Post by Christian K on Mar 8, 2009 10:32:28 GMT -8
Oy, folks!
So, I've been "composing" again. No, make that: taking a song from the repertoire of the Russian Choir I was singing in back in Germany, and try to arrange it for an orchestral setting. Pen on paper first, trial version of Finale second, red pen on paper thrid and so on.
Please bear in mind that while I consider myself a musical person and had some musical education way back in the 80s and early 90s, I'm nowhere near the level of craftmanship of Brendan, Kevin, Armin or Peter. In my ears, the arrangement doesn't sound as bad as I feared it would, but still, I'd like someone competent to go over it and give me a thumbs-up/thumbs sideway/thumbs down.
The song, "Otdal Menya Batyushka" (My Grandfather Has Given Me Away), is a lamentation of a young lady that has been married off to a stranger in a village far away. It's a five-part piece of about four minutes in length. Originally, the lament is sung by a soprano, with SATB accompanying both bouche fermee and open. The song's structure is simple, ABABB; key is F#-minor.
For my arrangement, I gave the solo to oboe throughout. The choral accompaniment has been given to the strings (vln, va, vc, cb). For the second B part, I added a counter-melody for Bb clarinet. The third B part is most sad, and here I have a set of horns (divided up to four ways) giving additional support. Timpani give piano punctuation throughout.
Now, my version of Finale lets me have only 8 staves, so it's not finished. Dynamics are missing for the most part yet and for the fifth part, I guess I'm guilty as far as "tutti" and "forte" goes.
Since I'm reluctant to put the piece online, please shoot me a PM if any of you would like to give the piece a check-over. Comments both constructive and deconstructive are welcome, although I do hope for more of the former. I will send you the piece both as sung by my old choir and as a PDF.
Thanks in advance,
Christian
PS: Why I did this? Just for my own enjoyment, but I'd like it to have at least a tiny bit of professionalism!
So, I've been "composing" again. No, make that: taking a song from the repertoire of the Russian Choir I was singing in back in Germany, and try to arrange it for an orchestral setting. Pen on paper first, trial version of Finale second, red pen on paper thrid and so on.
Please bear in mind that while I consider myself a musical person and had some musical education way back in the 80s and early 90s, I'm nowhere near the level of craftmanship of Brendan, Kevin, Armin or Peter. In my ears, the arrangement doesn't sound as bad as I feared it would, but still, I'd like someone competent to go over it and give me a thumbs-up/thumbs sideway/thumbs down.
The song, "Otdal Menya Batyushka" (My Grandfather Has Given Me Away), is a lamentation of a young lady that has been married off to a stranger in a village far away. It's a five-part piece of about four minutes in length. Originally, the lament is sung by a soprano, with SATB accompanying both bouche fermee and open. The song's structure is simple, ABABB; key is F#-minor.
For my arrangement, I gave the solo to oboe throughout. The choral accompaniment has been given to the strings (vln, va, vc, cb). For the second B part, I added a counter-melody for Bb clarinet. The third B part is most sad, and here I have a set of horns (divided up to four ways) giving additional support. Timpani give piano punctuation throughout.
Now, my version of Finale lets me have only 8 staves, so it's not finished. Dynamics are missing for the most part yet and for the fifth part, I guess I'm guilty as far as "tutti" and "forte" goes.
Since I'm reluctant to put the piece online, please shoot me a PM if any of you would like to give the piece a check-over. Comments both constructive and deconstructive are welcome, although I do hope for more of the former. I will send you the piece both as sung by my old choir and as a PDF.
Thanks in advance,
Christian
PS: Why I did this? Just for my own enjoyment, but I'd like it to have at least a tiny bit of professionalism!