…which I will not link to here, unless someone wants to hear it (it’s 23 minutes).
First off, hello fellow Scalerites ! I haven’t been here for a bit, hope everyone is well.
Second - at the beginning of this year, my first full year of retirement, I set three goals for myself: Keep my weight under control (so far, so good), read a lot more (15 books completed so far on Medieval English History, with six or seven more teed up and a plan to re-read some of the ones I’ve read already), and, with not a little presumptive audacity, write a symphony.
Well, I did that and finished it about a month ago. I’m really not classically trained at all, and I broke a lot of rules regarding form and structure, mostly I guess because I didn’t know any better - I just did what I thought sounded coherent and engaging.
I used Scaler a fair bit, mostly for ostinatos and a few melodic figures. I posted a link (reluctantly) on a digital music production forum and shared with some friends. Most of the feedback I got, especially from the experienced producers, ranged from skeptical to pretty harsh. I should have expected that, and I kind of did, but what really bothered me was the observation that passages where I used Scaler came across as unrealistic and robotic. Perhaps I over-used Scaler, or perhaps I should have manually humanized the notes. I’ve tried using the “humanize” function in Scaler, but, at least in the functions I used, didn’t hear much difference.
I’ll continue to use Scaler, but any tips from anyone here composing orchestral music that maybe I need to hear?
Well, it was a 23 minute piece in three sections (or “movements”), using orchestral VST’s, no synths and a few repeated motifs. As to whether it is really a symphony is a matter of debate. Perhaps my greatest pretense was calling it that, as at least one reviewer disputed it was a symphony in the strictest sense. It’s certainly not Haydn, or Beethoven, or Stravinsky, or (insert a name). I probably should call it a “piece” , or “A Long Piece With Orchestral VST patches”. It certainly is that.
The end result is a wav file. It was never meant to be performed by an orchestra. Maybe that’s the clincher.
Hi @DaveK58 ! Great to hear from you again! Now, you cannot tease us like this, and then not share the fruits of your work with us! I think it fits well within this forum’s culture to share your musical output, especially if Scaler played a role in it.
So, I for one, would like to hear that 23min piece you wrote, your past work being indication that your creations are worth listening to…
Another one here that would love to hear your piece, I’ve just started getting into orchestrion and finding it fascinating if not confusing at times. I like trying new things which also keeps my old brain active . I’m sure there are a few more on here would like to hear it to.
As @Bernd indicates, Dave has IMHO created a lot of impressive stuff. He has an extraordinary knowledge of English Medieval history and architecture (and I can’t think there would be more than a handful of native English people in the same league - amazing for an American, if I dare say so), and has musical sound tracks to his many videos on the aforementioned topics. I like the way he matches the musical paragraphs to the subjects being displayed at the time. I’ve found it a source of some interesting ideas.
I’m listening again to the symphony piece, this time to try and tie it up with fragments used of out of Scaler.
Well done, I’ve just listened to your “Symphony” and I appreciate the amount of time you must have spent on this. FWIW I thought the movements progressively got better, but that might be just to personal preference. If I attempt anything like this I get about 2 or 3 minutes in then struggle to progress, but hey my 70 year old brain isn’t as sharp as it used to be , and I’m only doing it for my own pleasure. I look forward to hearing future pieces.
Just listened to your piece and have to say some good ideas here but the bits don’t seem to join toghether nor link together. Have you considered look8ng at making some progressions or musical devices to help you connect the sections and possibly flesh out this piece to a longer work. I am not complaining as I am an amateur as well. I keep chords from pieces that I read so that they can be relooked at a later date. I believe all composers have had to do this whilst at University. During o level music we had to keep a book of chords that we had compiled or found and if we had a good chord that went into everyone’s chord book. When we were asked to write a small tune we could use the circle of 5ths or if chord in our books message good match with the piece written. I have a cello concerto unfortunately it is still in my head not on paper.
Thanks for listening and for your comments ! And welcome to the community !
I’ve tried very hard, in different contexts, to refrain from explaining why I did what I did in this piece. I kind of think music should just speak for itself. Clearly, my lack of classical music training and structural rigor is fully on display here, and I gladly accept any observations in that regard. I’m just grateful whenever someone makes it all the way through.
I’ve started another long project but some unfortunate events have cropped up in my personal life and I’ve been a little creatively stifled as a result.
Please do post a link to your concerto when you get it done. Would love to hear it ! For me, I could have waited until I had all the training and musical scholarship I needed, but just decided to do it and see what happened. It may not be the best way to learn, but it is one way.
. I’m sure there are a few more on here would like to hear it to.
No, Claudio. Link added to thread.