Does this composition deserve to be played in front of an audience?
by Mariam Ali
on
Dec 28, 2008 at 12:38:09 pm
Hello everybody,
Below is a direct link of my latest work. Please, away from theoretical analysis, what do you think about it? We have a graduation party in my college (Information Technology) and the organizers of the party persist to let me play one of my compositions. Well, this is a great chance for me (I know), but I am really interested in presenting something special, something that could leave an impact on the audience. I am not concerned (for the moment) about the number of beats played in each bar. Thus, please let me know if this composition deserves to be played in front of an audience?
Re: Does this composition deserve to be played in front of an audience? by Steven Talley on Dec 31, 2008 at 7:41:56 pm
I've listened 3 times and it sounds pretty good, I enjoyed it. It ends kinda early, maybe a stronger ending would suit me better. The frilly playing comes and goes, which is good.
Now, talk about frilly playing. Ever hear Judy Collins (the singer) play piano? On some tracks that I've heard it's hard to find the melody. But maybe it's just me.
Re: Does this composition deserve to be played in front of an audience? by Bob O Dell on Jan 13, 2009 at 6:14:37 am
Absolutely, "Yes".
As a Music teacher, I do hear some basic common issues. Not at all enough to say don't play out. But you could think about them. I would say focused on the Dynamics and Pedal to soften up the Trills and transitions from cadences. For an emotional, memorable, Impact you could try to finish a little stronger. At around 220 try a repeat from .50 "you have a nice hook there sounds great" try to use it again and find your stronger Fine. I like to think of compositions like a short story being told. What would make you remember this story? Chop up your piece and think about that..
Composition is extremely subjective and this is just a verbal music jam among musicians and it sometimes takes composers years to finish a song anyway. Nothing is ever perfect or done to any musician. That's why we all change and improve to some of the best songs ever written.. If you have time try the above. That said you could just play it as is. It sounds very nice and would be just fine.
Thank for sharing your composition with us. Good luck.
Bob
Re: Does this composition deserve to be played in front of an audience? by Mariam Ali on Jan 13, 2009 at 11:10:24 am
Thanks heaps for listening. Actually, I have time to improve my composition and I hope that you help me in understanding some parts of your post in order to proceed.
>At around 220 try a repeat from .50 "you have a nice hook there sounds great" try to use it again and find your stronger Fine
I could not understand what is said here. Any clarification would be appreciated?
>I like to think of compositions like a short story being told ..
That is "exactly" what I am trying to do. I hope to develop my skills further.
Re: Does this composition deserve to be played in front of an audience? by Bob O Dell on Feb 2, 2009 at 5:19:12 am
2:20 and 00:50 (Refers to the time line of the compositions MP3.)
Hook (is a musical phrase in a piece that catches the listeners ear or your ear and you or they say "Wow that phrase was nice")
You can use a Hook as a formal tool to grab the listener again and draw more reaction to your piece. The trick is to not over use it.
:| Repeat (Go back to and start from again)
Fine ( is to resolve the piece or Finnish a piece [The End] )
As for compositions more like a short story being told. One of the many compositional constructs that I would teach. Was to try to keep all parts of a piece moving forward by never really play a passage exactly the same way twice. A musical journey, a story. As a matter of utility I also would teach to talk and think of the interpretation of a piece from a listeners point of view. This allows the composition to be more open ended and frees it up to become something far more than just a piece that "I Like". Many times I would Compose songs that I did Not like to listen to. But, I still think they were great pieces that hit the point needed.
I would have students compose two, four or six full compositions per week no less than three minutes long. Each piece would be evaluated so it was hard work. But the goal was to disassociate the student from personal possession of the pieces So that they would be free to compose without restrictions and start doing things they normally would not want to or think of doing. Believe me, after six months if asked a student to Compose a sad piece, "I got a sad piece".
Sadness, pain, drama, stress, tension who wants that. Is that fun? Do we like feeling these emotions? No. Yet we will watch a sad movie. Movies that give us a front row seat to many of these emotions. The same with Music and the freedom to go there can help render greater results and a much larger pool of skills to pull from.
