Don't change the Introit - my critiques could be points of departure from Renaissance polyphony for you to explore. I only referred to the counterpoint texts in case you wish to write something closer to the Renaissance vocal polyphonic style.
Don't allow my comments to feed self-doubt. Face head on the reason for the self -doubt (as you did in response to my comments) and see if it something you want to resolve or prefer NOT too - I am all for hybrids. And I think a hybrid style would work well IF you added more sections to this projected Mass. AS it stands alone it sounds like a true Introit suggesting many things. If you don't continue then it will remain somewhat unfinished.
So continue on ... and the fact you are conscious of my critiques means you much farther along than many aspiring composers.
Well I'll give you kudos for capturing the spirit of Renaissance vocal polyphony ... BUT around 29 - 30 second mark you introduced a chromatic descent that was good but was quitted rather abruptly . Not sure if that is what you wanted OR you wished to stay closer stylistically to the Renaissance 15th century style. Also, you treat your bass a bit too much as either a long organ pedal or figured bass. Get them out of their low range and slow notes.
Nevertheless, keep at it. You treatment of the upper voices has some find moments and you capture the still contemplative mood common of this style . I recommend highly reading Jeppesson's book on 16th century polyphony and then Kennan's for a quick review.
Pardon the lateness of my review.
At 7:58pm on December 11, 2009, Chris Dargay said…
Fantastic work August. Canzona... has lifted my spirits greatly. Much respect!
At 11:55am on November 11, 2009, Mike Milillo said…
Hello August,
I enjoy listening to your spirit. Such passion for music and life.
Thank you for venturing over to my page! I appreciate it..........
Hi August,
I liked your Choral. You could try to sing its lyrics in good English by Myriad Harmony Assistant with Virtual Singer. It would be better than with Word Builder.
Regards
Hi August. To answer off the top of my head, in approximate order of influence:
1) Kenneth Gilbert
2) Davitt Moroney
3) Trevor Pinnock
4) Laurent Stewart
5) Ton Koopman
6) Karl Richter
7) Zuzana Ruzickova
8) Gustav Leonhardt
Thanks for posting "Giving Thanks", as well as these other fine compositions. I enjoyed all of them thoroughly. I hardly imagined anyone besides me had written a pavan in the last few hundred years. I'm comforted to see someone imbue their art with such reverence.
August thanks for your comments on my music. And I encourage you to rework the Rhapsodie - it is a good piece begging to become fantastic. Ican totally visualize this as music for a video with great choreography.
I'll consider describing in a blog the techniques I used in the Variations.
I will say that one really awesome sound is to have strings play ppp sul pont while the clarinet in its low registers fluttertongues and goes quickly in and out of p - f - p. Sounds almost like electronic music. You'll find that sound in my Sextet for clarinet and strings a little past the midpoint.
I meant the thicker texture and orchestration sounding before the last 30 seconds of your ending would make the present ending sound more refreshing and conclusive. Hope that is clearer.
Well, I find you have good motivic ideas and some nice ideas about orchestration. I think your ability to write music lasting more than 3 minutes could be even stronger. For example Rhapsodie Espagnole is a good piece with some good orchestral writing - I forsee only a few tiny alterations in dynamics and articulation for a a live performance (maybe in a few spots where of the instruments get into their lower registers against the accompaniment). My concern is more the ending - it sounds you were trying to find a way to end it and decided just to go for the string pizz. It works OK but an increase in density and thicker orchestral timbres sounding for a little bit would have made your present ending sound a little more surprising and yet conclusive. But a strong piece of music and some of my criticisms is based on my own taste.
Your piano solo is quite enjoyable - baroque tinged with more modern elements.
Thank you August. Thank you for your supportive words, for your compassion and for sharing your faith with me as well. I accept your friendship with gratitude and I hope we will have many opportunities to learn of and from each other. I finally, after many weeks of absence, attended church this morning and I did say a prayer for you. I feel you are very spiritual and I know God will guide you - in your music and otherwise - as He does me.
I am curious - and probably - okay, definitely! - nosey - but . . . did you grow up in Korea or did you move to Korea for one reason or another? Please don't feel obliged to answer that if you are not comfortable doing so, and even if you are, you probably should respond privately.
