I recently finished this pseudo-Baroque orchestral suite. I think the results are mixed, but I'd be interested to hear anyone's thoughts. It's a bit, long, but I'd welcome comments on any of the movements. Thanks!
Score: I. Overture.pdf II. Sarabande.pdf III. Passepied.pdf IV. Polonaise.pdf V. Gavotte.pdf VI. Minuet.pdf VII. Air.pdf VIII. Galop.pdf
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I have some misgivings as to the point in composing pastiche Baroque which, (unlike for some here), is far from my favourite musical period. Having said that, there is plenty to enjoy here, particularly the first two and last two numbers which are both inventive and melodically memorable so perhaps you should keep at it!.
Thanks for listening. This is a bit different in style from what I usually write (which is more Classical in style).
I've had the pleasure of coming across several of your works, and each time it has been an enjoyable experience. This piece is no exception. The instrumentation and orchestration are thoughtful, and I can imagine how beautifully it would come to life when performed by a live ensemble. The contrast between the movements is present, yet the entire piece remains balanced throughout. I found it easy to let the music fill the background as I went about my work; never felt like a chore despite your remark length.
While straight notation virtual playback often falls short for me, the strength of your writing comes through and compensates. Whether or not the piece is intended as pastiche, it’s clear that it’s well-composed, and a genuine pleasure to listen to. I can hear Handel, though your writing at times includes many elements beyond what would have been found in the Baroque period—some that Handel himself may not have written! The discipline and study required to compose in this style are evident, and I respect that.
For an even more polished result, I would suggest exporting the MIDI or XML data into a program like Musescore4. Improving the playback quality would be rather easy and elevate an already lovely piece.
Thanks! This audio is from Noteperformer running through Finale, which I've largely been happy with (definitely an improvement over Finale's native Garritan), but I have been thinking about investing in a DAW with better virtual instruments.
a DAW won't necessarily give you better bundled virtual instruments -- the first thing to do is investigate some of the more popular orchestral vendors to see what might suit (for a light classical style like yours, VSL Prime might be a decent option and is easily programmable through the NotePerformer Playback Engine). As I can imagine you might be joining the thousands of Finale users who have or soon will be making the move to Dorico, you should find its piano roll key editor, which is generally similar in design to that in Cubase, adequate for preparing mock-ups.