How do you make a compositions Sad, Happy, Mad, express Love, Hate, Cold, Hot, Ugly, Beautiful, Neat, Messy. Learn as many tools as you can learn. Theory can start you off most of the time. Example: some elements like intervals, and treated chords passages can have what's called dissonance. Dissonance is with out getting in to details two or more unstable tones Like a minor or diminish chord very dark sounding. The offer the composer an option to resolve as in to finish the feeling with a brighter happy sound. helping you make emotions as needed.
Quick comment for your other post. You do not need to sight read scores at all to learn theory.
Some would say you don't need to be so deep or use theory to compose music.. I agree 100%, but truth is most of the time "I" just like to and this is only one of many formal and non-formal ideas and compositional constructs. Fun stuff if you ask me, but not for everyone.
There is a lot more to this. But I'm not sure if this is even the line of conversation you intended. That said I hope you can use some of this and it some how brings you closer to opening new paths in music.
I am re-building a music theory website. I'll post the link soon..
Re: Does this composition deserve to be played in front of an audience? by Mariam Ali on Feb 3, 2009 at 7:21:35 am
I appreciate your response. It is very clear now! I wish to be one of your students! I liked what you said there, it is really kind of things that can be swallowed smoothly (thanks a lot). Currently, I am working on improving two of my compositions.
I have the desire to study music theory, and I am waiting for you to launch your website (hope soon :) )
Re: Does this composition deserve to be played in front of an audience? by Jiri Fiala on Mar 16, 2009 at 8:26:25 pm
It`s very nice Mariam, reminds me of classic Henry Mancini tunes, but it definitely needs some editing, cleaning up and better sampler. Of course, recording a real piano performance would be best.
Re: Does this composition deserve to be played in front of an audience? by Terry Mikkelsen on Mar 20, 2009 at 4:01:54 pm
Very nice piece. You should definitely perform it. However, in just listening to the piece, some of your retards (dramatic pauses), seem a little overdone. It almost sounds like your are hunting for your next chord. Maybe when combined with your visual performance this aspect would be overlooked, but just on audio cues alone that is the feeling that I get.
Re: Does this composition deserve to be played in front of an audience? by Mariam Ali on Mar 21, 2009 at 12:02:04 pm
I am happy to hear this. BTW, I am not very good in visual
performance, below is video performance for me. I am always
not satisfied about my performance (getting nervous).
Note: I am still improving this based on some constructive
suggestions that I recieved.
Re: Does this composition deserve to be played in front of an audience? by Bob O Dell on Mar 23, 2009 at 1:37:21 am
Absolutely, I think it would be a wonderful event for you to play this in front of an audience. Just relax, getting nervous is normal for most. But remember, this composition sounds very nice and we obviously appreciate it. So I would say from this point, just try to relax, practice as you can and enjoy playing at the event. Best of luck, let us know how you do.
Re: Does this composition deserve to be played in front of an audience? by Mariam Ali on May 28, 2009 at 10:55:25 am
Hello there,
It might be long time since I posted this thread. Yesterday, May 28 was the party day. I was kind of stressed at the beginning where I need to play on "a real - non-digital" piano for the first time. Anyway, the audience was more than 270 (students, faculties). I did not know how things happened, but I performed my composition and the only thing that I remember is the sound of applause. I was really happy and I liked that feeling. Many colleagues and faculties expressed their admiration to me directly. I really can't explain my feeling, but I really enjoyed it a lot.
Thanks all for encouraging me to perform this composition.
Re: Does this composition deserve to be played in front of an audience? by Jen Pardini on Jul 6, 2009 at 2:57:37 pm
I'm sure your graduation party has come and gone but I enjoyed it and I'm sure you got a lot of good comments on it. I would definitely hold onto that for the future!
Re: Does this composition deserve to be played in front of an audience? by Eric Bertko on Aug 15, 2009 at 3:35:27 pm
Mariam,
I am new to the boards so please excuse my late reply.
I watched the video of your composition on YouTube and was absolutely thrilled. I found the composition to be extremely well done, very melodic, an excellent sense of timing and an overall feel that was quite pleasing. Most of all, it was great to see that more classically inspired music has not completely faded away. In this day and age, we need all the true composers we can find.
I know my comments are not technical in nature but I have always found that what pleases the ear does not have to be analyzed down to meter and cadence. If it pleases the ear, that's what truly counts.
Thank you so much for posting your composition and please let us know if you have any other material.
"Knowledge is an unending adventure at the edge of uncertainty"
