Hi everyone!
This is my first symphony, the first movement. I subtitled it with a foreword, so the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th will have a different subtitle, instead of 1st movement, 2nd movment, etc.
The foreword introduced elements portraying a state of mind which is not formed completely, as it will develop in another sections of the symphony. I wrote it using MuseScore4, and I have to say how good this freeware is. The sound is just satisfaying, and I don't need to replace it with libraries I currently have, hence making the writing process quite easy and seamless. If you have time, please take a listen. Thanks!
Sam
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Replies
Hi Sam
Congratulations on such an impressive accomplishment! I did follow along with the score, but to be honest, my knowledge of orchestral scoring is so limited at this point (hoping to develop that skill in the coming years) that I don't know I can offer anything intelligent to say as far as that goes. But from a more general listening perspective I think I can say that one of the things I liked most about this score was that it had offers more than sufficient contrasts of various types to keep me really engaged. I think that as a listener, that's something I really have to count on in an orchestral work: the ebbing and flowing, tension and resolution. And your piece had it all - contrasts in dynamics, thickening and thinning of the texture, even time signatures. This is just an honest question I had, though, and please don't take it as a critique, but your ending struck me as a bit of a wind-down; it certainly wasn't a crescendo of any kind. Is that because of how you see a presumed second movement coming in after this juncture? If this piece were in three or four movements, I imagine the ultimate ending would come later, so maybe all of that is moot. Regardless, I really enjoyed listening to this; thanks for sharing. Cheers, Frank
Hi Frank, thanks so much for listening!
Really appreacite your thought of the piece. Regarding the ending, yes, I didn't choose it to be a crescendo as it will have the momentum on the final movement. So for the second movement, I was thinking to continue from the ending part of the first, probably using the same instruments that bring out the melody (in this case, the winds).
Regards,
Sam
Hi, Sam- Nice job and I'm in agreement with Mr. Paul's comments on why it was so engaging. Will look forward to how the rest of the concept is developed in the coming movements. Question: when you mix, do you see an orchestra on stage and place the sections accordingly? Or, do you mix for a sonic impression that doesn't necessarily try to image an orchestra? I listened in good headphones and I enjoyed the sonics very much. It was as pleasing as your material. The orchestration was excellent. Thank you for sharing this work. --Ray
Hi Ray, thanks so much for listening and providing your thoughts. When I mix, I try to see the orchestra on stage and place each section accordingly. The placement for percussions, however, can be vary. For example, the timpani can also be put in the middle, but in this, I place it rather on one of the sides. The sounds all come from MuseScore4, and I must say how satifying it is and it's really easy to mix using the tools they provide. I'm commencing the second movement at the moment. It's still at the very beginning. I know the big picture of it, but to write the details, it's quite challenging.
Regards,
Sam
Thanks for explaining how you place. I was aware that, with the exception of the cymbals player, you put the percussion section to the left. And it felt, too, like they were in the back of the orchestra, which added to the realism. Yea...you have a big project here, but that first movement is such a success that it should motivate you to keep working through the challenges. Even if you have to take a break from it occasionally. Like others here have said, we'll be anticipating what comes next next. --Ray
Ray, thanks so much for the movitation. I really need it, and make sure the completion of the symphony.
Sam
Hi, Sam,
What an achievement. I haven't tried to follow the score - although I have a large monitor it's set up in landscape mode so I'd be scrolling up and down to read it all. But it was enough to listen. Most interesting, various contrasting episodes. At times approaching the serene. At others, powerful / assertive. The close seems to reflect the opeing quietude but in a slightly brighter mood.
The sounds are pretty good. I remember being none to impressed with some Musescore 3 renderings I encountered. These do seem to be in a different league.
Great, then.
Cheers.
Hi Dane. Thanks so much for listening and giving in you opinion. Yes, MuseScore4 sound is excellent that makes me start using it now on daily basis. The UI is straightforward as well, making the writing process faster compared to my approach using a DAW. I haven't tried the choir sound though, and probably one day we can also have other sounds other than the orchestra.
Regards,
Sam
Muse Sounds 4 is a completely different library from Musescore previously used and is on the way to being seriously useful, esp. in a good rendering like Sam's. The music I also found attractive but felt that it represented more of a somewhat static state of mind (despite some variety in the music itself) -- an introduction to something which will develop further, rather than a drama in itself. Perhaps that was indeed the intention.
Hi, David. Thanks so much for listening and providing your insight. Yes, you can regard this piece as an introduction that will develop later on the next movements. I intend to introduce a different character on each, with a different key and mood. But I guess, you can also find similar characters on each phase to bring out a key link.
Regards,
Sam
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