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Waltz Between Dreams (Orchestral)

Discussion in 'Critique & Feedback' started by Jonathan Brownell, Jul 6, 2017.

  1. #1 Jonathan Brownell, Jul 6, 2017
    OK, been spending some time trying to develop some composition/orchestration/mixing chops. I'm drawn to more romantic-era classical music and wanted to give a shot at writing something waltzy. Would love feedback!

     
    Scott Steinmetz likes this.
  2. #2 Max Fabian Juras, Jul 6, 2017
    This was great! Nice composition end well orchestrated. Thumbs up:) What libs did u use?

    Cheers
     
  3. #3 Jonathan Brownell, Jul 6, 2017
    Thanks!

    Libraries were Cinematic Studio Strings, Berlin Brass, Fluffy Audio Woodwinds, and Hollywood Perc + Woodwinds.
     
    Max Fabian Juras likes this.
  4. #4 Scott Steinmetz, Jul 6, 2017
    Nothing here I didn't like...I hit this, and then proceeded to deal with a business convo via text. This entire thing worked for it, and concluded the same time business did.

    Realized what had happened, hit it again. Awesome. Really nice work, sir.
     
  5. #5 Brian Bunker, Jul 7, 2017
    First things first - that's some really good stuff! It sounds to my ears like the biggest icon in your 'romantic pantheon' would be Tchaikovsky - and rightly so...

    The only recommendation I would make, in the nit-picking variety, is to maybe look at what Tchaik would have done to the overall structure. It felt a bit at times like the climaxes of the piece were a bit 'too easy,' like the struggle before it could have been a bit more intense. Your typical mid-late romantic would have piled on some diminished chords to just up the ante until there was nowhere left to go but climax. That's also why the style can so often descend into cliche, too, right?!?

    In this case though, it's obviously meant to be an 'emotionally laden' piece, and so ladling on a little more emotional gravy on top wouldn't hurt?

    I'm ready to hear more, though, that's for sure...
     
  6. #6 Jonathan Brownell, Jul 7, 2017
    Really, really helpful observation. I think you nailed it, the tensions could be developed further to the point where the resolutions are much more satisfying. It feels like the piece at various points is moving in the direction of wanting to go somewhere, but the reigns are being held a little too tight, keeping it too... bland? Since this is Mike Verta's forum I'll come right out and admit that actually transcribing some pieces in this genre would probably leave me better equipped to "cut loose" in the right way at the right moments.
     
  7. #7 Brian Bunker, Jul 7, 2017
    Thanks, Jonathan!

    For me (a process learned by a few composition projects getting constantly sent back from professors asking for more, more, more...) the whole Romantic vibe comes in two parts: they pretty much always TELL you where the tension is going to ratchet up, and they then ratchet it up about five turns past what would be tasteful. The 'tension announcement' thing is handy, because once you've musically said "This idea RIGHT HERE is going to blow up before this piece is over" then you can use it, and leave it, and come back to it, and leave it again - you can drag it out over 5 minutes or 50, and it works because everybody knows that that's where the magic is going to happen, eventually.

    Why not look at the 3rd Movement, the 'Poco Allegretto' from Brahms 3? You know exactly where you're going from that first measure. The formal structure is tigher than your piece (not a good/bad thing, of course) but he gets so much mileage out of what is basically one idea. And...you know...it's stunningly beautiful and all. ;)
     
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