Stylistic Composition

[pianohenry]

I have to compose a "Romantic Miniature" for my A level composition - i.e. a waltz, a nocturne, character piece etc.

Ive started in the style of a chopin waltz, but im thinking, Whats the difference between a waltz and something similar sounding that might be in 3/4 time, i.e. if you played nocturne in E flat (no. 2) in a more upbeat style, could it sound like a waltz?

what is it that makes a waltz a waltz, or a nocturne a nocturne etc. At the moment my piece could be either.

some forms i suppose are self explanatory and more recognizable - impromptus, dance forms etc. but what about preludes as well? a prelude is usually a short piece that precedes a larger work, but plenty of composers wrote collections of preludes which stood on their own.

Also, how does everyone go about composing your piece? Do you do chords first? or melody first? do you know the style and outline of your piece before you write it, or do you just make it up as you go along?

Henry

[pianistimo]

oh. oh.  i have an idea.  do it like the minute waltz.  a sort of 'flight of the bumblebee waltz.'  you have the oom pa pa in the left hand (chords changing every so often) and then this fancy flightwork in the right hand.  say - maybe just turn 'flight of the bumblebee' into a waltz?

[asyncopated]

I'm not a real composer, but know a little. When you say "romantic", I take it to mean the period.

Ive started in the style of a chopin waltz, but im thinking, Whats the difference between a waltz and something similar sounding that might be in 3/4 time, i.e. if you played nocturne in E flat (no. 2) in a more upbeat style, could it sound like a waltz?

what is it that makes a waltz a waltz, or a nocturne a nocturne etc. At the moment my piece could be either.

some forms i suppose are self explanatory and more recognizable - impromptus, dance forms etc. but what about preludes as well? a prelude is usually a short piece that precedes a larger work, but plenty of composers wrote collections of preludes which stood on their own.

I think you've answered your own question.  A waltz is a dance form.  A nocturn is something you only play at night, otherwise you will turn into a werewolf. 

What sets to two apart in this case it really the mood of the piece --  if you look at a page of music without the title and musical directions, and try to figure out the type of piece you are playing it is often difficult.  I myself have played minuets to sound like arias until I realised it's suppose to be a dance... after that the music starts to make more sense.

The title or type of piece, basically indicates the mood and setting of the piece with all its cultural trappings.  It is not easy (if at all possible) to notate the sounds required and implied by either piece.  For a nocturn, the adjectives tranquille, serene, introvert and others like that point you in the right direction.  Similarly for a waltz, the sound I would try to achieve is described with adjectives more like, elegant, spritely or stately.

Also, how does everyone go about composing your piece? Do you do chords first? or melody first? do you know the style and outline of your piece before you write it, or do you just make it up as you go along?

I will describe the method i basically use.

Write the melody first.  The way I would approach this is to have a rather broad outline of the sound you like.  I think that at your level (and mine as well) everything should be driven by the melody.  You shade in the other musical ideas later.

I suppose even starting with the melody is sometimes difficult.  Where does one start?   My suggestion if you are new to composing is to have a look at some short character piece by schumann (since you need something in the romatic era).  I think you will be surprised at how simple (short and succinct) and complex (profound and robust) his musical ideas can be at the same time.   

Alternatively, you can start by writing melodic phrases.  Like sentences in an essay.  Once you find somethings you want to say, paste it all together in a piece, make sure it has some structure... ABA, variational, or mayby something completely different.  This is so that you have an overall story and are not just writing random sentences. 

Once you are happy with this rough structure, start developing other musical ideas that will enhance the melody.

[asyncopated]

oh. oh.  i have an idea.  do it like the minute waltz.  a sort of 'flight of the bumblebee waltz.'  you have the oom pa pa in the left hand (chords changing every so often) and then this fancy flightwork in the right hand.  say - maybe just turn 'flight of the bumblebee' into a waltz?

Haha... maybe turn it into a nocturn -- 'flight of the bumblebee to bed! to bed!'

[pianistimo]

good advice.

and, you don't have to stay in 3/4 according to a young composer's forum i just saw.  they said add an occasional 5/4 or 7/4 or something.  just to be different.  you can keep the 'feel' of the three beats by putting 5 to 7 eighth notes to one quarter (that is their suggestion). 

i like the waltzy waltzes, too, by strauss.  elegant and refined.  but, who dances to this nowdays?  well - i guess ballroom dancers. 

if you like to be a little avante garde, you could do a sort of virtuosic thing that gets faster and faster and doesn't even follow ABA form - but sort of meanders.  maybe a quick return right at the very end for the last two lines - but cut short by somekind of fast passage to the top of the piano.

[pianistimo]

that bit about the flight of the bumblebee to bed?  hmmm.  don't want it too fast...otherwise the nocturne idea might be nixed.  i think john field came up with the idea of the 'nocturne.'  samuel barber uses the time signature 12/8 i believe - for the nocturne he wrote.  it is very 'windy' and reminds me of a violin serenade.  i suppose some nocturnes could be reminiscent of 'night songs' - something haunting and beautiful. and/or harp music?  lighter instruments and instrumentation - i would think. 

 

[pianohenry]

Thanks for all your help. ill keep trying

flight of the bumblebee sounds like a good idea but im not sure if i can do an arrangement, rather has to be completely my own thing ah well ill see what i can find out!

ty all,

henry

[phil13]

Also, how does everyone go about composing your piece? Do you do chords first? or melody first? do you know the style and outline of your piece before you write it, or do you just make it up as you go along?

Henry

All of those variables fluctuate. Find something inspirational, whether it be a short melodic progression, a couple of chords, or even an unusual form, and go from there.

I can say this, however- from experience, I usually write the melody first, and then build on that. However, right now I am writing a Chaconne, which requires a chord progression first, so even that is not a stable, all-encompassing rule.

Just write what your soul desires. 

Phil

[pianohenry]

thanks everyone!