"Brilliant stuff and congratulations to Claude, Nancy and Graeme - some fascinating interpretations and sounds, thoroughly enjoyable and creditable!
Thanks Gav for another excellent example of your organisational skills in what turned out to be yet…"
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Stephen Lines's Discussions
New Adagio for Strings
Started this discussion. Last reply by Stephen Lines Jun 29. 13 Replies 0 Likes
Here is a just completed piece in contemplative mood that may be considered a mite romantic in places. Any suggestions or recommendations will be considered very seriously. In the past I have taken…Continue
Adios! La Alcaidesa
Started this discussion. Last reply by Stephen Lines Jun 6. 16 Replies 1 Like
Originally this was composed for Spanish Guitar with Castanets accompaniment. Receiving feedback from a CF expert (i.e. Socrates) it seems that the guitarist would have to grow another couple of…Continue
The Road to Perdition
Started this discussion. Last reply by Stephen Lines Mar 23. 18 Replies 0 Likes
Some of you will recall that I posted a discussion with the same title as this one a few weeks ago. I am re-posting due to several requests both here on CF and on YouTube to extend the piece. This I…Continue
Tags: atonal, symphonic, music., avant-garde, music
The Road to Perdition
Started this discussion. Last reply by Lawrence Aurich Mar 1. 40 Replies 0 Likes
Being a traditionalist who believes in the mathematical truth that there are sufficient possibilities in traditional musical scales and modes to write into eternity without repetition, why should I…Continue
Stephen Lines's Page
Latest Activity
"Any good book on the subject of orchestration (paper or e-book) will give you the full playing compass of individual instruments but should also provide an indication of their 'normal' playing tessitura. On many wind instruments -…"
"Hi Bob,
As Jon says, he's not concerned about the natural horn so this is a simple technical point I'm about to make. The natural horn has natural harmonics of course, but these are extended via the method of hand stopping which enables…"
"Bob,
I presume you’re talking about a natural horn (i.e. without valves) because the music was composed prior to their introduction - of course it goes without saying that a modern horn wouldn’t have the slightest difficulty…"
"Hi Mads and welcome - look forward to hearing some of your work.
Incidentally, what does Ohoy mean - is it similar to the old piratical term of Ahoy! Who goes there?"
"You're correct Bob, the dynamic changes are nothing like as subtle as I want them to be....I'll look further into that. Also you make an interesting point about the piece having a more uniform arc - there are bits of the piece I really…"
"Well, Stephen, I kind of like it.
The pauses don't bother me. But the abrupt dynamic changes knock me out of whatever calm I may have been in. I have no problem with the harmonic and melodic scheme. Perhaps a more uniform arc might help. Maybe…"
"Understood, and I agree entirely that it's a good example of how to use silence effectively."
"I just mentioned it as a particularly good example of your description of how to maintain interest in a slow movement. I thought you might be familiar with it (it's so popular I've heard it on elevators!) but I was keeping in mind…"
"I first studied Rodrigo's works around 50 years ago - what precisely do you think I might learn from his Concierto de Aranjuez (which, incidentally, I hear about 6 times a week on Classic FM)?"
"Having listened to the piece a couple of times, my reaction is much the same as Gav Brown's. It's musically skilled, but I just found it hard to engage with it for the reasons Gav outlines.
I like the feeling of…"
"Thank you Ingo, I’m very pleased you like it and I find it interesting to see how different people react to the same piece. I guess as Gav says it’s all a matter of taste. Personally I agree with Dane that it’s not quite the…"
"Hi Stephen, you have a great piece here, for me certainly it is educational. I love how you handle 5/4, it sounds natural with a twist, very cool. And a beautiful variety of harmony colors to hold our weak attentions. I'd say go for the…"
"Hi Dane,
many thanks (as usual) for your interesting comments, and thanks for listening. I agree with your view concerning the piu mosso - it needs to be extended into a full section and then possibly a reiteration of the opening with a codetta to…"
"Hi Gav,
many thanks for your persistence and comments. You are correct, it does meander a bit, maybe I should rename it Meanderthal or similar. I note what you say about the silent breaks - a feature I use sparingly in much of my musical outputs...I…"
"I suppose it comes down to expectations. My experience of it was quite different. The likelihood of comparing it with Barber's Op 11 Adagio seemed inevitable but I was closer to Sculthorpe's "Lament" and "Sonata for…"
Profile Information
- What have you composed for? Or what medium do you work around?
- Choir, Orchestra, Small Ensemble, Big Ensemble, Songs, Other
- What is your favorite genre or style of music?
- Classical
- Is music your main income source?
- No - Not Yet
- Where do you live?
- Hampshire, England
- About Me (Must include at least one paragraph of biographical information about you as a composer) - blank or minimal answers on this line will cause your request to be rejected. Include a link to your website if you have one.
- I attended the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall as a Pupil in 1967-68 studying french horn under Alf Cursue - Alf was a specialist 4th horn player and a member of `God`s Own Quartet` which included Dennis and Aubrey Brain. On completion of the course I was appointed principal horn of the regimental Band of the 2nd Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment. I again attended Kneller Hall (as a Student Bandmaster) from 1975-1978 after which I was appointed Bandmaster of 1st Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment. Just 6-years later, because I perceived Army music at that time to be undergoing a rapid decline, I took voluntary redundancy.
After retraining I was appointed a member of the Directing Staff at the British Police Staff College (Bramshill) where I became responsible for running Simulated Operations Training of senior police officers from around the world in Critical Decision-Making Under Stress.
Whilst associated with the Police I studied for a Masters Degree in Police and Criminal Justice Studies and an Honours Degree in Psychology. Subsequently I was recruited by the Defence Evaluation Research Agency - now called QinetiQ - where I worked as a senior consultant within the Centre for Human Sciences.
I now compose full time in various genres but see myself in future concentrating on orchestral music and writing for the french horn - a second concerto has recently been completed.
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English Folk Song Suite No.1 & American Folk Song Suite No.1
Posted on June 23, 2016 at 2:14pm 2 Comments 1 Like
These have been published elsewhere on CF but I thought some members might be interested in (and perhaps comment on) the contrast and appeal of these two arrangements. The American piece has been improved somewhat thanks to Bob Porter's input, for which many thanks.
(English)
https://www.scoreexchange.com/scores/184944.html
(American)…
ContinueRichard Wagner
Posted on April 30, 2015 at 7:47am 2 Comments 0 Likes
Richard Wagner's answer to a question was: "9 - W"
Can any of you bright sparks out there stretch your minds and tell me what was the question?
Enjoy!
String Quintet/String Orchestra Op.2 No.1
Posted on February 26, 2015 at 10:12am 0 Comments 0 Likes
String%20Quintet%20Op.2%20No.1.pdf
String%20Quintet%20Op.2%20No.1..mp3
I have recently had the above composition reviewed by Paul Smith, Bob Porter and Per-Erik Rosqvist. They have made some very pertinent comments which I have taken on board with this latest…
ContinueComment Wall (4 comments)
- At 8:32am on January 22, 2019,
Timothy Smith said…
Thanks for taking me onboard!
- At 9:38am on May 1, 2016,
Ingo Lee said…
Hi Stephen, you're right about needing friends, but friends with talent and helpful ideas like yours are especially welcome, so thank you for that!
- At 4:01am on August 27, 2015,
Richards Viveknath said…
Glad to.
It was a good recommendation.
- At 9:00am on November 27, 2013,
Tyler Hughes said…
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