<Pony?>>Orchestral> Snowy Days

[Armystuntman]

So I recently got addicted to the game "Starbound", so while exploring on my pony character, it started snowing. I got filled with inspiration to write a piece based on the exploration feeling of Starbound, and a little bit of pony in the mix.
https://soundcloud.com/the-unhappy-orchestra/snowy-days

I worked really hard on this one. Well, just a whole day, but normally I don't spend more than 4 hours on a song soooooo yeah.

Criticism? I'm particularly not used to making this type of slow-paced music, I don't know what should go where or anything, sooo.....Advice and criticism would be greatly accepted.

[Callenby]

Unless I'm mistaken you have a bit of gap between octaves in the first half minute or so. It's mostly just the highs and lows. Maybe flesh that out a little more?

1:12 I'm not sure that that little pizz glissando thing is actually realistic (or even possible) for an actual performer.

1:15 - 1:30 This part felt a little bit formless.

1:30 - 2:03 I'm going to be honest. I wasn't really feeling this part. It didn't seem like it fit in with the rest. It felt a bit too silly for my taste. Then it just ends and is completely gone thereafter, which feels quite strange.

2:37 The chord you use right here is interesting. Try and use more chords like it. Spice things up more, you know?

Also, dynamics. Use them more.

Overall, my biggest criticism would be the lack of uniformity. The whole thing just felt like it was drifting from one theme to another and not really developing each as much as they deserve to be. Try picking just one single theme and stretching that to it's fullest potential. You might be surprised by how much music you can get out of one little idea.

normally I don't spend more than 4 hours on a song soooooo yeah.

That's probably not a good sign. All the best musicians I know spend far, far more than a few hours on a single song, no matter what the genre. It's better to have a few really golden songs than a million so-so ones.

[Wolfram]

Very true, Callen. For example, I remember, if my memory serves me well, that fandom legends like Tombstone would post how long a certain project took, and I think they were around a few scores of hours (and I believe that count was purely in time spent on the project).

I myself only spend a day or two writing a project part (usually in a notation editor), then spend a few more days fleshing it out. Either way, it's a good idea to pour in a bit more time in your work.