String Symphony In D major No. 3

[Saul Gefen]

In 2 Movements

 

[Ivor]

Nice piece, Saul, easy to listen to. I know we agreed not to review each other's work but I had time to spare. You also know my disdain for 'tonal' even if I fall into it myself at times.

It would have been nicer if the second part was in a different key and rather more varied. Sort of Hydanesque or Cimarisa. Good string writing.

[Saul Gefen]

Hi Ivor, you make a valid point. Thanks a lot for listening and for commenting.

 

Best Wishes,

 

Saul

[HS Teoh]

While this piece has good moments and the melody writing is not bad, it feels more like an improvisation than a string symphony. It's pleasant to listen to, but I feel like it lacks the grandeur of structure that one expects when listening to a symphony. The first movement in particular spent a rather long time in the home key before venturing off into more interesting harmonic territory, but there wasn't a clear harmonically-contrasting section that would serve as the underpinning for large-scale structure.

The second movement starts out contemplative, but before long reverts back to the bouncy, improvisatory feel of the first movement before drawing to a quick close.  I was hoping for a longer, more contemplative development of the opening theme, and standalone close before a more lively third movement to wrap up the work in a satisfying ending.  It's not bad as it stands, just that I find the lack of a strong dramatic arc a bit of a let-down.