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Feedback request on string quartet

Discussion in 'Critique & Feedback' started by Bjarke Tan, Oct 5, 2020.

  1. #1 Bjarke Tan, Oct 5, 2020

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  2. #2 Doug Gibson, Oct 6, 2020
    Spend more time checking for errors. No medal for writing a piece within a day. Beethoven took years on some of his pieces.

    You'll have to make a decision on if this is a sample piece, or intended for real players. If it's a sample piece then we are only dealing with
    aesthetics. Do I like it or not? Sure, it's pleasant. You have some nice ideas.

    If you are interested in have a real group play this, then you need to study more and ask real players what is do-able and what it not.

    My over-riding advice, and sort of becoming a default "pet-peeve" I have with pieces presented on Redbanned,
    is spend more time and devote more attention to your pieces.

    I can't say I have ever heard a single piece, in the now 3 years or so of listening, that began with "I spent a few hours" and I was impressed.
     
    Thomas Bryla likes this.
  3. #3 Bjarke Tan, Oct 6, 2020
    @Doug Gibson
    I have been trying to compose a piece for string quartet and Basson for a while now. My last one was not accepted by my teacher which I spent a month on and I tried to compose a second one but it was way out of my comfort zone so I became stuck I have had a hard time coming up with something satisfying and a lot of perfectionists when trying to take a while to compose something which is why I decided to compose something quick so I at least would have a few ideas and a piece that I could get feedback on. I am aware that you need to take your time when composing but it can sometimes lead to one being a perfectionist and always worry if I spent enough time on this idea or if it is satisfying enough but then it just results in a form of procrastination. The last few weeks/days I spent studying Debussy/Ravel/Hyden/Mozart String quartet and learned somethings from them which I tried out in this piece. My goal is to have real players perform my pieces on day but I am still a beginner composer so I have much to learn which is why I ask for feedback.
    Thanks for the comment.
     
  4. #4 Doug Gibson, Oct 6, 2020
    I understand. It is hard to compose. Really hard. I have been there.
    Yes, I remember your other piece.

    The thing is: a solid foundation is what you can build on. It's great that you have such a desire to learn.

    I guess a question for you: What kind of feedback are you looking for?

    For starters I could point out that all those quadruple and triple stops are impossible to play.
    The strings are curved and the bow (except for this strange device called a "Bach-bow") can only sustain two strings at a time.

    What instrument do you play? Why not compose a piece for yourself to play and post that ?
     
  5. #5 Bjarke Tan, Oct 6, 2020
    @Doug Gibson
    I am composing for string quartet+ basson because it will be performed next month I believe so composing a piece for piano won't do for now.
    I am just looking for type of feedback which can pinpoint errors which I can't see my self and what you can do to improve it.
    How can I know which quadruple(or just in general) stops are possible and which are impossible?
     
  6. #6 Doug Gibson, Oct 6, 2020
    Oh !! Yikes. That is too bad about your teacher. Really this is where I think your teacher should just have the lesson with you and you watch
    him/her correct your orchestration.

    Look, the good news is you are going to learn so much from this. Bravo for doing it !

    Almost all are impossible. That is what I was saying: bows can only "sustain" two strings at a time. Everything else will be "rolled" and you will only hear two sustained. (Which is different than the mock-up)


    The difference is this:

    upload_2020-10-7_5-1-50.png




    The first is like what you write, and the second is going to be the actual result.

    The strings are CURVED. It's a bow issue.

    PS. ASK YOUR TEACHER DIRECTLY IF YOU CAN SPEND A LESSON GOING OVER THIS PIECE IN DETAIL.
     
  7. #7 Thomas Bryla, Oct 6, 2020
    Wholly agree with Dougs points. If you are ever near Esbjerg you are more than welcome to swing by and have a look at specifics like this.
     
    Cody Ortz likes this.
  8. #8 Bjarke Tan, Oct 7, 2020
    @Doug Gibson
    We have made plans later today to go over the piece together and I am considering even after the deadline to continue writing for string quartet until I can write something satisfying for it.
    @Thomas Bryla
    Thanks for the offer but I live in Slagelse at the moment and Esbjerg seems far away so it may be a while before that's become a possibility.
     
  9. #9 Doug Gibson, Oct 7, 2020
    Cool. Good luck with it. Another thing you can do a is take scores of string quartet passages and write them out note by note by hand. It's a tired and true method.
    You'll then have a whole bag of devices that you can use.

    I did that a lot back in the day. Here is one of my student pieces from 2006


     
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