I need some comments on this Trio

[Marsmallos]

Hi

This is a Trio i wrote some months ago (it was a task i got from my composition teacher). Please give me comments on this, i really need them, because i have only composed for about 4,5-5 years, i dont remember i was either 9 or 10 when i began trying to compose (im 14 and about a half now).
All comments are apprecited!

Movement 1:
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getpl...d=5101691&q=lo 5:22
This is in sonata form. The development section couldve been better, the same about a lot of other things. But this is my first attempt to write for other instruments than piano. Ever.

Movement 2:
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getpl...d=5101699&q=lo 7:07

Movement 3:
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getpl...d=5101710&q=lo 5:10
Sonata form. This is the one i think works best. But maybe it is a bit difficult? I dont know i cant play other instruments than piano. Should i upload the score so any Clarinet/Violin players could give their opinion?

Keep in mind that all these recordings are computer made, so this doesnt sound wery human. A lot of things would have sounded better if it where humans that played it!
All links are Lo-Fi so there should be minimum loading time. It is a live streaming player. Please take your time to listen to this!

Thanks in advance for any comments !

L.G.

P.S. I know i have posted this before, but the site i used then was not any good and the links are no longer accessable. And i only got one answer on that one because of that... :-(

[fundrazor]

This is a very pleasant, well-crafted piece. Your feel for the instruments is excellent and your juxtaposition of their timbres and range is outstanding. I started off thinking it was like Mendelssohn, then thought you were trying for Mozart, but decided in the end that it had a very Weber feel about it.

A couple of, I hope, positive criticisms however. The three movements were too similar in tempo and mood and the third movement in particular was crying out for somewhat more virtuoso lines for the clarinet and violin. Some runs, arpeggio figures, interlinking counterpoint etc would have been far more in keeping with the style of the piece (listen to Mozart clarinet concerto and the two Weber concertos to see what I mean). In other words, the clarinet and violin parts are simply too easy in this context.

Secondly, if you are going to use sonata form, it is vital that you don't forget the Development section. I never got the feeling that you ever really moved away from your core tonic and dominant keys. Listen to the first movement of Mozart 40 for one of the finest development sections extant. Even in something as structured as sonata form, there is plenty of room for surprises.

Finally, whilst I appreciate that this was an exercise from your teacher, I think you need to be a little more ambitious. You clearly have a precocious talent, an excellent ear and an outstanding feel for instrumentation. What I would love to hear from you is your own voice in your music. One can't out-Weber Weber, so let's hear some authentic Marsmallos!

Again, well done - I wish I could have written something even approaching that at your age.

[Marsmallos]

Thanks for the reply!

Hmm... funny about that you thought it sounded like Weber, because the only Weber i have ever heard about is Carl-Maria von Weber, and i havent heard a single piece of him. I dont even know what style he has or anything. I didnt have any special composer in mind when i wrote this. But it is like with my piano compositions, my piano teacher says they remind her of Brahms and i havent heard alot of Brahms at all.

...and the third movement in particular was crying out for somewhat more virtuoso lines for the clarinet and violin.

The thing is, my composition teacher said that this already was quite hard and that i in later multi-instrument composition should aim for even easier parts. Chords for the Violin and some simple passagework directly after the main theme was all i dared in the last movement. And i have even switched place between some violin and piano parts to make it easier.

L.G.

[Ron Ofir]

Excellent! I basically have the same comments fundrazor has. If you do decide to give it another go (mostly developing the theme more) , I'd love hearing it!

Keep composing,
Ron Ofir.

[Marsmallos]

Thanks

Does anyone here play clarinet or violin? should i upload the score so you could actually determine if this is to easy or not? As i said my composition teacher said this was almooooost to difficult (but im not sure if he meant overall or for a particular level).

L.G.

[Ron Ofir]

Uploading the score is always a good idea, though I'm not a clarinet or violin player myself.

Oh, and is your composition a he or a she? You seem to be unsure about that...

[Marsmallos]

Originally Posted by Ron Ofir

Oh, and is your composition a he or a she? You seem to be unsure about that...

Eeer... what do you mean? I have never been aware that music has any gender... (but i probably misunderstood what you meant).

[Ron Ofir]

Oops, I meant your composition teacher

[fundrazor]

My music is definitely a she ... often a total bitch but I can't do without her.

(Clarinet/sax player married to a violinist so do upload the score)

[Marsmallos]

Ok here are the score for all three movements... its not very polished yet but it will do i expect
(the word "sats" means "movement" by the way in case anyone wonders )

L.G.