Some Music I Wrote Update

[Ben D'Annibale (the1nonlybenji)]

Here is an update to the sort of piano concerto i an writing...

<center><table border=1><tr><td>http://www.notation.com/discus/icons/attachment_icon.gifnew songs.not
new songs.not (http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/new_songs-33202.not) (176.3 k)</td></tr></table></center>

[Ben D'Annibale (the1nonlybenji)]

... and the 1st movement of my sonata; it's just about done, just a few dynamic marks here and there are needed.

<center><table border=1><tr><td>http://www.notation.com/discus/icons/attachment_icon.gif1st movement.not
1st Movement.not (http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/1st_Movement-33205.not) (226.7 k)</td></tr></table></center>

[Fred Winterling (harbor1)]

Hi Benji,

Nice job on the annotations! Is that because you are now so much older ( 3 weeks )? http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif
Performancewise, however, you may want to do some more experimenting with the controllers. ( cresc., dim., rit., accents velocity, etc.) It would make the music more dramatic. I see you have added some pedal work. Very nice!

Cheers,
Fred

[M G Jacobs (mgj32)]

Hi Benji,

These are coming along nicely. The 1st Movement is getting quite a finished look. Overall, I like it. As far as midi performance is concerned, I think Fred is correct. There isn't a gradual increase in volume when you use "cresc." for example. You can set the note velocity higher for each note/chord by selecting them individually, hitting number 9, then putting in a figure. So instead of going from 75 in measure 2 to 85 in measure 3, you could do it chord by chord and make a real crescendo, rather than a sudden change in dynamics.

Keep it up. I enjoyed listening to these.

all best,
mgj

[Ben D'Annibale (the1nonlybenji)]

another update to the piano concerto...

i have many more ideas as this is a far from finished copy. the last measures will definitely be the last measures of the completed work.

<!-attachment-!><center>http://www.notation.com/discus/icons/attachment_icon.gif</center><!-/attachment-!>

[M G Jacobs (mgj32)]

Hi Ben,

I see the folder with the paper clip, but I don't get a file.

best,
mgj

[Ben D'Annibale (the1nonlybenji)]

<center><table border=1><tr><td>http://www.notation.com/discus/icons/attachment_icon.gifnew songs.not
new songs.not (http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/new_songs-33916.not) (483.3 k)</td></tr></table></center>

sorry about the last post. this is a major update to the 1st movement of the piano concerto, which i think is almost done

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy Ben,

I really enjoyed listening to this piece. I switched the sound from the GS Wavetable over to my personal "default" Chaos soundfont, and it was sounding good!

I really enjoyed the more varied use of dynamic and the key changes. You've also done a nice job of interweaving various figures around the central piano.

Keep up the good work http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif I can't wait to hear more!

ttfn,
Sherry

[Ben D'Annibale (the1nonlybenji)]

another update to the piano concerto

it's split into two parts because of the size limit

<center><table border=1><tr><td>http://www.notation.com/discus/icons/attachment_icon.gifnew songs2 part 1.not
new songs2 part 1.not (http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/new_songs2_part_1-34168.not) (401.5 k)</td></tr></table></center>

<center><table border=1><tr><td>http://www.notation.com/discus/icons/attachment_icon.gifnew songs2 part 2.not
new songs2 part 2.not (http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/new_songs2_part_2-34169.not) (185.0 k)</td></tr></table></center>

[Ben D'Annibale (the1nonlybenji)]

what do you guys think of measures 75-89 in the first part?

[M G Jacobs (mgj32)]

Hi Daniel,

This is firmly in the Romantic piano concerto tradition of Litolff, Scharwenka, Busoni, Moscheles, Paderewski, Tchaikovsky--to name just a few, with a bit more adventure perhaps. I'm not aware of another concerto that uses a waltz in the opening movement (assuming this is the first movement), but I rather like the idea.

The orchestra still seems a bit strange, which is fine. There is no use putting in clarinets, or oboes, or trombones, or whatever if you don't hear them. But it would certainly present some difficulties to a conductor reading the score. For example, there are chords on one of the string ensemble staves that are in the range of the violas, cellos or basses, but no indication which instrument or instruments you want to play them. It might help to use the standard violin I and II, viola, cello and double bass sections. It would not hurt anything that I can see to do the same with the flute (sometimes flutes) and horn (sometimes horns). Where there is a single line that carries or duplicates the melody, one might guess that you may intend a solo instrument, but it is far from clear.

The measures you mention are pretty effective cadenza stuff. The phrase using the horns sounds like a wind gust, which works all right in the context of these bravura sounding measures, but could seem more integral to the movement as a whole.

