I had a very exciting experience last night, because I was given the opportunity to premier my very own, personally-written violin concerto! (Only movement I since the other movements aren't finished yet.) I composed the piece for full orchestra and solo violin surrounding last summer, and this year I showed it to one of my conductors who is also a composer and he told me to arrange it for string orchestra so we could play it! Last year the same orchestra played a movement of my symphony, which was fun, but I learned from composing and playing that symphony and I feel like this piece had many improvements. For one, the structure was much more, well, structured! Plus, everything flowed together much better on this piece. Everyone seemed to really enjoy it, and it got a standing ovation from the audience. The only sad part was I only had 2 or 3 weeks to learn the solo part myself, and let's just say I am not a very nice composer...that thing is HARD! I think I pulled it off enough to make it work though, and the orchestra sounded great!
For any composers out there (who I doubt would be wasting their time reading this), do whatever you can to get your stuff played, even if it's just a bunch of amateurs or younger musicians or whoever! If they're willing to play it, you can learn a lot from the experience. It really helps you find out what works and what doesn't. Even if you are completely certain that a certain idea will turn out some way, you would be surprised how different it can sound in real life than on a midi player or in your head. Sometimes it's better, sometimes it's worse. In my case, I think it was much better, and now I have a decent recording of it (which will also be useful in the future).
Now that I've edited it for string orchestra (and timpani) and solo violin, I'm wondering if I want to keep that orchestration. I kind of liked it...maybe I'll write it as both! Then I have to do the piano edition, and, and, and...this composition stuff has so much busy-work involved! But it's fun when I have time for it...
...and for all you NON-composers out there (who I also doubt would be wasting their time reading this), give it a shot. Even if it's just a simple melody, or a chord progression, it can be enlightening to put yourself in the seat of a composer. It gives you much more insight into what kind of methods composers might be using, and therefore gives you a better idea on the thoughts of composers. Personally, I think this has improved my ideas on music greatly. So go out there and write a masterpiece, keeping in mind that twinkle twinkle little star could be argued to be one of Mozart's greatest masterpieces!
-Phil
Friday, May 13, 2011
Lizards, Reptiles, and Other Creepy Crawlies
Once upon a time, there was a young man. This young man loves going to the zoo, and every chance he got he would go straight to the "Lizards, Reptiles, and Other Creepy Crawlies" building. He would spend hours there, staring at the giant spiders and the little blue frogs. Every time the Giant Cobra was shrouded from view in the foliage, the young man would be irrevocably upset. After all, it was one of his ten favorite animals of all time.
Still, after several years of this, the young man's mother became very worried about her son's growing obsession. It was not so much that she disapproved of his clear delight in the animals, it was that sometimes he would begin to copy their movements and act like them. She simply couldn't stand a son who slithered like a snake or flopped about like a frog. Sadly, though, no matter how much she chastised him for this growing behavior, he remained obstinate. She had a growing trepidation that he would continue and even increase these actions. Somehow, it needed to end.
She tried to think of all the reasons he would act like this, to perhaps eliminate it so the odd behavior would go away. Could it be congenital? she asked herself. No one has ever found such interest in animals in this family before, she realized. No, this was definitely unique, and there was no cause other than his outright obsession. Suddenly, the young man's mother had an epiphany. Perhaps it was presumptuous of her, but she had to try.
On one of those particular days during which the young man made his way to the zoo, his mother was waiting for him in secret. As he walked by, she flung a snake upon him. It was only a small garden snake, but nonetheless her endeavors were successful. The young man immediately let out a scream of terror, and ran for his life, never to return to the "Lizards, Reptiles, and Other Creepy Crawlies" building again.
-Phil
Still, after several years of this, the young man's mother became very worried about her son's growing obsession. It was not so much that she disapproved of his clear delight in the animals, it was that sometimes he would begin to copy their movements and act like them. She simply couldn't stand a son who slithered like a snake or flopped about like a frog. Sadly, though, no matter how much she chastised him for this growing behavior, he remained obstinate. She had a growing trepidation that he would continue and even increase these actions. Somehow, it needed to end.
She tried to think of all the reasons he would act like this, to perhaps eliminate it so the odd behavior would go away. Could it be congenital? she asked herself. No one has ever found such interest in animals in this family before, she realized. No, this was definitely unique, and there was no cause other than his outright obsession. Suddenly, the young man's mother had an epiphany. Perhaps it was presumptuous of her, but she had to try.
On one of those particular days during which the young man made his way to the zoo, his mother was waiting for him in secret. As he walked by, she flung a snake upon him. It was only a small garden snake, but nonetheless her endeavors were successful. The young man immediately let out a scream of terror, and ran for his life, never to return to the "Lizards, Reptiles, and Other Creepy Crawlies" building again.
-Phil
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