Movements from my "Gloria Brevis"

[Majesty]

Hey everyone,

I have recently stopped work on my opera to compose a short gloria for a Women's Chorus. It is scored for SSAA, Soprano solo, Organ and Timpani. The chorus is represented by trumpets and the soprano solo is represented by solo violin. Each movement is between 2-3 minutes long. The timpani is present in EVERY movement in various ways. I posted an excerpt of the 3rd movement in the "sketches" forum. You can look there for more info on the 3rd movement. I have about 3 more movements to complete and will post them when I am finished.

Here are the 1st three movement. I hope you all enjoy.

1) http://www.soundclick.com/bands/song...songID=5469738

2) http://www.soundclick.com/bands/song...songID=5469724

3) http://www.soundclick.com/bands/song...songID=5434042

[reith]

Soundclick appears to be down at the mo (10.25am) but I'll be on later...

[Majesty]

I forgot to mention that I do plan on making another version of this work for SATB chorus and orchestra with soprano solo. I was enjoying the process and the results of the work so much that I felt a grander orchestrated version was in need.

[reith]

A very grand opening to the Gloria in Excelsis. The organ pedals come over well plus a few mutation stops. Definitely has your stamp upon it. Some nice dissonances - Great build up toward the final cadence.

Etr in Terra Pax: I liked the expansive opening and the unexpective shift of harmony around 0.40 and the build up around 1.36. Will these include voices eventually? Nice section around 2.45. If it's ok to say, I questioned the registration at the very end. A flute sound minus some of the smaller ranks seemed to suggest itself. However....

Laudamus: Have listened to this in the other thread. You've changed, no? But kept that striking progression around 1.10.

Hopefully we might be treated to a recording after it's performed. I'd love to hear it with voices. So, a very nice 'orchestration'. The organ had a baroque sound - no swell-boxes (that I noticed anyway!)

Very pleasant to listen to.
Thanks
reith.

[Majesty]

Thanks for listening, Reith. As always you give insightful review and they are very much appreciated.

Regarding your comments on the organ, Finale GPO is responsible for the registration sounds. I don't think I can effect change in registration for the render but its worth looking into.

The dissonances in the opening "Gloria" are due to the quartal chords I juxtaposed with 7th chords. I'm glad the effect came across nicely.

As far as including voices, the trumpets in the rendering are performing the SSAA parts and the violin the solo part. Its just that when using the more realistic GPO sounds with Fianle there isn't an option for voice.

I guess I could make another render with a less realistic sound so that the voice sounds can be heard.

Anyway, thanks for listening and the comments.

[reith]

No, it's fine, knowing what your aim is. I wondered if the organ was a fixed sound in your sample set. It's always a problem with sampled sounds anyway - don't I know it!
A live performance would caused a few shimmers, that's certain.

(Excuse me, though....(showing my ignorance here - sorry - ) what are quartal chords?)

[Majesty]

Originally Posted by reith

No, it's fine, knowing what your aim is. I wondered if the organ was a fixed sound in your sample set. It's always a problem with sampled sounds anyway - don't I know it!
A live performance would caused a few shimmers, that's certain.

(Excuse me, though....(showing my ignorance here - sorry - ) what are quartal chords?)

No need to excuse yourself

Quartal chords are chords build by 4ths as opposed to Triads which are build by thirds. For example C-F-Bb. You can have Qunital chords and secundal chords as well. I don't really use quartal chords and other types very often but their qualities do lend themselves to specific ideals at time.

[Majesty]

Here is the link to the foruth movement "Gratias". It is composed in ritornello form with some added "call and response" between the soloist and chorus.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/song...songID=5519703

[Majesty]

Any other comments, positive or negative?

[reith]

Sorry! I've been a bit busy and trying to squeeze in a bit of composing (to no useful avail, I have to say). Holidays are coming up soon.
Thank you for explaining the quartal chords.... I have to admit never quite looking at chords in that way though I've used them.

Gratias.
This is quite a different mood from the earlier sections. May I ask if you changed the title to "Gloria Caribana"? Just that I didn't see that when I first heard these pieces. Gratias comes over Caribbean, certainly more than the rest. Again, interesting twists to the harmony between 0'40" and 0'50". Well, I shouldn't wait for the surprises but I know they'll be there.
I liked the quietening at around 1'25". Nice coda too.

Altogether nice.
So...is this complete now?