Little Chinese Air

[Ron Ofir]

After a long time full of studying Harmony, Counterpoint and the like, and also reading a book about different musical cultures (including Chinese), I finally managed to write something that I'm somewhat pleased with. It so happens (purely incidentally!) that it sounds chinese, and looking at the score I can find a Chinese pentatonic scale in there, though not the same one that is written in my book. That said, I've never listened to Chinese music, but I didn't intend to write Chinese music in the first place.

This is only the first draft, and I'm going to expand it later, but I want to hear some critics first.

It is written for two flutes, using Finale 2007 with GPO.

P.S: I'm sorry about the somewhat jumpy recording, but for some reason, I couldn't get Finale to make anything better.

[crimson]

I didn't notice any jumpiness, sounded good to me. The piece really sounds like chinese music. It has a very oriental mood overall. I think the melodies are a bit too continuous at places. I found it hard to spot clear phrases, maybe a few breaks would have clarified it. Other than that, I can't think of anything to complain about. I enjoyed listening to it, and as I said, it really feels like chinese music. Sort of mystical and relaxed. I was surprised that the ordinary concert flute used here (?) can sound so authentically chinese. I thought that to get music that sounds like chinese flute music, you'd need chinese flutes or something in addition to the scales Good job on this piece!

[Ron Ofir]

Thank you for listening!

I found it hard to spot clear phrases, maybe a few breaks would have clarified it.

Yes, I thought so too, but for some reason I like it that way, though I probably should separate the phrases.

I was surprised that the ordinary concert flute used here (?) can sound so authentically chinese. I thought that to get music that sounds like chinese flute music, you'd need chinese flutes or something in addition to the scales

That's what I thought too, but I think that the inaccuracy of the GPO samples are what make it sound so. Maybe I'll find someone with a flute to play it for once, and see how it sounds that way.

[MaestroX]

Your first piece submitted to Music-Web, how could I miss this!

Overall I'm glad you've gone for somthing slightly different than the norm. I think the writing works well and would work well to picture. (reminds me of the many chinese films that we get over in Europe dubbed such as Hero and CrouchingTiger, Hidden Dragon)

I think on the production side the flutes use too much vibrato. Possibly using chinese flute samples would have enchanced the performance. Try look into EWQL RA, I hear that it has the best ethnic samples available.

[Ron Ofir]

Your first piece submitted to Music-Web, how could I miss this!

Actually, this is the second one I submit, but the first one is not so good, so that's ok.

(reminds me of the many chinese films that we get over in Europe dubbed such as Hero and CrouchingTiger, Hidden Dragon)

Hero is a great movie, I really enjoyed it, though come to think of it, I don't remember the music...

I think on the production side the flutes use too much vibrato. Possibly using chinese flute samples would have enchanced the performance. Try look into EWQL RA, I hear that it has the best ethnic samples available.

I'm afraid I don't know enough about VST's and the like to change that. Can you explain how it can be changed?

Other than that, I'm also going to upload a second version, as soon as I get Finale to record without stuttering.

[Ron Ofir]

OK, I got Finale to record it with no stuttering! Horrah!

This version has a slower intro based on the first motive, and some harmonies added, and some more music. It's simply more...

[MaestroX]

I'm afraid I don't know enough about VST's and the like to change that. Can you explain how it can be changed?

Hmm I'm not sure in Finale as I don't have the GPO extension with mine but usually most sample libaries come different versions of each instrument. Try looking for an alternative flute set in GPO. Other than that you can go all out and get a DAW such as Cubase, Fruity Looks etc and get EWQL RA (only recommend if you have alot of money to spend ).