Comparing Composers

[False_Dmitry]

This is undoubtedly one of the most shameful and depressing "discussions" about art I've ever read.  No-one emerges from this sad fiasco with any credit.

It's summer.  Go outside and take a walk instead?  Look at the landscape, or the cityscape or whatever, and think what a remarkable world we live in.  No generation ever had such easy access to works of art. If our parents wanted to hear an opera or a symphony, it came on 10-20 x 78rpm disks and cost a month's wages.  Now we can download a choice of recordings in 2-3 minutes, in superb reproduction, and it's either free... or costs the price of a sandwich.

Please stop being such ungrateful children.

[(poco) Sforzando]

This is undoubtedly one of the most shameful and depressing "discussions" about art I've ever read.  No-one emerges from this sad fiasco with any credit.

It's summer.  Go outside and take a walk instead?  Look at the landscape, or the cityscape or whatever, and think what a remarkable world we live in.  No generation ever had such easy access to works of art. If our parents wanted to hear an opera or a symphony, it came on 10-20 x 78rpm disks and cost a month's wages.  Now we can download a choice of recordings in 2-3 minutes, in superb reproduction, and it's either free... or costs the price of a sandwich.

Please stop being such ungrateful children.

And who raised you on a pedestal above everyone else?

[False_Dmitry]

And who raised you on a pedestal above everyone else?

I stand on no pedastal.  I just refuse to jump in the pigswill.

[(poco) Sforzando]

I stand on no pedastal.  I just refuse to jump in the pigswill.

And yet you have joined the discussion. If you find the membership here to be nothing more than a group of pigs, then perhaps you would be happier with another forum that doesn't so offend your nostrils. I wish you luck trying to find one.

[greg]

Here's another major headache:

http://www.youtube.com/v/BjhxYFb72q0&feature=related

It's a headache to you.
To me, it's the possibly most badass movement of a piano sonata ever written (Richter's version, of course, superior).

I started enjoying this when I just picked up a random CD from the library- had no knowledge at all about 20th century classical, and had never even heard of Prokofiev. At first, expecting something traditional, I was a bit shocked. However, after listening a few times, I realized that, despite what I expected, I LOVED it.

And you want to tell me that I pretend to like this because I would appear smart in front of people on the internet? (And when I listen to this, alone in my room, it's to appear educated in front of people)? If you really believe that, you seriously lack any common sense.

[greg]

Banality at its best

http://www.youtube.com/v/PxRpLA4sBFg&feature=related

This music has some soul, man! Thanks for the Prokofiev.

As for that "Ocean Song...." what's up with the flute line? Wtf? Almost every bar is just a whole note? Copy and paste much?
(and Szykniej is right- you do need slurs for the violin- would be too hard anyways to bow in an opposite direction every note for that long, not to mention not idiomatic for something like that)

At least Prokofiev didn't have a computer program where he could just write a bar and copy and paste it endlessly, while just changing the pitches. If he did and used it that way... we wouldn't know him.

[greg]

The Prokofiev sonata got 55,000 views. And that's just one performance. Pop stars get many millions of view. Your point?...

[Mirror Image]

This music has some soul, man! Thanks for the Prokofiev.

As for that "Ocean Song...." what's up with the flute line? Wtf? Almost every bar is just a whole note? Copy and paste much?
(and Szykniej is right- you do need slurs for the violin- would be too hard anyways to bow in an opposite direction every note for that long, not to mention not idiomatic for something like that)

At least Prokofiev didn't have a computer program where he could just write a bar and copy and paste it endlessly, while just changing the pitches. If he did and used it that way... we wouldn't know him.

That's right. The greatest composers wrote music with their hands and on music paper. Look at Mozart, Bach, Brahms. All the composers Saul supposedly looks up to and admires. If he wants to be a great composer, then he'll learn to compose using his hands and not use music notation software, which any monkey who can learn how to use.

[Saul]

And somehow 30,000 views translates to a great composition? Music IS NOT a popularity contest. You don't compose meaningful music and it shows.

I would be very interested in knowing who you studied composition with, because whoever it was obviously didn't teach you anything, but then again, you can't teach somebody to come up with a great piece of music. It has to come from their imagination and heart. Both of which you severely lack.

Personal opinion, that's what youre all about. Many people disagree with you, and this is a fact.
But anyways, I will post an Orchestral work for you...

[(poco) Sforzando]

This would sound like mud if played by the actual instruments, especially the flute in that range. And how do you intend the violinist to articulate those 32nd note arpeggios since no articulations are indicated? Sounds more like relaxing New Age music to me.

I don't think the articulations are so much the problem. I'm not a violinist, but generally when you see up-and-down arpeggios in scores, they're laid out in such a way as to fall in a natural position over the four strings. Here, however, the highest note of the arpeggio is several times lower than the open E string, meaning it would have to be played on the A string and making me wonder if some of the figurations could be easily fingered at all. I agree also that the flute is treated in a weak register throughout and the rhythmic plan is unvaried and monotonous.


But perhaps I should comment no further, as we have been informed from On High that instead of swimming in pigswill, we ungrateful children should all go out for a walk.

[Mirror Image]

And we are going back at the very beginning...

'Who did you study composition with'?

Like if I studied with a famous composer would that make my music worthy of your praise?
Would you be afraid to 'like' my music for what it is without knowing with whom I studied with?

All I asked you is a simple question, Saul. Do you have any musical training? If yes, who did you study with and where did you study?

If you don't want to answer my question that is your right, but I'm just curious where you received your musical training. That's all I'm asking.

[greg]

No, that wouldn't work. You actually have to have a willingness to learn in order to study anything with anybody. If you're not willing to learn, then you're not going to learn anything. Don't you remember that Saul knows it all?

Yeah, that's why I put that afterthought in parenthesis. I don't think any teacher could improve him.

[Mirror Image]

Yeah, that's why I put that afterthought in parenthesis. I don't think any teacher could improve him.

Not with his attitude that's for sure.

[Szykneij]

I don't think the articulations are so much the problem. I'm not a violinist, but generally when you see up-and-down arpeggios in scores, they're laid out in such a way as to fall in a natural position over the four strings.

These arpeggios don't, especially in the key of E major. The whole piece had a better chance of working in the key of A major, which would eliminate the pesky D-sharp and get the whole thing up to a better range for both the violin and flute. But still, 32nd note arpeggios on a real violin at the tempo of this piece aren't going to work, not without some creative bowings if at all.

[Saul]

May I suggest you take some composition classes? This is really something that you might want to consider. Have you considered going to college and studying classical composition?

I don't think its really necessary, I'm always learning, and there are many possibilities to learn, composition, I have books that I study, and I have taken some good composition lessons from my piano teacher which is a wondrous music scholar and a first rate Bach performer.

[Teresa]

That's right. The greatest composers wrote music with their hands and on music paper...

I still use pencil on sheet music paper, however I would like to learn how to do it on the computer.

Here is the first page of my Dream Piece in F Minor, Op. 3



It is only the piano score, I have yet to orchestrate it.

[karlhenning]

Prokofiev is the best!

[Szykneij]

I still use pencil on sheet music paper, however I would like to learn how to do it on the computer.

Here is the first page of my Dream Piece in F Minor, Op. 3



It is only the piano score, I have yet to orchestrate it.

Nice looking manuscript. I was always envious of people who had the ability to create good-looking scores by hand. My manuscript was never very neat.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Oh, there may well be a traffic accident in Saul's mind . . . could explain the impeded flow of reason ; )

[Saul]

Prokofiev is the best!

Dull