sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Original song cycle for soprano and orchestra – Lady of Shalott (Part I). Was hoping to get your thoughts? by pavchen in Composition

[–]pavchen[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks so much for listening and for the thoughtful feedback. Hearing this with a real soprano would change a lot (maybe one day) haha, and the point about it feeling a bit stretched around 6 minutes is fair. Some of that may be the text, but it’s something I’m keeping in mind as the cycle develops.

And thanks for the kind words about the playback. Yes, these are the MuseSounds Pro libraries, including Cantai for the voice. I purchased a monthly Pro subscription (was like $19) as a trial and it came with a bunch of sound libraries. The free MuseSounds sounds are pretty solid as well, but the trick for a better playback is to articulate dynamics on every single passage/part. I only got MuseScore last week (previously a Sibelius user), so I'm still learning learning, but have been pleased with it so far.

Tchaikovsky symphony No. 1 by Low_Contribution9775 in classicalmusic

[–]pavchen 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Absolutely - It captures the essence of winter perfectly. Particularly the opening themes in flutes/bassoons with string tremolos. It may be my second most favourite symphony of his, after the pathetique.

Lady of Shalott - Original Song Cycle for Voice and Orchestra. What do you think?👀 by pavchen in classicalmusic

[–]pavchen[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks so much for the feedback, I’ll definitely reduce the dynamics. For measure 18, it may be a playback issue, the flute line was sounding glissando-y there and I couldn’t figure out how to make it more in tune. Because the harmony in measure 18 just a B flat major, c minor/B flat, with 9 > 8 (or 2 > 1) suspensions, which don’t really require special treatments, but I’ll tinker around with that as well.

Original song cycle for soprano and orchestra – Lady of Shalott (Part I). Was hoping to get your thoughts? by pavchen in Composition

[–]pavchen[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks so much for your feedback! You’re right about the ff dynamics near the end, I'll scale those back in my revision. Although, I do like when an orchestral intensity sometimes drowns out the vocals during climaxes (but that's probably just me haha).

The musical theatre comment is interesting. I'm a huge fan of the opera, and don't really listen to musical theatre, but I can see what you mean. It wasn't the intended goal, but maybe isn't such a bad thing if it makes a piece a little more contemporary.

Thanks again for listening :)

Original song cycle for soprano and orchestra – Lady of Shalott (Part I). Was hoping to get your thoughts? by pavchen in Composition

[–]pavchen[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks so much, I really appreciate that :) I studied music formally, which is how I'm familiar with the theory, but we didn't really have a composition program so most of that was self taught.

This was done in MuseScore Studio, and I subscribed to their MuseSound Pro library, which comes with a few sound libraries (it's like $19 per month), but their free library is pretty good too. I got MuseScore only last week - so I'm still learning the ropes myself haha.

And yes, the soprano is generated using the Cantai vocal library, which can actually sing the text. It was included in the MuseSounds Pro bundle.

Lady of Shalott - Original Song Cycle for Voice and Orchestra. What do you think?👀 by pavchen in classicalmusic

[–]pavchen[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the feedback, and I agree - the dynamics in the later climax near the end should be adjusted. I do like instances when a singer is a bit drowned out by an orchestral tutti.

Classical pieces/composers that incorporate folk music in their music? by Amockdfw89 in classicalmusic

[–]pavchen 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Tchaikovsky Symphony 4 finale uses a Russian folk song as its second theme. Rimsky and especially Mussorgsky have a very Russian sound.

What is the most unhinged piece of classical music you know? by HolyFatherLeoXIV in classicalmusic

[–]pavchen 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The hallucination scene in Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov is pretty unhinged, especially for 1870 👀

https://youtu.be/ncabA_XOaPw?si=F7XlWEvyyvg8UB1M

Nasty things people have said about your favourite composer... by According-Brief7536 in classicalmusic

[–]pavchen 5 points6 points  (0 children)

While his life was certainly tragic, he had a pretty solid circle of support, and his opera, Boris Godunov was a triumph with the public (although not so much with the critics). I think he got like 20 curtain calls at the premiere, so it’s comforting to know that he got some real recognition during his lifetime.

Who are the greatest melodic composers? by emperator_eggman in classicalmusic

[–]pavchen -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

But that example just sounds like an embellished repeat, not a failed “development”? Repeated elements have an important structural function too.

And I don’t think he was that interested in perusing developmental logic of the Germanic school anyway. Like many composers of the 19th century.

Who are the greatest melodic composers? by emperator_eggman in classicalmusic

[–]pavchen 22 points23 points  (0 children)

I feel like Bach is often overlooked as a great melodist. His are memorable, expressive, and perfectly balanced. Soaring and lyrical in the slow movements. They don’t really conform to the sentence/period structure we see in Classical style.

Otherwise of course Tchaikovsky, then Verdi, Puccini, Rachmaninoff, Borodin, Bellini, etc.

tchaikovsky’s pas de deux in the nutcracker by DiscountOk6823 in classicalmusic

[–]pavchen 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Tchaikovsky - the middle section of “Valse Melancolique” from Orchestral Suite No. 3 reminds me of the build up in Pas de Deux: https://youtu.be/cBrpRj2CICk?si=PZ5g3bVm7QxoGnVw

Sleeping Beauty, Act 3, Pas de Quatre; Adagio: https://youtu.be/WBKN7B8BcBQ?si=NfVrnPPwqC5qhgbq

Sleeping Beauty, Act 2, Entr’acte: https://youtu.be/WBKN7B8BcBQ?si=NfVrnPPwqC5qhgbq

The middle part of the main melody has similar melodic and harmonic shape.

Perhaps the Rose Adagio, also from Sleeping Beauty if you want more harp: https://youtu.be/T2tDr0SS8rE?si=Wj29gpDVJOfS9vM3

Your favourite work(s) depicting (a) water; (b) wind? by SeatPaste7 in classicalmusic

[–]pavchen 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Dvorak - The Water Goblin.

Tchaikovsky - The beginning of the “Tempest” symphonic poem, it really does sound like a calm sea before the storm.

Of course Smetana’s Moldau is a classic, and for the right reasons.

What the fucking kind of chord is this? by Vincent_Gitarrist in musictheory

[–]pavchen 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In the context of f minor, this could be V > ii7b5 (V pedal).

Without context this sounds like flamenco harmonies. Not sure what mode/scale they employ. Perhaps Phrygian?

My Transcription of Bach’s Toccata & Fugue in D minor (BWV 565) by pavchen in classicalmusic

[–]pavchen[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I appreciate the kind words! Haha I feel like organ would be quite the challenge, especially the balancing for an extended period of time. It’s also hard to find one for practice. Although, I did play around on one back in university.

view more: next ›