Choral Work for SSAA - Lumine

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https://soundcloud.com/mediumaevum-artist/choral-work

Composed for 2 sopranos and altos, this piece is one of my first attempts on mastering dissonant harmonies, without going too far, I hope.

Please let me know what you think.

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Any thoughts on this?

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The piece itself sounds good, but I would say it could use a bit more fluctuation in the tempo and I'm not sure if you plan to get this recorded by a live choir or not, but if you don't, I would recommend using sustain or legato patches without such a hard (marcato?) start to them on many of the notes.

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Ok, thanks, I'll consider the sustains instead.

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As Chris says, there is something 'not quite right' about the attack on many notes - it's just not very pleasant to listen to when it comes in again and again like this and certainly not very natural if you were aiming in the direction of a 'real choir' sound?

The musical content - yes it works as a pleasant listen - a great main melodic motif in there but... it all lacks a certain subtlety and nuance - especially in terms of structure and shape...both on the macro and micro levels.

For example - as a short little choir piece it could easily have ended at around 1:00 as I don't think the last section really adds very much that is 'new'.

Dissonance - there is nothing very controversial in there at all and there are some VERY nice moments indeed.

Dissonance - I wouldn't 'try' and deliberately write more or less dissonant music personally, but more focus on:

Creating an initial strong melody that you're happy with - you have that here.

Then create a 2nd strong melody (based around some of the ideas in your first one, but with new bits as well) that combines with the first one effectively. In particular, try and get this 2nd tune to weave around the first one to some extent...to sometimes 'move' at different moments to the first tune.

Similar approach to a 3rd and 4th part - make them all strong melodies in their own right (with certain patterns and shapes heard in all of them)...but tunes that also work together as well...NOT EASY, I know! :)
Mark Taylor, Chameleon Music - Professional composition and sound design for all media since 1994.

https://www.chameleonmusic.co.uk/

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Thank you, ChameleonMusic. Always nice to get some feedback on the composition.

Initially I thought I could study my way through creating countermelodies, but I've found that traditional theory limits my approahces. It certainly also did in this piece as well, but not quite as much as earlier. I'm trying to liberate myself from theoretical approaches, and engage more in whatever works (whatever sounds GOOD). Then be damned if theory prohibits parallel fifths etc.

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mediumaevum wrote: Sat Jul 31, 2021 12:58 pm Thank you, ChameleonMusic. Always nice to get some feedback on the composition.

Initially I thought I could study my way through creating countermelodies, but I've found that traditional theory limits my approahces. It certainly also did in this piece as well, but not quite as much as earlier. I'm trying to liberate myself from theoretical approaches, and engage more in whatever works (whatever sounds GOOD). Then be damned if theory prohibits parallel fifths etc.
I get your point. But if 'traditional theory' is limiting your options then you're not using it in quite the right way, maybe?

There probably won't be that many people on here more immersed in traditional music theory than myself, but I have no doubt whatsoever that my knowledge has opened up new options and ideas for me now for over 4 decades of composing.

Music theory NEVER prohibits anything at any point, it just provides interesting stimulus, starting points and ideas, possible directions of travel, potential structural devices and so on...

It certainly would not ever stop anyone from using parallel 5ths. It might explain situations where they might work less well, but even then it's all just guidance and NOT rules.

One definite - whatever way you go about it... The more you compose, the more you'll understand what does and doesn't work for you.
Mark Taylor, Chameleon Music - Professional composition and sound design for all media since 1994.

https://www.chameleonmusic.co.uk/

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ChameleonMusic wrote: Sat Jul 31, 2021 6:31 pm
mediumaevum wrote: Sat Jul 31, 2021 12:58 pm Thank you, ChameleonMusic. Always nice to get some feedback on the composition.

Initially I thought I could study my way through creating countermelodies, but I've found that traditional theory limits my approahces. It certainly also did in this piece as well, but not quite as much as earlier. I'm trying to liberate myself from theoretical approaches, and engage more in whatever works (whatever sounds GOOD). Then be damned if theory prohibits parallel fifths etc.
I get your point. But if 'traditional theory' is limiting your options then you're not using it in quite the right way, maybe?

There probably won't be that many people on here more immersed in traditional music theory than myself, but I have no doubt whatsoever that my knowledge has opened up new options and ideas for me now for over 4 decades of composing.

Music theory NEVER prohibits anything at any point, it just provides interesting stimulus, starting points and ideas, possible directions of travel, potential structural devices and so on...

It certainly would not ever stop anyone from using parallel 5ths. It might explain situations where they might work less well, but even then it's all just guidance and NOT rules.

One definite - whatever way you go about it... The more you compose, the more you'll understand what does and doesn't work for you.
I completely agree with you. When something turns into a "religion", or to put it in another word "conformism", it tends to lead you in the wrong direction.

It would be nice though, to have some in-depth high quality youtube tutorials explaining how to compose like Palestrina.

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mediumaevum wrote: Tue Aug 03, 2021 5:50 pm
ChameleonMusic wrote: Sat Jul 31, 2021 6:31 pm
mediumaevum wrote: Sat Jul 31, 2021 12:58 pm Thank you, ChameleonMusic. Always nice to get some feedback on the composition.

Initially I thought I could study my way through creating countermelodies, but I've found that traditional theory limits my approahces. It certainly also did in this piece as well, but not quite as much as earlier. I'm trying to liberate myself from theoretical approaches, and engage more in whatever works (whatever sounds GOOD). Then be damned if theory prohibits parallel fifths etc.
I get your point. But if 'traditional theory' is limiting your options then you're not using it in quite the right way, maybe?

There probably won't be that many people on here more immersed in traditional music theory than myself, but I have no doubt whatsoever that my knowledge has opened up new options and ideas for me now for over 4 decades of composing.

Music theory NEVER prohibits anything at any point, it just provides interesting stimulus, starting points and ideas, possible directions of travel, potential structural devices and so on...

It certainly would not ever stop anyone from using parallel 5ths. It might explain situations where they might work less well, but even then it's all just guidance and NOT rules.

One definite - whatever way you go about it... The more you compose, the more you'll understand what does and doesn't work for you.
I completely agree with you. When something turns into a "religion", or to put it in another word "conformism", it tends to lead you in the wrong direction.

It would be nice though, to have some in-depth high quality youtube tutorials explaining how to compose like Palestrina.
Having taught Renaissance Counterpoint, I suspect that 'how to compose like Palestrina' might be beyond the YT video approach... Very technical subject that would need to be carefully fine-tuned to each individual so that it would work effectively with their knowledge, experience and skill set.
Mark Taylor, Chameleon Music - Professional composition and sound design for all media since 1994.

https://www.chameleonmusic.co.uk/

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