The opening offset/syncopated trumpets caught me right away, and it
was intriguing from then on. The middle part was disjointed and
dreamy at the same time, and having the trumpets return at the end
was nice, and the final held note & pluck for the coda was quite a
satisfying ending. If I may be prokocious, how many oranges did the
boy eat? I'm guessing he had a love for 3 of them... the brassy
syncopation reminded me of somebody, but I don't want to be Russian
to conclusions about your influences. :-)

If you wish to critique something simple by me, you may wish to listen
to this piece of silliness: http://www.macjams.com/song/12165

ttfn,
Drakonis

[ Reply to This ]

Always happy to listen to something yours, Eduard! Just left a comment for you.
Thanks for being so quick off the mark with your comment. I'm never sure if
anyone will notice new submissions, so it's always nice to see that first
comment!

And I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Cheers!

---
<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20990">Here</a> is my <b>third</b> and final piece from a set a 3 for <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20990">orchestra

[ Reply to This ]

Another great piece... a fine ending to a fine trio, that is.
I like how this one goes from dramatic to spooky to playful... the
trumpets were especially nice... and the dramatic build 1/3 the
way in was tense! Very much enjoyed. I coud listen to this stuff
all day.

[ Reply to This ]

Thanks for the comment, and I'm glad you liked it. Speaking of tension, I just
left a comment for your Kids' Angst piece... Now THAT'S tension! Good work
too, BTW.

Cheers!

---
<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20990">Here is my third (final) piece from my set of 3 for orchestra</a>.

[ Reply to This ]

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Umm.. .... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .... ... ...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... This is gonna take a bit... ... ... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
.... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .... ... ...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Yeah... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... ... hmm... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... ... wow...

Dion

[ Reply to This ]

Wow! Unusual comment! Thanks for checking this one out, and for the fav. I'm
definitely going to check out more of your tunes today, when the house quiets
down some (3 kids).

Cheers!

---
New (19 May): <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20990">#3 from "Three Lorca Sketches for Orchestra"</a>

[ Reply to This ]

I just got to the second third of the piece as I'm writing this. This is even
more amazing than your (also brilliant) last piece. The use of drums and
cymbals and other percussion in this one is so very cool. This one has a
an aura of mystery---a tension that reminds me of some of the
soundtrack to the movie SIGNS that came out a few years ago. An instant
fave sir!

Be well!

[ Reply to This ]

PS---Wow! 521 Participation Points! I don't think you need to worry anymore
about your "karmic debt"!

[ Reply to This ]

Well, I decided to (a) acknowledge every comment for last week's submission
(the first movement) as well as this week's, and (b) leave at least one
comment for everyone who left a comment for me. It's amazing how much
time that all takes, at least if you want to say something that might be of
moderate interest, and I'm embarrassed to see those participation points as
high as they are! It's clearly a sign that I need to spend a little less time here!

It seemed like a good idea at the time, and I've heard a lot of cool pieces, so
I'm not complaining. On the other hand, I am way behind in my work on a
composition that's supposed to be finished in about 5 days, so I really should
be spending more time on that!

Ah well. Balance... very hard to find and maintain.

---
New (19 May): <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20990">#3 from "Three Lorca Sketches for Orchestra"</a>

[ Reply to This ]

Always glad to hear from you, and especially glad you like it! Thanks very much.

Clark

---
New (19 May): <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20990">#3 from "Three Lorca Sketches for Orchestra"</a>

[ Reply to This ]

(just left a comment/vote for your "Olmec Dreamscape." Great tune, BTW! Still
working at reducing my karmic debt!!!)

---
New (19 May): <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20990">#3 from "Three Lorca Sketches for Orchestra"</a>

[ Reply to This ]

like the movement up and down. like the tension near the beginning, it's mellow with some tension behind it that catches my ear. like how it builds up and drops back down. once again a nice build up in the middle section that especially caught my attention. nice addition of the snare drum. really, this is just greatly done. don't think i could give any criticism.

[ Reply to This ]

Great that you could stop by, and thanks for the comment! Cheers!

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New (19 May): <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20990">#3 from "Three Lorca Sketches for Orchestra"</a>

[ Reply to This ]

Magical piece, Ross. You could definitely give composers like John Williams a run for their money, if you were to choose cinema scores as a career.

Did you see the movie, LORCA, starring Andy Garcia. It showcases the creme of the crop of Latin American actors and was filmed on location in Spain and Puerto Rico.

Quite the history lesson about the man and the politics of his day. It's a hearbreaking story. You must check it out, if you haven't seen it.

