Cygnus Dei Sonata no. 1 in A flat

[cygnusdei]

OK, time for shameless self-promotion ... 

May I interest you fine people in my little dabbling in a classical piano sonata? (duck for cover). Oh, and it's only a fragment at this point.

https://www.cygnusdei.com/sonata.mp3

PS: This is MIDI, not live performance (sorry for breaking the rules).

----
First movement:
https://www.cygnusdei.com/sonata.mp3
https://www.cygnusdei.com/sonata.pdf

Second movement:
https://www.cygnusdei.com/andante.mp3
https://www.cygnusdei.com/andante.pdf

Finale:
https://www.cygnusdei.com/rondo.mp3
https://www.cygnusdei.com/rondo.pdf

[thierry13]

Damm, how did you make a midi sound like that, it's really like a live performance!

[cygnusdei]

MIDI can sound halfway decent if you program the dynamics, rubato, etc. and use digital instrument samples for execution. I use Garritan Personal Orchestra, which is like the poor musician's samples. For an eye- (or ear?)popping experience I heard Eastwest samples are the best. Check this out:

https://www.eastwestsamples.com/details.php?cd_index=963

[cygnusdei]

I finished the first movement - let me know what you think 

https://www.cygnusdei.com/sonata.mp3
https://www.cygnusdei.com/sonata.pdf

[jabbz]

Very well crafted! Well put together, the notation was quite good as well. Couple of things:

You seem to be mixing styles here, which is fine, unless you are actually trying to reproduce a style from a particular era.  I hear a baroque appoggiatura rather than a classical one.

The harmonic language in places seems romantic in places (I'm reminded of the Pictures in the chordal theme), which is fine, just noted the presence there.

The passages remind me of Beethoven's early work, are you a fan?

I think the last page's passage work is pure romantic era.

I wasn't quite sure where to place the piece, and I am still unsure. Early romantic style, I think. I actually like the piece, I find it quite charming, but I'm curious of it's conception. If you would like to e-mail me or post here, whatever, is cool.

Well done! Keep it going!

[cygnusdei]

jabbz - thank you for listening and for compliments on the piece. I wanted to write something 'idiomatically' classical (whatever that means) without being 'historical'. I didn't worry about harmony at all, but I was self-conscious about the keyboard range (I think it reaches c3). Consider it an unfair advantage to real 19th century composers

About conception - believe it or not, this was inspired by The Rembrandt's "Ill Be There For You" (theme song from Friends, the TV series).  Well, only the recurring motif and the first bars of the first subject, that is. From there the process seemed to go on auto pilot.

[goldentone]

Congratulations, Cygnus!  This is excellent.  You are working on more movements, then?

[pianovirus]

Very charming!! Bravo!!!! Keep up the good work (more movements?). Can you share some experiences on how you started composing? Did you read some texts, or just started right away, learning-by-doing?

[cygnusdei]

Thank you for the positive reception guys! I have half a page of a slow movement so far, but I'm in no hurry. As for composition experience, I had about a 10-yr hiatus. The only reason I took it up again is because of notation software (I'm using Sibelius) which makes life easier, and allows me to realize the sound through digital samples (I'm using Garritan Personal Orchestra). But pretty much I just learn by writing and listening and revising. Thanks again for listening 

[cygnusdei]

Legitimate bump 

I have finished the second movement - have a listen at

https://www.cygnusdei.com

If that doesn't work, here are the direct links

https://www.cygnusdei.com/andante.mp3
https://www.cygnusdei.com/andante.pdf

Thanks for listening, I'd love to hear your feedback!

[pianovirus]

Just as charming as the first movement!! Great job. Be proud of yourself! I wish more people would be posting their own compositions. Can't wait to hear the next movement  ...or will I get a comment like Beethoven gave in response to a similar question related to op. 111? 

[s_bussotti]

This would be half-decent if it was 1750

[cygnusdei]

So tonight I'm gonna party like it's 1750 ..... ta ta .... ta ta ta .....!

Thanks for listening guys!

[cygnusdei]

Hey guys, how are things in the pianostreet world? I've been away for awhile, mostly because I don't have access to a piano lately Anyway, I've finished the finale for this sonata:

https://www.cygnusdei.com/rondo.mp3
https://www.cygnusdei.com/rondo.pdf

Thanks for taking a listen - I'd love to hear your feedback.

Cheers!     

[goldentone]

On the rondo:

This is very impressive, Cygnus.  This beats Mozart's early sontas (most of them anyway) by a long shot.  And then you take us from the 18th to the 20th century!  What made you decide to transform it so?

How long did the rondo take you?  You seem to have the form down pat.  I hope more people listen and comment.  I look forward to more!

[retrouvailles]

No offense, but have considered writing in a style that is, well, more of our time? I'm not asking you to put tone clusters, tone rows, serial techniques, etc into your music, but maybe make it sound less like it is from the first half of the 19th century. You didn't see people in Chopin's time writing like Haydn, and, well, if there were people that did as such, they were largely forgotten.

[cygnusdei]

On the rondo:

This is very impressive, Cygnus.  This beats Mozart's early sontas (most of them anyway) by a long shot.  And then you take us from the 18th to the 20th century!  What made you decide to transform it so?

How long did the rondo take you?  You seem to have the form down pat.  I hope more people listen and comment.  I look forward to more!

Wow - thanks for the compliments, I'm sure I ain't beating nobody! About the change in harmonic idiom midway, it wasn't a conscious decision. I started with the subject in the C section (overall structure A-B-A-C-A-coda) and let the chips fall where they may, so to speak. I think the Rondo took me 3.5 months, off and on - the second half was done over two weekends.

No offense, but have considered writing in a style that is, well, more of our time? I'm not asking you to put tone clusters, tone rows, serial techniques, etc into your music, but maybe make it sound less like it is from the first half of the 19th century. You didn't see people in Chopin's time writing like Haydn, and, well, if there were people that did as such, they were largely forgotten.

In short, yes! It's philosophical question though as to why people write what they do. As an amateur I'd like to think I enjoy a greater creative freedom because my livelihood doesn't depend on music. When inspiration strikes for me to write in a more modern style (or more antique style for that matter), I hope I can pull it off convincingly.