<Original><Pony><Orchestral> Crystal Kingdom Suite Part 1

[cybermusic]

Even though the episode is not out yet, I composed a two movement orchestral about the Crystal Kingdom. Movement one is a procession and two is a dance. There will be a part 2 since I cannot wait to add the anthem and jousting etc. Hope you enjoy this. Many thanks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3gERR3eAxE

[LunchBagMusic]

First of all, kudos for not over-using the string section (at least in the first movement). Too many people see the orchestra as:
Strings Melody wat
Brass lolololololololol so epic
Woodwinds wtf I ain't using these
Percussion There should be an abundance of large things, and they should be hit very hard.

Right, now I can get nit-picky.

Everything that has been said in these two movements (all of the musical ideas, phrases, melodies, etc.) could have been established, exposed and concluded in little more than three minutes. At most. Nine (going on ten) minutes is way too long and it shows.

The piece is so long and stretched out I was bored. It felt like you were aiming for quantity rather than quality. You worked methodically and systemically through the work by establishing a harmonic base and adding ideas onto the top every sixteen measures or so. I could predict exactly when a new instrument would come in and add to the piece. I shouldn't be able to do that. The music should move in unpredictable ways and lure the ear into a false sense of security before blowing it out of the water with an unprecedented cadance. Don't ever let ideas or dreams of length get in the way of succinct, tight composition.

In order to achieve such length, you will need to look at variation. Listen to the famous Symphony Nr. 5 - Allegro con Brio "Fate"; Beethoven (Reference Score Here)

Look at how Beethoven takes the main idea of the work (Profoundly stated in the first four bars) and keeps them exciting all the way to the climax of the piece (Note that you should ignore everything else here except his variation; Beethoven was a genius among all fields of music but our focus is specifically his variation). I'm not asking you to be as fantastic as this man, but just look at ways (beyond layering of sound) to vary your melodies and ideas.


After all of that though, I don't want to discourage you from making music. Music is fantastic and I'm so happy you're having a go. Keep at it, the only way to improve is practice (and a little help from others). Keep at it, man.

[Dr_Dissonance]

Lunchbag has said some great advice!
In fact, the quote:
"Strings Melody wat
Brass lolololololololol so epic
Woodwinds wtf I ain't using these
Percussion There should be an abundance of large things, and they should be hit very hard."

I am totally going to use!

Now, I'm going to expand on what Lunchbag said. The basic idea was that you stretched your ideas a bit much, but this can be done effectively. Ravel's Bolero does a good job of this! However, the orchestration is top notch, so it doesn't get boring.
You can either do that, or do what Lunchbag said; bring it down a bit and vary!
I'd recommend the latter. Still, a good start and I hope you take this advice to heart when writing more!

[EverfreeLuna]

Woodwinds wtf I ain't using these

I agree with the others that the ideas seem drawn out throughout the entire piece (I am very guilty of doing that ). However, I think this type of music is PERFECT for a video game of some sort.

The march feel of the first movement reminds me very much of an old style rpg like Final Fantasy.

[cybermusic]

First of all, kudos for not over-using the string section (at least in the first movement). Too many people see the orchestra as:
Strings Melody wat
Brass lolololololololol so epic
Woodwinds wtf I ain't using these
Percussion There should be an abundance of large things, and they should be hit very hard.

Right, now I can get nit-picky.

Everything that has been said in these two movements (all of the musical ideas, phrases, melodies, etc.) could have been established, exposed and concluded in little more than three minutes. At most. Nine (going on ten) minutes is way too long and it shows.

The piece is so long and stretched out I was bored. It felt like you were aiming for quantity rather than quality. You worked methodically and systemically through the work by establishing a harmonic base and adding ideas onto the top every sixteen measures or so. I could predict exactly when a new instrument would come in and add to the piece. I shouldn't be able to do that. The music should move in unpredictable ways and lure the ear into a false sense of security before blowing it out of the water with an unprecedented cadance. Don't ever let ideas or dreams of length get in the way of succinct, tight composition.

In order to achieve such length, you will need to look at variation. Listen to the famous Symphony Nr. 5 - Allegro con Brio "Fate"; Beethoven (Reference Score Here)

Look at how Beethoven takes the main idea of the work (Profoundly stated in the first four bars) and keeps them exciting all the way to the climax of the piece (Note that you should ignore everything else here except his variation; Beethoven was a genius among all fields of music but our focus is specifically his variation). I'm not asking you to be as fantastic as this man, but just look at ways (beyond layering of sound) to vary your melodies and ideas.


After all of that though, I don't want to discourage you from making music. Music is fantastic and I'm so happy you're having a go. Keep at it, the only way to improve is practice (and a little help from others). Keep at it, man.

Thanks! Now the only direction I will move is up. I tired to variate things a bit using countermelodies in the first and a middle section with a 5/8 6/8 swap fest afterwards. Quantity and quality was what I was going for but apparently it didn't work out as expected.

If I am getting an inclined composer to get nit-picky, then I am improving.

Many thanks!

[cybermusic]

Ah, I did feel some discouragement as nothing I made seems to be doing any good....

Well...Next time...