Enjoyed this piece very much.
Way to keep those classical musicians on their toes!

[ Reply to This ]

I was drawn to Lorca's poetry before I knew anything about his life, and, for
anyone who happens to be reading this and who isn't familiar with it, I'd
highly recommnd it. He writes about a broad range of human emotions,
always beautifully, and always with passion. Then I began to learn more
about him... he was a gifted visual artist and musician as well, born in 1898,
and executed in Granada only 38 years later (1936). What a shocking and
depressing waste of extraordinary talent.

The poems on which this set of three orchestra pieces are based were written
when he was in his early twenties. The second piece of the set (see link
above, in "Song Description") is the the saddest, a memorial both to Lorca and
my mom.

I've said this before, but one of the best things about MJ's is that I learn about
things from other MacJammers. I didn't know there was a movie about
Lorca's life, and I'm definitely going to check it out now. Thanks for this!

---
New (19 May): <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20990">#3 from "Three Lorca Sketches for Orchestra"</a>

[ Reply to This ]

... Oh, and thanks for the compliments, Erwin! I'd love to write film music, but,
like anything else, I'm pretty sure I'd have to make that the single most
important thing in my life to have any chance of even modest success in that
area (which, basically, was how I got the job I have!), but now that I have a
family, well, priorities change. But thanks very much!

---
New (19 May): <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20990">#3 from "Three Lorca Sketches for Orchestra"</a>

[ Reply to This ]

Just left comments/votes on two or your tunes, sir. You are a fine guitarist!

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New (19 May): <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20990">#3 from "Three Lorca Sketches for Orchestra"</a>

[ Reply to This ]

MMM this was very cool, reminded me of bernard hermann at times. Very dramatic and beautifully performed... i wish i had my own personal orchestra :D

[ Reply to This ]

Hey, I WISH I could write like Bernard Hermann, but I very much appreciate the
compliment. I also wish I had my own personal orchestra, but alas, I do not. In
fact, it's very, very hard to get any of my orchestra pieces performed. Mind you,
I don't promote them much, which is probably 90% of the problem.

Thanks for dropping by, and I just left a comment/vote for your "psycho" club
piece!

---
New (19 May): <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20990">#3 from "Three Lorca Sketches for Orchestra"</a>

[ Reply to This ]

Hello, composer clark!
first of all, thank you very much for your insightful comment & advice
on my posting earlier :) it's been very helpful for me to spot more
problems since i was struggling, i will keep your words in mind!

by the way! this is an instant download for me!
i got completely drawn into the sensitive yet calmly arranged sounds
here. i am always struggling with harmonic stabilisation & line issues
and this piece shows me a very good example of how a neatly two
contrasting expressions can be organised!

:)anyways thanks for sharing this marvellous track of yours & the
symphony.. and i look forward to hear more from you :) i'd love to see
all these in a suite with a fantastic cover art :) it will be my favourite
collection

[ Reply to This ]

Hi Hún Kím, I'm glad you like this. I agree, it would be great to have all three of
these recorded one day... I'll have to push for that. The second one was already
recorded (the recording at MacJams is taken directly from the CD) but it'd be
great to have the whole set on one CD

Thanks also for your words about my comments. Happy to help. I just left you
another comment/vote for your newest work, "Helicoption." Very nice, BTW.

---
New (19 May): <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20990">#3 from "Three Lorca Sketches for Orchestra"</a>

[ Reply to This ]

Thanks for sharing these pieces Clark. I am inspired to get back into writing-writing (i.e. on paper and not just on the computer). These pieces have the flavor of an updated American Symphonic style, kind of like Aaron Copland but more intimate. It also reminds me of my senior adviser's music (which in those days he liked to term as "The New Lyricism"), a combination of 20th century techniques but using more open hamonies and traditional key-centers. If you're curious, he's at USC now (http://www.stephenhartke.com/). Anyway, very nice wirting and the performance and recording is great!

[ Reply to This ]

Thanks for having a listen, Graham. "The New Lyricism" is a term that's found
it's way into recent history books that cover music of the 2nd half of the last
century, so it looks like it's here to stay. I've never really known how to
classify my music when asked, but "New Lyricism" seems to work, so maybe
I'll start referring to it that way!

Thanks also for pointing me to your teacher's page. I haven't checked it
out yet, but I shall. Always a pleasure to discover new composers, esp. ones
that someone else really likes.

