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Opus N2 | First post here

Discussion in 'Critique & Feedback' started by Matheus Wittmann, Aug 14, 2020.

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  1. #1 Matheus Wittmann, Aug 14, 2020
    Last edited: Aug 16, 2020
    Hello guys, this is my first post here. I`d like some critique and feedback from guys, about my last work.
    I finished this soundtrack yesterday, after watching and trying to follow a lot of new stuff that Mike says in the masterclasses. I needed to stop watching the classes to finish this soundtrack, because for each new information I wanted to start over and over!

    I felt an enormous difference from my last composition "Opus N1" (before Mike) and "Opus N2" (after mike). I made this track to use as a demo in my website. I tried to apply everything I learned.. structural development, thematic exploration, repetition and modulation, orchestrated in the paper, played in the piano, and all the stuff that you guys know!

    It would mean a lot with you guys let some C&C here.

    Here is Opus N2:




    Thank you so much, Mike!
     
    Michael Lückgen and Marko Dvojkovic like this.
  2. #2 Matheus Wittmann, Aug 16, 2020
    I've updated the thread with a youtube video I made, hope you guys enjoy
     
  3. #3 Marko Dvojkovic, Aug 16, 2020
    Bravo Matheus, very good and doing it for 6 minutes is hard, kudos for that!
    I like the intro with the bass pedal tone, I have just a remark on the performance here it sounds a bit rhytmically sloppy. The next section at 1:03 didn't feel as connected to the first as I expected I think that the melody should be modified rhytmically and intervalically( I am not sure if this is a legit word but I hope you know what I mean xD) to resemble the one from the first. After that it flowed pretty naturally and kept my attention through the end.
    Good job! :)
     
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  4. #4 Matheus Wittmann, Aug 16, 2020
    Thank you for the feedback @Marko Dvojkovic !!! :)

    I was surprised that I made that long. That is a problem that I'm learning how to deal.. I'd had hard times, spending all my creativity, and the track was like 1:40s, I realized with @Mike Verta classes that I was over orchestrating things.. so thank you for the kudos, that was something that I was paying tons of attention in this track :)

    You made exactly on point.. in this track I tried to play each line.. in my last works, I would just write it on Sibelius and export a midi file :oops: It was a tiny line between keep it human and keep it sloppy (I think I should have played some lines better), I also felt that way in the intro!

    The section of 1:03 confuses me a little bit too, I wanted to create something that feels like "wait a minute...", without losing the theme... in my mind I thought about use these close intervals and resolutions, but with a different air. But like you, I don't know if I did a great job in that one.

    I'm happy that I could keep you attention for that long!! Thank you again for the feedback Marko!
     
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  5. #5 Marko Dvojkovic, Aug 16, 2020
    I am glad if it helps, it is just my impression from the first listen :).

    Yeah, we all struggle with that with samples. I think it is much more convenient and quicker to record to metronome and I have recently found a way to record tempo track automation on the fly in Logic (kind of lazy to configure it in my template finally to be honest xD, I hope that there are ways in other DAWs) but it seems like a most efficient way, because recording without metronome and getting really musical tempo accelerandos and ritardandos can be very hard and time consuming to get it right. If it would have happened later in the piece I probably wouldn't be bothered by it but since it is the introduction of your material in the piece it was noticeable, but not that bad.
     
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  6. #6 Matheus Wittmann, Aug 16, 2020
    Yes!!! And each instrument has that little delay thing , it was really hard to make it musical just playing.. I will pay more attention on that in the next track!!
     
    Marko Dvojkovic likes this.
  7. #7 Doug Gibson, Aug 17, 2020
    Hey !

    Nice job on getting the piece done. Thank you for posting too.

    IMO: it is far too repetitive for my taste. I found it hard to stay in there until the end.

    Your melody is as much a "module" as it is a melody. A lot of your intervals are small and the mix of non-diatonic notes mean you are leaning on the harmonic
    implications. However you stay put in one place far too long for my own taste, and I felt the music never reached it's potential.

    Bernard Hermann is one of the best to study for taking a few simple notes and making a longer cue out of them.

    Alternatively: Have a second melody. That is what most composers would do. It gives you much more room to keep from getting into a corner, especially for a 6 min plus song.


    Don't take my comments too critically. Keep on writing and please keep on sharing your work here

    All the best

    Doug
     
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  8. #8 Matheus Wittmann, Aug 17, 2020
    Last edited: Aug 18, 2020
    Thank you for the feedback @Doug Gibson ! And I need to say, that I agree with almost everything you said, because they were my worries when composing. I was trying to incorporate the 'repetition, repetition, and modulation' that Mike explains super clearly in the 'how to score a film in 7 days', but I don't know if I translated it in the best way.

    I kind of felt the same about the melodies, maybe because they are too short, I don't know, but in the moment I chose to walk with them, and discover where I'd arrive. In the next composition I'll try to focus more in the melody construction and development. About reaching the potential, I never did a 6 min music before hehehe, I felt that I could invest more in the 'dark' mood, but I didn't want to feel that I was doing that just to gain time, at least in this case wasn't the situation, my last works were like 2-3min of music, so I confess I was a little frightened, that's why I decided to finish the song there.

    Thank you again Doug, all the best :)
     
  9. #9 Tom Welsh, Aug 18, 2020
    Just wanted to say I love the vibraphone.
     
  10. #10 Doug Gibson, Aug 18, 2020
    o_O Who?

    Do you have a clear idea on how to do that?

    If you want, or have enough interest, you can take this melody and post back here some piano-only sketches for possible revision.

    The spot I find most interesting is where you syncopate the melody (opening). When it gets grounded by the meter it becomes a little more
    slow.

    Additionally, I felt you are unsure of counterpoint, as having a counter-melody would have really helped a lot. It is very 2-D. A third layer would really open it up, and it's a shame since the colors of your orchestration are rather nice.

    It's up to you. I can give you specific examples if you wish. If not.....that is perfectly fine too.
     
  11. #11 Matheus Wittmann, Aug 18, 2020

    Sorry!!! @Doug Gibson ,I corrected the mention.

    That would be nice! I will try new solutions and post here! About the counter-melody, I totally agree I could used it more. I was afraid to state well the main melody, but I didn't develop it so much, I relied more in the harmony changes hat The last part of the music I composed a counter-melody that I really enjoyed it. Actually, I was finishing watching counterpoint class while composing that one :)

    And thank you for the compliment about the orchestration!
     
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