Incidental piece - suspense/drama

[reith]

Incidental music backing a sort of ‘suspense’ sequence. 3 ½ mins.
2 fls, 2 clarinets, 2 horns, violins, cellos and piano.

Thinking of earlier comments in the forums about notes on composition process, this started out as a keyboard fugue that I broke apart, changed bits, adding the instrumental lines - getting two lots of music for the price of one, so to speak.
I was messing about with the fugue subject and my buddy thought that the subject in the minor made the right kind of sound – ominous etc, so we talked about tailing it with some tremolo strings, murky horn sounds and the expressive capabilities of the clarinet that in the chalumeau can sound quite sinister.

For the intended purpose – it remains to install that superior piano – it’s curious that the piano here was quite liked for its harsh steeliness.

http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=5011742&q=hi

In case anyone’s interested, here’s the rough score…excuse me not doing it neater since I doubt the music will get further than this rendering, except being put through a decent reverb. Also excuse some appalling enharmonics. With separate parts I’d change a few of those.

I hope that with a bit of tarting up it might make a standalone piece for the portfolio – unusual that video/film music ever does without considerable reshaping. Still…

Please give it a listen and comment - it’s still possible to change things (even large ones within a given time segment) so…much appreciated. Thanks!

[Whataguy!]

I like the idea of getting two lots of music for the price of one

Although this is supposed to be for a suspense sequence, it sounds quite playful; as if children were about to find something scary but didn't. To make this a standalone piece, a more definite ending might be in order.

[MaestroX]

I would disagree with Whataguy. I thinking this fits the bill perfectly. Very suspenseful and drama like, thought I think there isn't enough build up to a climax. Pieces like this have the habit of falling into complete randomness but for the most part I think you've managed to keep it together very well.

I also like clarinet high up there! i wouldn't mind playing that , sounds quite fun and interesting.

[Boneman]

Hi R! I think it is great but do you know where I think it should go? A piece for clarinet and orchestra. There are loadsa players out there that would relish a new modern piece for clarinet.What do you think?

[MaestroX]

When listening I did think the clarient writing was very good. There is lots potencial to devlop it. Perhaps I would say to clarinet and piano. A piece that comes to mind in Lutoslawski dance preludes for clarinet and piano that may give you some inspiration.

[reith]

Well, this has turned just a shade sour. We spent some time getting it to fit the video clip but now it seems it's too obtrusive. My answer is to do no more work until the full editing is complete - that's when it should start anyway but I have a nasty habit of wanting to push as much forward as I can even if just thinking up the ideas. Never mind.

Originally Posted by Whataguy!

Although this is supposed to be for a suspense sequence, it sounds quite playful; as if children were about to find something scary but didn't. To make this a standalone piece, a more definite ending might be in order.

Thanks for that. I think I overdid it a bit anyway. Any further work would mean toning it down a bit. I made an adjustment to the end to make it "standalone" - in fact, for some weird reason I bunged it on the beginning of the next section.

Originally Posted by Maestrox

I would disagree with Whataguy. I thinking this fits the bill perfectly. Very suspenseful and drama like, thought I think there isn't enough build up to a climax. Pieces like this have the habit of falling into complete randomness but for the most part I think you've managed to keep it together very well.

I also like clarinet high up there! i wouldn't mind playing that , sounds quite fun and interesting.

Thanks! I may re-do it completely as a piece as I’ll have to rework the thing anyway. I truly like the expressive range of the clarinet, was going to do a following section mostly for clarinet. Here’s an extract. (Take no notice of the first chord!)

Start Player

[reith]

Originally Posted by Boneman

Hi R! I think it is great but do you know where I think it should go? A piece for clarinet and orchestra. There are loadsa players out there that would relish a new modern piece for clarinet.What do you think?

Hi, Mr. B

It might be possible but I'd thought about clarinet, piano and strings. I'm not sure about getting the same pianistic effect with an orchestra.... The follow-on would work for cl and piano - there's a link to an extract in my previous post - would only mean rearranging the string chords for piano...in fact it would make a break from the otherwise banal pianistic style.

Thanks!

[Whataguy!]

Originally Posted by reith

Well, this has turned just a shade sour. We spent some time getting it to fit the video clip but now it seems it's too obtrusive. My answer is to do no more work until the full editing is complete - that's when it should start anyway but I have a nasty habit of wanting to push as much forward as I can even if just thinking up the ideas. Never mind.

Hah! I know just what you're talking about here. I do the same thing except, unlike you, my lack of experience causes me to overwrite to where I have to either pare extensively or write another cue altogether. If the segment has dialogue or a narration, I'm sure with a few strokes of a pen you would be able to fit this piece to picture rather easily. If the segment is just pictures, the piece could probably work well as it is.