Piano then Orchestra no piano this time

[M G Jacobs (mgj32)]

The Allegro, posted in 'Piano then Orchestra' is the 4th movement. The attached Largo is, of course, the slow movement, originally intended as the 2nd movement. It may still be, but for several reasons I am inclining toward making it the 3rd, with the ragtime movement second.

I have re-written the second theme--the one given to the oboe, which appears in a couple of sections. The reason is that it was intended as an original theme, but I realized after a time that I had heard something quite close to it. I am fond of using old songs (mostly folk) as themes or take-off points for themes, but I know what I am doing in such cases. This was an accident, and I don't like accidents. Since this theme is introduced in the first movement, some considerable re-writing has to occur there, too.

In any case, I think of the movement as completed enough that I am working on a soundfont version.

<center><table border=1><tr><td>http://www.notation.com/discus/icons/attachment_icon.gifLargo
2 largo MID.mid (http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/2_largo_MID-28042.mid) (34.1 k)</td></tr></table></center>

mgj

[Mark Walsen (markwa)]

Hello M.G.,

This movement definitely has a folksy sound, with a strong leaning toward Appalachian, given the harps. I'm quite tempted to play this through GPO, as my default GM sounds don't do the orchestration justice, particularly in the lower pitch range of basses. This movement definitely fits the mold of a second movement, providing a calm setting that creates the expectation of the more wild ideas that follow in your Allegro movement.

Cheers
-- Mark

[M G Jacobs (mgj32)]

Hi Mark,

You're right about the sound: this is one piece where GM just doesn't work. The strings need to be a bit more lush and the oboe really needs vibrato.

I still don't know if the Allegro will follow this or if it will be the ragtime movement, which I'm finishing now. Since the latter was orginally envisioned as a scherzo, leaving the Largo as II with the ragtime thing as III would be traditional...

all best,
mgj