The best thing is the melodic writing, I think. Some Romantics seem to have had the melodic capacity, some seemed often to struggle. Your themes seem to flow so easily that they hint at a huge store held in reserve.

I continue to enjoy your dramatic piece and look forward to any new developments.

all best,
mgj

[Ben D'Annibale (the1nonlybenji)]

yea i don't really know anything about the strings' ranges; i just like to put the notes in after I think of a new part and see if i like it. I only study the piano, but i might try to learn maybe the violin or something. maybe when I try to publish this, the people will help me in orchestrating the score.

[M G Jacobs (mgj32)]

Hi Ben,

If you had to play an instrument to write for it, we'd have a lot less music than we do. Any book on orchestration that I've seen lists the instruments and their ranges. You can also google up a lot of information on line. I just did a search and found this in under a minute:

http://www.northernsounds.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45335

Have fun,
mgj

[Ben D'Annibale (the1nonlybenji)]

as for my piano sonata, I am choosing not to use the original 2nd and 2rd movements. I will use these instead. However, they are still being developed. The 3rd movement sounds weird, but I'm going to make the melody flow more together. Enjoy!

2nd movement
<center><table border=1><tr><td>http://www.notation.com/discus/icons/attachment_icon.gif2nd movement.not
possible second movement.not (http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/possible_second_movement-34255.not) (31.0 k)</td></tr></table></center>

3rd movement
<center><table border=1><tr><td>http://www.notation.com/discus/icons/attachment_icon.gif3rd movement.not
new 3rd movement.not (http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/new_3rd_movement-34256.not) (54.8 k)</td></tr></table></center>

[Ben D'Annibale (the1nonlybenji)]

the former 3rd movement has now been turned into a variations that I will include in a suite that I am developing. it's not a masterpiece, but it's fun to play. enjoy!

<!-attachment-!><center>http://www.notation.com/discus/icons/attachment_icon.gif</center><!-/attachment-!>

[Ben D'Annibale (the1nonlybenji)]

sorry. here is the file

<center><table border=1><tr><td>http://www.notation.com/discus/icons/attachment_icon.gifvariations.not
Variations.not (http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/Variations-34365.not) (130.8 k)</td></tr></table></center>

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy,

Just a note to folks re. the attachments above: neither one is downloadable in Firefox, but the second one is in Internet Explorer.

For Ben: yes, this piece is a good bit of fun to listen to - thanks for sharing such a vivacious piece with us http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

ttfn,
Sherry

[Lee Eschen (leeschen)]

Excellent, Ben! I really enjoyed your "Variations". A rough spot or two, but excellent, nonetheless. Just delightful!

I'm curious as to where you get your inspiration for your music?

Keep it up.



Lee Eschen

[Lee Eschen (leeschen)]

Sherry, I use Firefox and had no trouble downloading the second attachment. I do use a download plugin called "Down Them All" and that be why. It's easily available through FF's plugin (or add-on) manager.


Lee

[M G Jacobs (mgj32)]

Hi Ben,


I like the variations. You know, there is no law that says you can't use it as a sonata movement. Yes, it looks as if it would be fun to play.

Sherry: Perhaps it's because my firefox is country born, but it picked up the attachment and brought it home.

all best,
mgj

[Ben D'Annibale (the1nonlybenji)]

Actually, my dad was messing around with the piano one day, and he sort of came up with the simple main theme. I hope that doesn't count as plagiarism. ;)

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy guys,

I guess my installation of Firefox was just tired and wanted to go to bed - it now shows the downloadable file just fine (as well as downloads it). I'll have to start giving it nap breaks or something ;)

Ben - keep up the good work, and "borrowing" doesn't count as plagiarism. If that were the case, then there would probably be few to none "original" works.

So go ahead - I'm eagerly waiting for more http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

ttfn,
Sherry

[Ben D'Annibale (the1nonlybenji)]

Here's a little something I whipped up today. It's a little sloppy, but it seems to fit into the musical style of my piano concerto, so I may put it in the 1st movement or 3rd. Tell me what you guys think.

<center><table border=1><tr><td>http://www.notation.com/discus/icons/attachment_icon.gifNew Part
new part.not (http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/new_part-34521.not) (30.6 k)</td></tr></table></center>

Also, here is the new ending for the piano sonata 1st mvmt., which follows measure 126

I haven't had much time lately for composing, so I'm just focusing on perfecting what i already have

<center><table border=1><tr><td>http://www.notation.com/discus/icons/attachment_icon.giftext description
asdfg.not (http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/asdfg-34522.not) (33.4 k)</td></tr></table></center>