Expert: David Froom - 9/3/2004

Question
I appreciate your open attitude, but I asked for your opinion because I want to know another person's thoughts about the work.  I already know my own.  I like the piece quite a bit.  What I'd like to have is an expert's opinion on how well the piece holds together, and wheter it is compelling or completley unlistenable.  Could it use more variation?  How does it stand up from a technical point of view?, etc.  Relying soley on my own opinions is mere masterbation and will not increase my skill as a composer.  I need to know how to reach others, it is easy to reach myslef.  Please do not hesitate to tell me exactly what you think.  I'm a big boy, I can handle it.

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Followup To
Question -
http://www.mixfixers.com/works.html

What do you think?
Answer -
My opinion really shouldn't mean much to you. After all, you don't anything about me or my tastes. Obviously not everyone is going to like it.  Some people will.  The more interesting and important questions are: do you like it? and are you satisfied with how it came out?  If so, great; that's all that really matters.  If not, then try to figure out how to make it better (as you would define better).  If you get stuck, then maybe a good teacher could help.

Best wishes,
David Froom

Answer
I think you would get a good variety of answers from a good variety of folks if you were to post a link at www.composeforums.com.  You would find all kinds of interesting things there as well.

My own reaaction may not be valid, since I think I do not completely understand your intentions.  If it were my piece, I would be looking for more variety in terms of phrase length, rhythm, and texture.  But I would also probably not have undertaken the idea at all of trying to blend piano and pipe organ.  I simply cannot imagine a way to make these two work together that doesn't work to the disadvantage of both.  I have heard a number of successful pieces that combine piano with synthesizer sounds (either produced live or on tape), and these sounds include organ-like sounds.  But even here, the overwhelming presence of the sound out of the speakers doesn not fit well with the reflected sound of the piano (bouncing off its lid).  More than anything else, this presence problem would trouble me in your choice of instruments.  The organ is so much of the whole church -- and pianos sound so puny in that context.  And your synthesized version doesn't help me imagine how it "really" would sound.

I do hope you pursue the composeforums option.  I think you would enjoy the company of fellow composers.

Best wishes,

David Froom