GG's music

I worked for just under 3 hours on the following section of 'Phoenix Forms'. I took out the middle portion of the Client section, as I don't feel it worked. There were 3 musically related parts in the Client section, which was too repetitive and it didn't flow. The remaining 2 portions are both quite 'full' and keep a rhythm going. I kept the extra beats in alternate phrases of the 1st portion - it makes it a bit more interesting. I may change some of the brass voicing in the 1st portion, and possibly move the oboe 1 beat back on the bars with extra beats. I decided to link the Phoenix and Client themes by referring to the same rhythm at times in both parts. I'm not sure I've chosen the right voicing in areas. I'll possibly chop out some rhythm in the Phoenix theme, as I'm not sure it's necessary. I also decided to repeat most of both sections/ themes, but cut out the first part of the Client theme. At the end I created a definite finish, by building it up a little and including strong strings in the final bar.

Phoenix Forms: client & phoenix

This piece, 'Simple Life', is based around a simple, uncomplicated rhythmical piano with solo string parts and a piccolo. The music I write tends to get dragged towards the down beat. Don't know why! So I made a conscious effort to do something more positive, innocent, upbeat. I intend keeping this as the original theme, but build on it whilst sticking to my initial objective. Maybe I'll achieve this by introducing more instruments as I go along, or possibly just create variations using these instruments.

Simple life

The following piece was originally created for an assignment on the Music for the Media course. Its working title is 'Phoenix Forms'. It didn't start out this way. If I can find the original piece of music I will post it on the blog.

Phoenix Forms

This part will probably be divided into 3 parts once I've re-arranged and re-written it.

The first part (with the lute type sound followed by the oboe) I feel is complete, apart from panning sounds. It sounds lop sided, as do a few of my tracks on the first attempt. Don't know why. Maybe it's my speaker setup. Maybe it's my hearing. I know it sounds slow, but I'm intending to contrast this with a faster paced section too.

The section that follows it will probably be the faster piece. I call it the 'Client' section (based on its original use). I'm having trouble deciding on the best ryth to use for this client section... Should I use the extra beats I've got in every bar, get rid of them or use the extra beats on the alternative bars?

The 'Phoenix' theme follows the 'Client' theme, but I'm considering keeping this as a separate section.

Then we've got the organ part, which is very basic at the moment. I think I'm being very brave letting people listen to it all like this, but... well, there you go.

A couple of years ago I thought that it might be interesting to keep a diary about the music I had composed - thoughts about where I aimed to go with particular pieces; how I'd overcome musical problems; where I ended up with a piece of music and whether it was where I'd intended ending up. Whenever I worked on a piece of music I'd make a note of what I'd done; decisions made; why I'd made those changes... blah ! blah! blah!

I recently thought it might be interesting to do an electronic version of it in the hope that I could get feedback, constructive criticism and pointers from others as to where I was going right or wrong and whether people liked it or not.

I believe that I'm never too old or wise to learn something new about music. I have a little formal music training and am a recent graduate of a music for media course. I particularly appreciate all that I learnt on the course and it opened my eyes to such a wider musical field. Unfortunately it does mean that I'll probably end up writing music in style which is poked in the proverbial eye much more than prog rock.

I compose music in a variety of styles - rock, pop, classical, a.n.other, but this blog intends to focus on the classical side of things and possibly a.n.other, if it fits.

When I write music I flit from piece to piece. I've got a few classical pieces I'm working on. I call it classical music in an inverted comma's sort of way, as it's probably the easiest description to give the pieces of music. However, I'm sure classical purists would disagree with my description.

I use a computer to record my music - Cubase for sequencing and Garritan personal orchestra for orchestral instruments. After using Garritan for a couple of years I've realised that it's not only the quality of software instruments that you use that counts, but also how you use it.