Three Aspects Of An Experience (First Draft Score)

This is the first run-through of a piece I am writing for a professional ensemble called Gemini. Myself and five other students in my university were selected from a group of participants in a competition, the selected six get to write a piece for the ensemble that is played in an informal concert, revised, then played in a formal concert.

This is the first run-through of the piece, shortly after the workshop with the players.

The players are sight reading, so there are some small errors.

The piece itself is inspired by the way objects change in one's view when looking perpendicular to the direction one is traveling in. Distant objects appear smaller, move slower and are less clear, whereas closer objects are fleeting but more stark.

The music imitates these images, first inspired by a countryside, secondly a busy city scene and finally the night sky as twilight becomes night.

In the city scene, objects are almost always close up and fast, sometimes meeting in the line of sight, so the instruments meet on hard accents. The end of that section mimics the doppler effect as the traveller passes a busker playing Count Basie's 'Jumping at the Woodside'.

The final scene is in two parts, instrumentally. The Bass Clarinet, Violin and Viola represent the slow moving clouds, while the piano plays the stars in the night sky.

The ensemble is as follows:

Caroline Balding - Violin
Yuko Inoue - Viola
Ian Mitchell (Ensemble Director) - Bass Clarinet
Huw Watkins - Piano

Category:

Music

Tags:

• violin
• viola
• bass
• clarinet
• original
• composition
• ensemble
• chamber
• music
• Huw
• Watkins
• score
• classical
• contemporary
• orchestra

[biznock19]

that was great

[tommyk77]

@biznock19 Thanks! I just submitted sketches for this academic year's David Lovatt Competition, so watch this space!

[realitycheck888]

I cannot find words to express how cliched this is. You must be studying at the RCM or something to come out with this. I've simply heard this piece a hundred times: the open string notes, the lonesome, slow and boring clarinet line, 'bell-like' intonations in the piano, a few glissandi for good measure. Reconsider your life mate because you don't have a chance as a serious composer.

[tommyk77]

@realitycheck888 Thanks. I really love your videos, and wow! You have so many credits to your name!

Troll...

[realitycheck888]

Hey, I'm actually quite a well known musician but choose to make these comments anomalously for obvious reasons. The players who play your music won't tell you (Huw is far to polite and politic to say so) but somebody needs to point out how hackneyed this idiom is. Seriously, go and listen to any past workshops on composers from the RAM, RCM, Guildhall, Kings College, Birmingham con. Cambridge and Oxford etc. from the last 30 years or so and you will feel the bottom of your stomach fall out.

[tommyk77]

@realitycheck888 The fact is, I'm wholly aware of the cliches. The end is Ives, middle Sakamoto, opening steals from The Rite... basically, why do you feel the need to put others down. I asked for 'constructive' criticism.

[Tamadrum1111]

Pretty badass right here.

[tommyk77]

@admentlore Thanks very much! The players are pretty hardcore guys. They play stuff like Maxwell-Davies and Carter. Intense.

I'll check your stuff out too

[admentlore]

The music reflecting the idea is amazing. First run-through? those players did a heck of a good job. I'm trying to write music that is playable and easy yet complex. You've done it! Can't wait to here more from you man.

[tommyk77]

@MinimumEffect

Yes, the final is on the 28th of April at the University of Surrey. I believe it starts at 1:10pm in PATS Studio One.