I'd be curious to know what you think of a piece for violin/piano that I
submitted here a few weeks ago. It is unlike most of my other music, and I
don't know that it'd fit into the "new lyricism" category. Anyway, if you have
time and/or inclination, here it is:

Old Friends


Thanks very much for the comment. I'll make sure to check out some
more of your music in the next couple of days. Cheers!

---
New (19 May): #3 from "Three Lorca Sketches for Orchestra"

[ Reply to This ]

Okay, just left comment/vote for your 17-year-old e. piano improv!

---
New (19 May): <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20990">#3 from "Three Lorca Sketches for Orchestra"</a>

[ Reply to This ]

.. sorry, don't want to be a thorn in your side but .. just not as easily
appealing to this plebeian this time (and you do want to hear our
perspective I assume from time to time) so brace yourself...

it's just gone on the side of a bit too arty for me.. I mean, with this
going from poetry to music .. both of which can alude me ... ;oD

this may well express the poem very well, for all I know (which 'ain't
much).. but then again I might not like the poem .. there's a double
hurdle to cross here ... I focus on the music result... in this case, I do
like the particular bit you mention of the poem very much, and may
very well like the poem (send me a translation if you've got one
handy)... but to express that particular sentiment for example in music
is just plain difficult.

I also find it plain hard to relate to mundane being 'up-beat' for me
mundane musically has to slap me in the face as slow, methodical and
repetitive or at least re-occuring ... perhaps that is a classical clich�
but it's what us plebs expect.

I liked the transition between fanfare to the next segment .. the tension
etc and general smoothness there was awesome .. crescendo .. back to
tension .. then some quite odd, random percussion (whistles?).. which
went into a little bit that had tinges of incidental, tension music for ...
original 60's ST ! you did it again !! ;oD .. then the strings come over
the top ... and it's gone.

On recording - excellent as usual but just near the end before when
the strings take a back seat from dancing about .. and just before the
brass comes back there is some what I think is sheet music flipping on
mass happening .. how picky is that! ;oD and shortly after a captured
cough I believe ...

the ending did 'nought for me .. even a bit disney.

PS. when I die, please close the lid ;oD

PPS. do a big Viv style number for use, go on .. ;oD


[ Reply to This ]

".. sorry, don't want to be a thorn in your side but .. just not as easily
appealing to this plebeian this time (and you do want to hear our
perspective I assume from time to time)"

Fear not, ordinary citizen of ancient Rome! [= "plebeian"] Your
perspective is much valued, and I thank you for taking the time to listen and
post such a thoughtful critique. My responses continue below.

"it's just gone on the side of a bit too arty for me.. I mean, with this
going from poetry to music .. both of which can alude me"

Well, at first it seems ironic to describe an artform as "too arty," but I do
know what you mean. Different types of art appeal to different parts of our
sensibilities. This particular piece is meant to alternate between a more "up"
or "engaged" mood and an almost trance-like sense of calm and
timelessness. Could I have done a better job doing this? Absolutely! But this
kind of juxtaposition still has great appeal to me, and I could see trying this
sort of thing again with different musical materials. But I recognize that it's
not going to be everyone's cup o' tea. Were I to do something like this again,
I'd make the "timeless" section (with the hypnotic, repeating vibe pattern)
longer, to draw the listener in more.

this may well express the poem very well, for all I know (which 'ain't
much)...

Oh stop it with the self-deprecaton! You are obviously very smart, and if
you don't know it, you should! More to the point, though, This composition
has virtually nothing to do with the poem! I wrote the first two
movements to deliberately relate to specific Lorca poetry or lines, but this one
was written with no though of anything, other than I wanted to write
something that juxtaposed "timeless" sections with "timed" sections, if that
makes any sense. Even if it doesn't, that was my goal!

Then, at a different time (a few years later), I was asked to come up with
some orchestra pieces, and since this particular piece had never been played,
I decided to modify it slightly and add it to those first two Lorca orchestra
works, and call it a set. Then I had to rationalize it somehow, which is how I
came up with the Lorca references that you read above in the song
comments. Some people have found that, in spite of this process, there are
strong connections with the poem, while others, such as yourself (and maybe
even me, now that I've had a few years to think about it), don't hear much of
connection. Which is fine; just listen to it as a piece of non-programmatic
music, in that case.

"I liked the transition between fanfare to the next segment .. the
tension etc and general smoothness there was awesome .. crescendo .. back
to tension .. then some quite odd, random percussion (whistles?).. which
went into a little bit that had tinges of incidental, tension music for ...
original 60's ST ! you did it again !! ;oD .. then the strings come over
the top ... and it's gone."

