My music experiment

[Ann Rodela]

I am a newly hatched composer and posting this short piece of music I made with Finale software.

Any thoughts? 

Experiment.mp3

[Gordon Francis Blaney Jr.]

Ann, on June 5, 2012 at 12:15 PM, the last word, until now, was written. I'd like to provide comments and concerns, given the original composition as well as the revised composition and the comments, questions, and concerns posted by our colleagues.

Some have indicated that the work lacks what are considered common practice period traits, some have indicated that the work lacks what are considered post-common practice period traits, and some have indicated that the work lacks in general. I don't profess to comprehend much, except what I love, like, dislike, and hate and the reason for it as well as a respect, regardless of attitude, for chaos vs. order and well-placed technique and expression markings.

With regards to the written score, in the most humblest of opinions, it isn't practical in some areas and isn't possible in some areas. I would recommend reading several textbooks on instrumentation and orchestration, in order to learn what is and what isn't practical as well as what is and what isn't possible. Whilst I agree that learning historical truths from pre-common practice period, common practice period, and or post-common practice period is a "good" idea, I can't emphasize that it's essential in the creation of music: I can emphasize that it's essential in having more choices and it's essential in making informed decisions. I'd recommend reading several textbooks on modal, tonal, atonal, and post-tonal melody (monophonic), harmony (homophonic), thorough bass (monophonic with symbols that imply monophonic, homophonic, or polyphonic depending on the symbol(s) in question),  form (structure vs. no structure --- order vs. chaos): a historical textbook is, in addition, an excellent choice for reading material. No matter how seasoned a composer, no matter how excellent a textbook, it cannot be overemphasized: "One must get feedback from performers".

Go to Google Books to get textbooks in PDF that are PD. Go to the IMSLP/Petrucci Music Library for PD sheet music. (PD means Public Domain).

[Gordon Francis Blaney Jr.]

I thought I'd take ideas in your original composition and compose a quasi-original work. I hope this work gives you food for thought. Feel free to write back to me.

Darkness in the Light - Full Score.pdf

01 Darkness in the Light.mp3

[Victor Eijkhout]

Woops. Apparently this is a very old discusion......

Timothy Pinkham said:

But we must remember that art, classically, was intended to create something of beauty.

Says who? Some art is funny, some is violent, some is deliberately offensive. And some, but only some, is beautiful. The only bad art is that which evokes no response.

 Harmony, as you know, is one of the main ingredients of music.

How did you manage to post through a time warp? I didn't know they had Internet in the 19th century :-)

Victor.

[Gordon Francis Blaney Jr.]

• The goal, before the fall of the church and the aristocrats, was to please so as to be paid, thus, bearing in mind that beauty is in the ear of the patron, it isn't erroneous to state that the goal of music was to create something that a patron felt was beautiful.
• Different pitches plot onto a vertical axis and horizontal axis, and that is what defines melody, harmony, and bass in the 21st century.

Victor Eijkhout said:

Woops. Apparently this is a very old discusion......

Timothy Pinkham said:

But we must remember that art, classically, was intended to create something of beauty.

Says who? Some art is funny, some is violent, some is deliberately offensive. And some, but only some, is beautiful. The only bad art is that which evokes no response.

 Harmony, as you know, is one of the main ingredients of music.

How did you manage to post through a time warp? I didn't know they had Internet in the 19th century :-)

Victor.

[Gordon Francis Blaney Jr.]

Missed the point, and not going to explain it, but will suggest you read History of Western Music (8th Package / Regulation Edition) by J. Peter Burkholder, Donald Jay Grout and Claude V. Palisca.

Raymond Kemp said:

Gordon,
I'm neither of the church or an aristocrat yet, I hear beauty in many of these compositions centuries later.
It's far too easy to dismiss what's gone before as less relevant today. Good tunes will never die.

[Ann Rodela]

I heard your version. Nice build up! Wow!  :)
 
Gordon Francis Blaney Jr. said:

I thought I'd take ideas in your original composition and compose a quasi-original work. I hope this work gives you food for thought. Feel free to write back to me.

[Gordon Francis Blaney Jr.]

I'd be glad to provide you with advice whenever you'd like, and I'd hope you'd be glad provide me with your advice whenever I'd like. I believe we're friends on this website, and if not, then I'll friend you.

Ann Rodela said:

I heard your version. Nice build up! Wow!  :)
 
Gordon Francis Blaney Jr. said:

I thought I'd take ideas in your original composition and compose a quasi-original work. I hope this work gives you food for thought. Feel free to write back to me.