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Topic: Need feedback on my first stab at composing a piece of film music.  (Read 2736 times)

Offline icd

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Hello everyone! Nice to meet you! I am 17 years old and am currently studying in the UK :).

At the moment, I am quite desperate to know how good I am in composing. This is a sample of a piece that I have been working on for my AS Level music coursework.

I have to decide what to do in University/College very soon and I am currently considering taking music composition in a music college as one of my many options. Since most of the people/students at my school don't really enjoy composing as much as I do, I have great difficulties in finding out how good I actually am outside this 'school bubble'. I haven't really got much chance to talk to professional people and ask for their opinion. And I really, really don't want to make the wrong decision.

So, I would love to hear what you think - any honest/constructive criticisms will be welcomed by me with opened arms. The main question, however, is that... will I be able to cope if I decide to pursue composing as a career? Or am I far from being good enough?

Thank you very much for reading this and listening to my sample. I appreciate your time! (It is called 'The Return of the Prophecy', by the way X"D) And I'm sorry that I had to cut it in further... it's just because I still haven't handed it in as my coursework yet so I can't help but get worried about copying-ideas issues and such.



Incidentally, there is a time limit for my coursework hence it may seem a bit rushed. The sound is done by Sibelius and the tempo is not very steady throughout due to technical reasons.

Doris

Offline schartmanovich

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Can you post the score as a pdf file?

Offline icd

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I have only got the sibelius version of the file, not the pdf T_T
Sorry.

Offline schartmanovich

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You can save a Sibelius file as a pdf.

Offline gyzzzmo

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I dont know if its yours, but if it is its very good for a 17 year old ;)
It doesnt sound like a movie soundtrack those, more suitable for a game. Also, if you're composing something for a movie, the succes almost entirely depends on if it suits for the scene its written for.

Im not a composer myself so i cant give any further decent advice.

good luck composing,

gyzzzmo
1+1=11

Offline thierry13

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Well it's definitely very good, but I'd say there are still many things about structure of the phrases you would have to check ... not really the way you relate them, but how you build the small phrases, and the relationship of the harmonies you use with those small phrases. Sometimes you have to think that putting a greater interval in the middle of a scale run is often an expressive interval(when you use harmonic minor scales, where you have the augmented second), and you should watch your using of this in non-expressive moments, as it sounds weird and it's not really convincing

Offline Petter

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Also, if you're composing something for a movie, the succes almost entirely depends on if it suits for the scene its written for.

I agree, would be very interesting to see what scene it is. Im picturing an opening scene. Something like
"A gentleman is someone who knows how to play an accordion, but doesn't." - Al Cohn

Offline icd

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schartmanovich:: I did figure out how to do it in the end. However, I am not really keen on posting the sheet music out until I have handed this in as my coursework in May. Sorry about that.. but I can't help getting slightly worried when I just share things online. Of course, I do trust the members here, but there are loads of people who just come and browse and download things so... Are you still able to comment on it without seeing the music? I can telll you anything you want to know, things like instrumentation and stuff if it's really unclear! :)

gyzzzmo:: Oh yes, I can reassure that it's all mine, apart from two bars, which my teacher has given me some help in. It's really interesting though, because another friend of mine has been saying how it sounds like a game track, no matter how much I want it to sound like a piece of film music :(... And yes you are right about the scene thing. I haven't really thought about it in so much detail so.. thanks for commenting!

thierry13:: Sorry but I am slightly confused about what you are saying... It might be because I just compose without thinking... I don't actually think of, for example, using a 'minor scale' or planning things out. I always just go with the flow. I think the bit I don't understand is the 'great interval in the middle of a scale run' bit. Would you mind elaborating? You can tell me which notes you mean so that I can tell when I listen to it :). Thanks a lot though!

petter:: Yes, I have always imagined it being an opening scene too. :D Thank you for linking the clip X"D. I was playing my track with the YouTube video on mute, and some bits suited surprisingly well! Interesting stuff *_*.

Offline pianowolfi

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schartmanovich:: I did figure out how to do it in the end. However, I am not really keen on posting the sheet music out until I have handed this in as my coursework in May. Sorry about that.. but I can't help getting slightly worried when I just share things online. Of course, I do trust the members here, but there are loads of people who just come and browse and download things so... Are you still able to comment on it without seeing the music? I can telll you anything you want to know, things like instrumentation and stuff if it's really unclear! :)

gyzzzmo:: Oh yes, I can reassure that it's all mine, apart from two bars, which my teacher has given me some help in. It's really interesting though, because another friend of mine has been saying how it sounds like a game track, no matter how much I want it to sound like a piece of film music :(... And yes you are right about the scene thing. I haven't really thought about it in so much detail so.. thanks for commenting!

thierry13:: Sorry but I am slightly confused about what you are saying... It might be because I just compose without thinking... I don't actually think of, for example, using a 'minor scale' or planning things out. I always just go with the flow. I think the bit I don't understand is the 'great interval in the middle of a scale run' bit. Would you mind elaborating? You can tell me which notes you mean so that I can tell when I listen to it :). Thanks a lot though!

petter:: Yes, I have always imagined it being an opening scene too. :D Thank you for linking the clip X"D. I was playing my track with the YouTube video on mute, and some bits suited surprisingly well! Interesting stuff *_*.

hmmmmmm, what is this supposed to be? Quite cryptic :P

Oh, got it, sorry, I thought you were quoting something from another thread :-[

I quite enjoy your piece :) Good work :)

Offline schartmanovich

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Part of the game track effect is due to the poor simulation offered by Sibelius. Put that in the hands of a real orchestra and the result will be MUCH different.

Offline icd

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Thank you, pianowolfi! Glad you like it!

schartmanovich:: I think you are right... Sibelius doesn't do it too much justice, though I have to say it's pretty impressive already since it's only a computer program after all lol. Man, it'd be a dream come true if a real orchestra could play this... ;_;

Offline Essyne

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I haven't really got much chance to talk to professional people and ask for their opinion. And I really, really don't want to make the wrong decision.

So, I would love to hear what you think - any honest/constructive criticisms will be welcomed by me with opened arms. The main question, however, is that... will I be able to cope if I decide to pursue composing as a career? Or am I far from being good enough?


I'm 17 as well, and am far from a professional, but am in awe. You are very talented! I know what you mean about "the wrong decision," but you are obviously gifted, and honestly, will one negative opinion stop you anyway? You sound very passionate about it, and I think you should pursue this passion and keep going!

I just compose without thinking... I don't actually think of, for example, using a 'minor scale' or planning things out. I always just go with the flow.

Once again, this is a natural talent that you possess, and you should definately continue studying it at a higher level and refine your skills. Natural talent is beautiful, but a refined natural talent is extraordinary! - Good Luck!
"A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song."
                                                 - Chinese Proverb -

Offline Kassaa

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Weeee I like it, I like the instrumentation too. I can't really judge this from a composer's view, but you should try to get in contact with a conservatory composition teacher and see what he thinks. Be careful not to let your talent get ruined by narrow minded composition teachers though! :P

Is the instrumentation intuitive too btw?

Offline icd

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Essyne:: Thank you for your compliments :"D. I will definitely try my best to pursue my dreams!

Kassaa:: I can't remember how I chose my instruments.. I have never been in an orchestra before so I have to admit that I am not familiar with a lot of instruments so I chose ones that would go well together and that I knew at least SOMETHING about (especially their timbres and stuff). Then I simply assembled them and created the piece, haha. It was a very random process lol. I added and took instruments out druing the process too :)
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