Glad you found things in there you liked! When you say, "... and it's
gone" do you mean the section where the "strings come over the top" could
have lasted longer? Just curious.

"On recording - excellent as usual but just near the end before when
the strings take a back seat from dancing about .. and just before the
brass comes back there is some what I think is sheet music flipping on
mass happening .. how picky is that! ;oD and shortly after a captured
cough I believe ..."

You have good ears! But possibly you are being a tad nitpicky there,
because this is not a studio recording, where you can edit out things like that.
This was actually called a "read-through" session, where the players showed
up and read through everything twice, and it was recorded; you just took
whatever you got, recording wise. Orchestras charge upwards of $1,200 an
hour for rehearsals, so I felt lucky to have had the opportunity.

"the ending did 'nought for me .. even a bit disney."

I concede the ending isn't brilliant, it was just a way to wrap things up with a
light touch. I don't know how well this is audible in the recording, but there's
a somewhat cool descending gliss (slide) plucked by the basses just before
the final two-note cadence, and that is something I like. But it's almost
inaudible. Anyway, were I ever to revisit this, I had already made a mental
note to try to improve on the ending.

PPS. do a big Viv style number for use, go on

Uhh... not sure what you mean there?

Anyway, thanks again for the lengthy comments.

---
New (19 May): #3 from "Three Lorca Sketches for Orchestra"

[ Reply to This ]

thanks for taking my feedback (weeeeee) so well. I see you lost me a bit
too .. so some quick clarifications (desperately trying to avoid my manic
boughts of self-depreciation ;oD) ..

".. it's gone" was just refering to when the short little bit after the crescendo
(if I recall) that had a kind of eerie planet 60' ST feel about it IMO, went
away.... before the strings came back over the top ...

I'm the kinda guy who often stares in bewilderment when seeing music
expressed in dance for example .. trying to associate movements to music
bits .. but anyway, not poem related as I somehow got the impression ..
pay no heed.

Still don't get the "timeless" and "timed" thing - but I'm sure you know what
your doing ;oD - at $1,200 an hour, I thought "timed" was winning that
juxtaposition ;oD - and you've also explained why those new speakers are
taking a while too ;oD.

Vivaldi - or "big Viv" as we call him where I come from ;oD - musically
meaning repeating/returning sections .. classical pop if you like .. might be
fun, but your a busy family man with commitments.

The other bits were just 'info' and clearly nit-picky and kinda comes out
when I put my production hat on .. and I didn't influence the rating ;oD - just
ignore.

But above all - keep it the excellent work, as others have said (and I totally
agree) you are a valuable asset here at MJs.

PS. If I sent you $20, could they do Face - it's only 1 min long ;oD


---
"horrifically prolific or prolifically horrific - either way, it's hard to say"
"I went from A to B once, didn't like it much, so I went back to A"

[ Reply to This ]

haven't visited in a while...but new big boy headphones has me
listening again...and catching up....this is really impressive, as a
composition, performance and recording. i am not much of a classical
buff at all but i enjoy the modern variety of classical and some jazz/
orchestra cds i have are great, particularly the one Oregon did with the
Moscow Symphony...this reminds me of that a bit. Really well done.
Thanks for sharing and for being such an active member of the
community.

stop by my page and have a listen...i don't know if you would like my
music...it's so simple copared to this...but have a go!

see ya

deep bows
z


[ Reply to This ]

Hi Z, thanks for stopping by and commenting. Very glad you liked it. I don't
know the Oregon recording you mention, but I'll keep an eye out for it.
Curious to hear what it sounds like. I used to like their stuff a lot, but haven't
listened to anything by them in many, many years.

I finally managed to return the favour...! This week has been crazy hectic
(we're off on vacation tomorrow, and I have a commission that's supposed to
be done before we go, and it's not), so I've been somewhat delinquent in my
acknowlegement of comments and returning the favours. However, I listened
to Libby's Theme just now and really enjoyed it, and left you a comment/vote.

Thanks again!

---
New (19 May): <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20990">#3 from "Three Lorca Sketches for Orchestra"</a>

[ Reply to This ]

You probably know what it's like: two parent musicians & three kids with
school concerts to attend. Anyway, this is definitely within my 'envelope'
of enjoyable music. Lots of thematic material, melodies... Many bits of
different styles, all smoothly tied together. Then that calm, yet slightly
sinister middle section - just great. I really like that vibraphone in there.
Oh, and thank you for bringing back the A section again.
Faved and downloaded.

