compositions

[favi85]

i figured this had the sewing machine method of baroque so i am posting it here even though the form is more classical.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3kNfIc7zfw

enjoy!

[Tarantella]

Favi85, I'm unsure why you would want to compose "baroque" music. From the sound of your work you have learned your lessons in harmony and composition well. Your little pieces sound pleasant and, for the most, under control. In those fugues it sounds like you've caught the basic idea (hats off, btw) but it seems to become a little 'bogged down', if you know what I mean. Perhaps too controlled? You need to use those opening bars as a kind of launching pad to become more 'adventurous' and find your own voice. I was wanting more 'dissonance' in what I heard, just for a start.

I imagine it's still early days creatively for you, but if that was me I'd be trying to see how I could use my knowledge of fugue and 4 part harmony to suit more modern musical idioms rather than a strict return to the past. That, or think about ways in which your composing might 'interrogate' or even 'parody' that style. It is difficult because everyone has a 'megaphone' these days with which to shrilly tell the world about themselves and this makes it difficult to identify genuine talent. For now: listen, listen, listen.

Very best of luck.

[favi85]

Tarantella,

I am happy to have you as part of my development. You know my goals all too well. It is true; I wish to compose a modern fugue. However, to be critical about this, I wish to know well the early forms so "I know how to break the rules" so to speak.

In my mind I approach this with two ends of a spectrum. Baroque being at one end and Serialism being at the other end. I am embarrassed to say that I have completely forgotten how to write with Set Theory after writing one piece.

Right now, I wonder about the opening subjects and how to break the rules of instead going to the dominant in the opening...what would it sound like if I went to the 3rd instead---or even the Tri-Tone!

This summer, I am excited, because I will be taking lessons from Laurence Bitenski. I am sure to lose sense of too many consonant chords. I know what you mean...I really don't like how few my dissonances are. This is partly due that the non-chord tones are very limited in my music. I only use Neighbor tones, Passing tones, and the Appoggiatura. Suspensions would be great to use more of as well as others...

Hindemith is a great inspiration as well as Bartok.

And also: why baroque? There is also a girl involved.

[Tarantella]

The inspiration of "the girl"! How lovely. And all the very best with your tutorial coming up in composition. You've got a process in place and I'm sure it will work out well for you.