Thank you very much for taking your time to answer me such a carefully response. I'll look for the info you said and review what customers have to say. I'll take my time also before buying in order to get what is most adecuated for us.
Thank you for your words and advise. We are looking for some technical widgets of our own (the mics and the laptop with a good sound card). So, if you don't mind, could suggest me a good soundcard? I've got an Audigy in my PC, but as you may have more experience your suggestion is very welcome because we must buy the laptop and I don't know about soundcards for this kind of computer.
And I must beg your pardon, because the link. It has an instruction in spanish, but here it's in english: If you clik (in the playlist) the link that says "Play full song here" you get it. The recording was made with a cel phone, so you can figure out why it's so poor.
When you hear the full song, let me know your opinion again and thank you once more.
Thank you Mr. Champlin. As I said in my profile, I conduct an amateur choir so we have a lot of problems in order to record what we do. In our website you can hear (a not-so-good-recording) a Monteverdi's madrigal (a 5 voci miste) from his Second Book: "Ecco mormorar l'onde" (SSATB). Here is our website: http://capellapaxmundi.orgfree.com/
We are looking for recording "O magnum mysterium" (SATB, T.L. de Victoria) and "Il bianco e dolce cigno" (SATB, J. Arcadelt).
In the same website you can hear a "Panis angelicus" by me. Let me know your opinion about it.
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Don't allow my comments to feed self-doubt. Face head on the reason for the self -doubt (as you did in response to my comments) and see if it something you want to resolve or prefer NOT too - I am all for hybrids. And I think a hybrid style would work well IF you added more sections to this projected Mass. AS it stands alone it sounds like a true Introit suggesting many things. If you don't continue then it will remain somewhat unfinished.
So continue on ... and the fact you are conscious of my critiques means you much farther along than many aspiring composers.
Nevertheless, keep at it. You treatment of the upper voices has some find moments and you capture the still contemplative mood common of this style . I recommend highly reading Jeppesson's book on 16th century polyphony and then Kennan's for a quick review.
Pardon the lateness of my review.
I enjoy listening to your spirit. Such passion for music and life.
Thank you for venturing over to my page! I appreciate it..........
My best
I liked your Choral. You could try to sing its lyrics in good English by Myriad Harmony Assistant with Virtual Singer. It would be better than with Word Builder.
Regards
1) Kenneth Gilbert
2) Davitt Moroney
3) Trevor Pinnock
4) Laurent Stewart
5) Ton Koopman
6) Karl Richter
7) Zuzana Ruzickova
8) Gustav Leonhardt
I'll consider describing in a blog the techniques I used in the Variations.
I will say that one really awesome sound is to have strings play ppp sul pont while the clarinet in its low registers fluttertongues and goes quickly in and out of p - f - p. Sounds almost like electronic music. You'll find that sound in my Sextet for clarinet and strings a little past the midpoint.
Your piano solo is quite enjoyable - baroque tinged with more modern elements.
But i'm still jealous about the sheer beauty of Rose of Sharon.
Fred
May I invite you to listen to "American Songs" now posted on my home page.
Thank You
Fred
I am curious - and probably - okay, definitely! - nosey - but . . . did you grow up in Korea or did you move to Korea for one reason or another? Please don't feel obliged to answer that if you are not comfortable doing so, and even if you are, you probably should respond privately.
Again, many thanks and God bless!
Anne
Just dropping by to say "hi" and, of course, to listen to your lovely music - especially "In Light of the Trinity."
Anne
And I must beg your pardon, because the link. It has an instruction in spanish, but here it's in english: If you clik (in the playlist) the link that says "Play full song here" you get it. The recording was made with a cel phone, so you can figure out why it's so poor.
When you hear the full song, let me know your opinion again and thank you once more.
We are looking for recording "O magnum mysterium" (SATB, T.L. de Victoria) and "Il bianco e dolce cigno" (SATB, J. Arcadelt).
In the same website you can hear a "Panis angelicus" by me. Let me know your opinion about it.
Thank you again, and my best regards.
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