Done and Done

Well, well!

The recital is done, and that feels great! Had my last in class playing on Friday past, and that was helpful for final tune ups and refining. Though there was only so much I could do before the recital on Sunday.

It was really cool hearing everyones pieces in the hall. It was great to hear effects and ideas that couldn't be expressed in the tiny classroom...like the resonance of playing into the grand piano. And just being able to hear the pieces in the acoustic context of the hall!

Now onto writing for voice...Not entirely sure what poem or text I'm going to set, but when I think of what I'd like I can't help but think of children's stories or something along those lines.

It'll be so nice to get this final score done and put this piece behind me!

Stephen

Shame, Shame

Well, it's been almost three weeks since I last made a blog post. Tsk, tsk!

So I'll do a little recap of the last two playings and my thoughts and what not.

On October 2nd I had my second character piece played. When I approached this piece I found myself creating something similar in character to the first, so I ended up going with that and thinking I would end the three with this one, and write something more contrasting for the middle piece.

I ended up thinking of something different each time I sat down to write something, and that came through, because it was mentioned that there were too many ideas for a small piece. And that I have to maybe pick one or two and think of the overall effect I want to achieve. As well, varying the ideas a little more, like having offbeat pizzicato after some on the beat, and instead of running 8ths try and throw something in that the listener wouldn't anticipate. To keep their attention.

I've found that it's been hard to just like the idea grow organically, take the idea and vary it, and see where it can go. Something I'll try in the revision of this piece.

On October 9th, the middle piece was played. I wanted to go for a different feel or effect. So I started with a slow arpeggiating piano line with pedal to be played freely. Through playing with the idea I thought of some cool ways to develop it, but was struggling with the notation of my idea, so in the interest of time I added a different idea and then concluded with something similar to the beginning, just as a rough sketch. I've been working on it, and this is going to be my favorite of the three I think. Hopefully I'll be able to really notate what I'm feeling.

So, now I'm revising, and pulling things together...Only one more week! EEK!