Composition Project 1 - Week 3

Hello again! Back for another wonderful segment of Tony's composition blog, are we? Let's get to it then!

When I first opened my composition this week, I felt compelled to move on to my next movement despite the fact that my last movement wasn't finished and unedited. At the same time, I felt I didn't have much in mind for this next movement. With this week done, my first movement finished/edited, second movement half done, and a lot of positive and helpful feedback from my peers and Dr. Ross, and having a general idea of my last movement, I feel very content.

My problem with the framing of atonality so far in this project is that it seems to always lead to something that doesn't always sound happy. Now, luckily my classmates had proved that wrong, and ultimately I knew it wasn't true anyway. I was just being a bit of a sook. But how was I to go ahead and make a movement that was light in nature? I watched some wicked flamenco guitar pieces, and similar piece and was inspired. I decided that 6/8 was perhaps the best place to start with this because of its bouncy nature. I also decided to create a driving rhythmic figure that would largely dominate the movement. From here, the piece took off. It soon became clear that the guitar and piano would be facing off in this movement. In that, I found the inspiration to finish off the first movement, as well. After the big dark crashing of the guitar and piano, the guitar would try to set things straight, but unfortunately the piano always wanted to intervene. The guitar gets fed up, and challenges the piano to a duel. The guitar's driving rhythm is centered around Eb, which the first 4-5 chords of my progression are based around. I was worried about this, that it would sound too tonal. However, with the suggestion of my friend Aaron Good, as long as I made the piano in an opposing key, the idea of atonality would certainly come across. And so, a jazzy funky duel ensued. The piano will take the reigns in D next, and the last movement will cover C#, C and B.

I met with Andrew Noseworthy just before class this week, and he gave an excellent overview of a lot of guitar techniques and how to notate them. I have quite a few ideas as to where to implement such things, and Dr. Ross was helpful during class with some of these things too. Be prepared for this next week!

Regarding my feedback this week, I largely agreed with all of it. I hope that as a junior composer in my class, people aren't afraid to truly criticize some of my ideas! Again, it seemed mostly based upon score layout, but I did get more musical ideas too. I will certainly address my "closed chord" syndrome (that's self diagnosed). The piano could benefit greatly from a more ambitious part, using the extent of its range more. The guitar could use more chords, especially when the piano gets louder and is more thickly scored. I was very happy that people seemed to be picking up on the subtle use of my established chords. I'm not going to go through all of the score nit-picky comments, but know that I agreed with practically all of it and will be incorporating most of those.

So with a more clear direction, inspiration from my class mates and all of their wonderful compositions, and only one more variation to go, things are starting to look good!

Until next week...!

Composition Project 1 - Week 2

The different levels that everyone's pieces are taking really amaze me. I really enjoyed Vanessa's piece this week. I'm excited to hear the end product.

I was a bit nervous to bring my piece in this week. It was sparse, for an instrument I haven't written before, and my first time really receiving critiques from my peers. However, I was proud of the result, like it or not, and have been having fun with it. Luckily, the positive and helpful responses of my peers only boosted my confidence and drives me forward to keep working hard on making this a successful piece.

I was worried with the contrast between the section at m. 1 and m. 4, but apparently it was connected enough to be understood and enjoyed. I was happy with that. Most of the feedback I received revolved around score cleanliness actually. Dynamics for the left hand, voicing of chords, making chords easier to read, all in the piano. I agree totally with all of these and will be implementing them. Dr. Ross and Andrew N. both thought my guitar part was, for the most part, appropriate by the looks of it. I was reminded to write what I want, really, and figure out the specifics later. And also to use the guitar to its full potential (ie, not just linear lines, with a few chords here or there). I'm looking to call on some "secondary techniques" (if you can call them that) to use on the guitar. I'll be sure to discuss those types of things with Andrew. I thought of picking up the piece from the dark place where I left it at, but Dr. Ross made the good suggestion of doing that in my next piece. Looking forward to it!

Until next week...!

Composition Project 1 - Week 1

First of all, I was really happy with all the positive feedback everyone gave to each other this week. I get a good feeling from the group! I really enjoyed the varying degrees in which we all approached the project.

Regarding my chords for this first week, I was generally happy with the feedback I received. The wave kind of feeling was what I was going for, and I'm glad that people realized that. However, with that I have realized that perhaps a little bit of jumbling of that idea may be needed. I'd like to keep the general idea, but play with it a bit more (even within the confinements of the few chords I really have). I wish that I didn't have to remove my chord that sounded very "Young and Restless-y," , and perhaps I won't, because I felt it added a moment of serenity among some of the deeper, greasier chords. It is not particularly tonal in the way it is voiced. Perhaps with the suggestion of moving to wider voiced chords I can make this chord work in the end. I'm looking forward to expanding upon all of this and digging deeper into the project!

Until next week..!