cried.
The door stopped vibrating.
When he had finished, he washed himself in the porcelain dish that had been left there by his maid and made his way back to bed. Once he was sitting up comfortably he took a large slug of the laudanum and reached for the portfolio that Schindler’s friend had brought. I might as well have a look at it, he thought. Not that it’s much use to me now.
Upon opening it, he was annoyed. Why, why, why, he thought, looking down at the handwritten music, must I spend my final hours looking at people’s work for them?
After five minutes of reading he understood everything, and a smile erupted as he thought of his dear friend Schindler. The mysterious bespectacled gentleman had not presented his work for mere proof-reading. Oh no, these fine songs had been given to him for his own pure and personal pleasure.
“Ah Herr Schubert, besitzen Sie den göttlichen Funken,” he said aloud.
Yes indeed, he thought. Schubert, you have the divine spark, my gifted friend. He continued to read.
Vienna – March 1827
The grey-haired, emaciated figure awoke gently and surveyed the room slowly. They had left, thank goodness. He knew they meant well, Herrs Schindler and Hutenbrenner, but the effort to accommodate their presence in his mind was physically exhausting, painful even. There had been someone with them, a mysterious looking gentleman, very quiet and unassuming. He was short and stout with curly hair and glasses. Was he imagining it or had he remembered his friend Schindler introducing him? If so, he had not caught his name. He recalled this strange fellow nodding to him nervously whilst he placed a portfolio on the far corner of his bed. Was he another of those confounded lawyers coming to meddle in his affairs? His affairs were sorted, thank you very much, no more portfolios. His latest annuity would keep him until the very end, so that his nephew might inherit his estate.
His breathing became more shallow to avoid the pain of coughing as he tried to shift his shoulders up against the bedstead. All of his body was wracked by a dull persistent aching as the cirrhosis affected the surrounding muscle tissue. When he finally managed to sit up, he turned slowly to the cabinet on the right side and reached for the bottle of imported laudanum that Herr Hutenbrenner had kindly brought with him. He raised it to his lips and drank a small mouthful of the soothing liquid, slowly swilling it around his mouth before swallowing. Was that enough? he wondered. He examined the bottle carefully but could not find any instructions. He took another drink, screwed the lid back on and placed the bottle back on the cabinet and waited. Fifteen minutes later a warm glow began to engulf him as the opium and alcohol took effect. He lay back and drank in the comforting sensation, almost floating. He was ready now.
He gently rose, gripping the bedside cabinet for support. When he was upright he stood firm, waiting for any sign that he might either fall or faint. The laudanum made him feel pleasant but weak and slightly giddy and he knew he couldn’t afford the chance that he might fall. He slowly raised both hands and reached for the large oak beam on the sloped ceiling, carefully avoiding possible splinters, and started to walk towards the commode past the foot of the bed. He knew that once he had finished his business he could relax more, maybe take another drink of that glorious beverage. As he sat above the basin, he noticed rhythmic vibrations in the wooden door as someone knocked. He desperately wished it was the maid and not more visitors.
“Nicht jetzt! Ich benutze die Toilette,“ he cried.
The door stopped vibrating.
When he had finished, he washed himself in the porcelain dish that had been left there by his maid and made his way back to bed. Once he was sitting up comfortably he took a large slug of the laudanum and reached for the portfolio that Schindler’s friend had brought. I might as well have a look at it, he thought. Not that it’s much use to me now.
Upon opening it, he was annoyed. Why, why, why, he thought, looking down at the handwritten music, must I spend my final hours looking at people’s work for them?
After five minutes of reading he understood everything, and a smile erupted as he thought of his dear friend Schindler. The mysterious bespectacled gentleman had not presented his work for mere proof-reading. Oh no, these fine songs had been given to him for his own pure and personal pleasure.
“Ah Herr Schubert, besitzen Sie den göttlichen Funken,” he said aloud.
Yes indeed, he thought. Schubert, you have the divine spark, my gifted friend. He continued to read.
Comment Wall (40 comments)
- At 8:44am on November 24, 2009,
Kristofer Emerig said… - Simon,
Where's the 2nd movement to the Piano Concerto, or is it modeled after Brandenburg #3?
- At 5:20am on November 23, 2009,
Chris Manthey said… - thank you for some clearer thoughts =)
oh and i enjoyed spirit of the stour.. it somehow made me nostalgic, but i dont know why
- At 5:41am on October 19, 2009,
Stephen Barry said… - Hey Simon! I heard you left the forum and now I see that you're still here. I was gone also, so I was out of the loop! Good to see you on here still.
- At 7:36pm on October 18, 2009,
James May said… - Thanks for the comment. I've been experimenting with a few different sounds and styles as of late. I'm doing sketches for Sonata No. 3 and some other smaller works right now and I'm trying to go in a few different directions. Stay tuned as I'll be unveiling it within the next few weeks. Cheers, man.
- At 2:14pm on October 16, 2009,
Albert De La Vega said… - Thanks again Simon. It is one of my own favorites, but as you can see, still needs to be pieced together. It actually exemplifies how I put things together
- At 3:00pm on October 13, 2009,
Bethany Trainor said… - Thanks Simon! =)
- At 8:07am on October 13, 2009,
Albert De La Vega said…
- Hey Simon, how are you doing? The pieces end abruptly because I am not exceedingly patient and I jump from piece to piece (I am trying to get better at that). Currently I am using Garritan for the piano sounds and EWQLSO for the orchestral sounds. Hopefully I can finish and re-post something soon.
- At 12:14pm on October 6, 2009,
Adrian Allan said… - Your Dad seems pretty supportive. I tend to put my music through a few programmes because...each time it's like another chance to proof-read and edit the work and hear it again a bit differently. By the way you should check out the music of James oppenheimer - discussion on main page. He's done a requiem - recorded live and his music is really good and his score for his theme and variations is so professional - done on finale
- At 10:35am on October 4, 2009,
Chris Dargay said… - Quite impressive
- At 3:23am on October 3, 2009,
Adrian Allan said…
- just saw your answer to that Q - which I suppose answers that.
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