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First score notated on paper

Discussion in 'Critique & Feedback' started by Mattia Chiappa, Oct 31, 2017.

  1. #1 Mattia Chiappa, Oct 31, 2017
    So I just finished this little experiment of mine. I usually go straight to my DAW but for the first time I wrote the whole piece on piano and orchestrated it on a score pad. It was a very fun and challenging experience so I thought I'd share it with you and see what you think.

    When doing the mockup I noticed that the phrasing is sometimes a little bit odd and so are some transitions. I also found myself stealing way more than I usually do. There are a couple of references to Mike's Forbidden Warrior Main Titles (I really hope he doesn't mind)

    Here's the piece, I'd really appreciate your opinion



    Thanks!
     
  2. #2 Doug Gibson, Oct 31, 2017
    I can be really useful to have a few trusted people, whose work you respect, to ask advice from.

    New openings for possible directions will usually come out of the conversation. For example, I really don't know MV's soundtrack at all.
    I know it's posted somewhere here, and I listened to a mock-up someone did......but I have no idea what is lifted. My point is, any suggestions I would make (or other composer) is not going to lead you back to the same place.

    (* as an aside: transposing can do wonders for finding new twists and turns. Perhaps take a motif and as a little exercise push it through 6-10 keys.)

    Also, you could post the piece without the orchestration for comments so more of the underlying structure can be heard under the color of the instruments more.
     
  3. #3 Mattia Chiappa, Oct 31, 2017
    Hi Doug! Yeah I'm usually very careful when it comes to borrowing from other composers and never really release anything that it's too close to the original source, I don't think this is a rip off anyway. I just took a couple of devices here and there, I think it's fine this piece was only a practice exercise. I wonder where the line is though. Eventually the influences become part of your style blending all together in a unique special way. Some stick out more than others but it doesn't necessarily mean you have nothing to say. For example if you look at Star Wars and Kings's Row they're pretty close but I don't think it's a rip off, cause he wasn't only influenced by that, but he also learned to speak that idiom. I wonder how that happens...
     
  4. #4 Paul T McGraw, Oct 31, 2017
    My first reaction, I like it. The orchestration is great to me. Samples are really good IMHO. What are you using? I particularly like your use of woodwinds.

    Listening critically for the composition elements of melody, harmony and structure I can find nothing to criticize. I would have liked a bit more adventuresome harmony, especially after your third statement of the melody, but that is a choice, not a fault. There is nothing at all wrong with the way you wrote it.

    After 3 listens I still like it. I think you wrote a delightful track.
     
  5. #5 Mattia Chiappa, Oct 31, 2017
    Thanks for the compliments, I really appreciate! The samples are all from Spitfire Symphony Orchestra, they're crazy good and blend together very well cause they were recoded in the same space. They're very wet so if you like a dry library maybe it's not for you. They put some close mics in there but I don't think they're meant to be used by themselves but just sparkle with some detail.

    Yeah I agree with you about the harmonic development. It's something I've been working on for some time but still struggling with. I think it's gonna take me a while to really understand the language a be able to use it.
     
  6. #6 Claude Ruelle, Oct 31, 2017
    Last edited: Oct 31, 2017
    Great job! I think that it's always good to work with pen and paper cause it actually makes things easier.

    Personally, I think that you could have developed the motif you have from 0:00 to 0:14 a bit more, and I think that the section you have from 0:15 to 0:52 could almost be from a different piece. I can kind of hear that you tried to use the same structure as the Main Title piece from Forbidden Warrior at some places - But I don't think it fits your initial melodic material.

    Orchestrationally it sounds fine to me, but the very wet mix makes it difficult to hear all the details. Would you be willing to share the score?
     
  7. #7 Mattia Chiappa, Oct 31, 2017
    Yeah I can see why you're saying that. That was also my first concern. The variations don't feel like variations but more like different ideas mashed together in the same piece with almost nothing to motivate them. I have to work on that...

    I can share the score but the original draft is very very messy plus I changed I a couple of stuff and I'm sure it would be almost no use. As soon as I get some time I'll fix that, and post it here!

    Thanks for your advice, it's very helpful!
     
  8. #8 Doug Gibson, Nov 1, 2017
    Of course. I still, in addition to transcribing, will take sheet music to a score I really enjoy and pick a passage or sometimes the whole thing, and write it out by hand. Everyone should. You can learn so much from this.

    I only made the comment as it was in your post. I agree..... it does not matter where one begins, only where one ends.
    Our influences will always be there. Overtime as more sources get filtered through our own internal decision making, they become more
    like fingerprints in the background. They are noticeable if looking for them, but it's perfectly normal and not something to worry about or resist.
     
    Mattia Chiappa likes this.
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