My new piece - Symphonic Suite [WIP]

[Guest]

Hi everyone,

I just joined up to this forum and thought I'd say hello.
I also thought I'd do a little bit of shameless self-promotion and share my most recent work with you.

I'm studying for an undergraduate degree in composition in London and this piece is written for the course. It'll be recorded properly in January!

https://soundcloud.com/alexmcgery-1/symphonic-suite-movement-1

https://soundcloud.com/alexmcgery-1/symphonic-suite-movement-2

The recordings are not live instruments - but rather a computer playback using a program called 'Noteperformer'. This is just so that I can present my work before the recording and is not in any way meant to substitute using actual musicians!
If this is the inappropriate place for posting this I do apologise, but I just thought it'd be nice to put some of my music out there and get some feedback from some music aficionados.

Best,

Alex

[amateur51]

Welcome Alex - good to have another practitioner aboard

I'm a technopeasant so it may be me rather than you, but I can't get your soundcloud thingo to start

Could you check it please?

Many thanks and again, welcome!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The link doesn't work for me, either.

Welcome, AlexMc - though you might wish to reconsider opening your posts with "guys and gals", all things considered!

[AlexMc]

Hi amateur51,

That's odd, it seems to be working fine over here.

I've got a youtube link for the first movement - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4aTcauOEBk

Let me know if that works ok!

Edit: I've reposted the links - should work fine now.

And yes, the guys and gals did sound a little like I was introducing myself on stage in 1930s Chicago!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

And yes, the guys and gals did sound a little like I was introducing myself on stage in 1930s Chicago!

I think that association might be the least thing to be concerned about.

[Richard Barrett]

I think that association might be the least thing to be concerned about.

Indeed - close, but no cigar, as they say.

[amateur51]

Indeed - close, but no cigar, as they say.

What a thing to say vile it is

[BBMmk2]

Hello Alex Please call me BBM. I had no trouble in starting up your sound cloud recording. The piece really had me going back to the days of the 2nd VS! It really did!i am not sure I thatwashow you wan ted it to be heard but that's my initial reaction.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Indeed - close, but no cigar, as they say.

[gradus]

Opens ok for me too. Get back to you when I've listened.

[Padraig]

Thanks Alex.
I'm not qualified to 'mark' your test piece, but I found it full bodied, if you like, with textures I liked. For example,like BBM I heard those brass sounds which I enjoyed in some 2VS pieces. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the sound in light of the 'Noteperformer' you mention. Sorry to be so brief and inexpert. In short, I liked your piece.

PS What is 'wrong' with "guys and gals"?

[Serial_Apologist]

Unlike two other posters I don't hear any stylistic connections with Schoenberg or his school, finding no contradictions in the Adorno sense in this music - more a continuation of the English pastoral tradition as extended in his own music by Anthony Payne expecially.

FWIW I think Alex should make the second movement of his symphonic suite the third and compose a contrasting scherzo-type middle movement in the more rhythmically and harmonically challenging manner of the chamber pieces illustrated on the first of the two clips.

[gradus]

I enjoyed your work. I am afraid that my limited critical powers are not going to help you but I read your intentions as asking for a music lovers' reactions, so albeit briefly I'll try. I thought the first piece a little over-orchestrated with too much going on, although it held me to the end; the second sparer and the more appealing of the two. Like many other music lovers I can't avoid hearing influences whether intended or not but taken as a whole I thought your work didn't sound like anyone else. Recently I've become attached to the sound of the human voice in symphonic music eg VW3Nielsen 3 and I wondered if it might be something you'd considered?
Many thanks for the chance to hear your pieces and the best of luck with your career.

[mercia]

PS What is 'wrong' with "guys and gals"?

a 'catchphrase' of the late James Winston Savile, often accompanied by a strange yodelling sound. I won't post a link.

[ahinton]

I enjoyed this, too, the inevitable shortcomings of the software notwithstanding. Like S_A, I don't especially hear much 2VS influence here and his idea of a contrasting second movement interspersed between the two to which you've provided links here could indeed be a good one. I hope that you can get it played by a real orchestra once it's completed. How many movements do you envisage altogether?