Semi-Invention

[cometear]

Here is my first attempt at composing a contrapuntal work. Once I get it to what I want it, I'll play it on piano. It's still a little too inconsistent for my liking, but let me know your thoughts!!

https://musescore.com/user/121058/scores/3359341 <this version shows the parts better in my opinion, with 2 voices rather than a piano midi.

[themeandvariation]

some thoughtful writing here, Cometear.  Good job.. There are a few places id mention- in bar 19, where the sextuplets align with the 16ths - you have the intervals a 7th (flatted, though, in the bassoon - is immediately made natural- B),  a 6th,  a 5th, and a 2nd..   I like the idea of the acceleration of rhythm which nicely sets up a dramatic - and last climbing figure.. but it seems a little awkward harmonically..
Also, in m 22 in the first beat you have parallel 5ths lead to an octave, and some other spots in that measure that are harmonically sketchy - which can work sometimes, but here you are setting up the last few chords/cadence, and the  4ths and
2nds, 9ths, etc. weaken the cadence in my opinion..
Having said that, i think you have understood much about how to balance 2 voices.
Good work!

[cometear]

some thoughtful writing here, Cometear.  Good job.. There are a few places id mention- in bar 19, where the sextuplets align with the 16ths - you have the intervals a 7th (flatted, though, in the bassoon - is immediately made natural- B),  a 6th,  a 5th, and a 2nd..   I like the idea of the acceleration of rhythm which nicely sets up a dramatic - and last climbing figure.. but it seems a little awkward harmonically..
Also, in m 22 in the first beat you have parallel 5ths lead to an octave, and some other spots in that measure that are harmonically sketchy - which can work sometimes, but here you are setting up the last few chords/cadence, and the  4ths and
2nds, 9ths, etc. weaken the cadence in my opinion..
Having said that, i think you have understood much about how to balance 2 voices.
Good work!

I seriously appreciate this input!! What you addressed really was holding it back from being a more confident and refined work. I read your advice of "little awkward harmonically" as applying to the last climbing figure, which the dissonance was bothering me. With a little rhythmic shift I was able to solve the dissonance, and it actually made it more tensious and exhilarating. I briefly experimented with how to resolve the polyrhythm harmonic dissonance, but I might need to work on it more. I also solved my least favorite measure (which I sort of threw together last night), the measure before the cadence. I think it's better now with a bit of pedal point, then a descending figure that harmonizes much better than arpeggios. It defines the i6/4 much better, which I didn't realize what that was when I found the right hand pattern, but it sets up for the cadence. Let me send that revised ending.