[ Reply to This ]

I sure do know what it's like... as I just wrote above in my reply to Ziti, things
are pretty busy in my life right now, so I've been a little slow in my responses.
But fear not! Once the holiday is over, I'll get back to listening and commenting
on pieces once again.

Thanks for the listen, KJ. Look forward to hearing more of your stuff.

---
New (19 May): <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20990">#3 from "Three Lorca Sketches for Orchestra"</a>

[ Reply to This ]

Very rich sort of 20th Century orchestral feel; angular without being
alientating... Very clever; very nice. Like the way it seems to relax, then
build into tension, then relax again.

[ Reply to This ]

Thanks for the comments. I just listened to some of your music, and left a
comment for "Jhonny Silva," which left me in shock, I have to say (meaning it was
a powerfully moving song). Thanks for that.

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New (19 May): <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20990">#3 from "Three Lorca Sketches for Orchestra"</a>

[ Reply to This ]

the tension and realease features of this piece......the judicious use of
dynamics and percussion and the dissonant propulsion and the melodies
and.......heh.....so much to like.......bravo........

[ Reply to This ]

Thanks McB. Always happy when you have a listen. You seem to like a lot of
very different kinds of music, which is cool. I'll continue to check out your back
catalogue whent I get back from holidays!

---
New (19 May): <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20990">#3 from "Three Lorca Sketches for Orchestra"</a>

[ Reply to This ]

Quick note to let you know I'm back from holiday and just left a comment for
"Tobin's Funk," which was a very fine tune indeed, and I look forward to hearing
a lot more of your stuff!

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New (19 May): <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20990">#3 from "Three Lorca Sketches for Orchestra"</a>

[ Reply to This ]

Lots of interesting classical sounds and environments.
Kind of brings me into a kind of suspense movie. I feel like saying Gene
Kelly for some reason. I think because I saw him once in a kind of
classical avante garde movie.

Way to go!

[ Reply to This ]

Hi Bill, thanks for having a listen. Gene Kelly, eh? I'll have to think about this
next time I watch one of his movies. I'm off on a little trip now, but I'll make
sure to comment on more of your stuff when I get back.

Thanks again, and keep dazzling us with those amazing fingers (and heart)!

---
New (19 May): <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20990">#3 from "Three Lorca Sketches for Orchestra"</a>

[ Reply to This ]

... and I just left a comment for your 'Acoustic Highway,' which is deservedly
sitting atop the ratings picks right now.

---
New (19 May): <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20990">#3 from "Three Lorca Sketches for Orchestra"</a>

[ Reply to This ]

One can't have two parts of a trilogy and then not check out the finale.
That would just be silly.
So here I am and liking it. Really liking it, actually.
So much that I pressed the fav & download buttons only half-way
through. Even going for round nr. 2, now.
Very nice!

-E

[ Reply to This ]

Hey, Einar, it's always great to have comments from you! I left you a comment
on your short film score, which was nothing short of amazing, and I'll look
forward to hearing more of your stuff when I get back from a holiday!

All the best!

---
New (19 May): <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20990">#3 from "Three Lorca Sketches for Orchestra"</a>

[ Reply to This ]

I feel quite humbled leaving a comment on a piece of music that is so
far beyond my compositional abilities.

The orchestration and arranging strikes me first, as the sounds are so
well balanced and interesting. It seems impossible to listen to this
passively; it commands the listener's attention throughout. I must
admit that the fact that your composition is based on poetry is rather
lost on me past what it offered you as inspiration; rather, I listen and
hear myriad composing and orchestration decisions, each of them
fascinating, many of them brilliant. Perhaps upon further listenings I
will get to the next stage - appreciating and absorbing the symbolism
of the flow of the piece. In the meantime, I just enjoy listening to an
orchestra put though your imaginative paces.

All in all, this is so masterfully written and wonderfully executed that
there is very little room to comment beyond my appreciation for your
skills, talent, and hard work over the years to bring you to your present
level. I am in awe.

You are unique here at MacJams, Clark, and you enhance the site
greatly with your contributions, both musical and verbal. We're very
fortunate to have you as a member.

Straight 10's from me.

[ Reply to This ]

I'm just back from holiday; sorry for the delay in my response!

Regarding the relationship between this music and Lorca's poetry (symbolism, or
imagery), I'd refer you to my insanely-long response to "apb" above, titled "Lost
me a bit here ..." Basically, this is a case where the music came first, and the
imagery second, and frankly, I'm not sure how well they corelate, so no worries
if you don't really hear a connection.

As to the rest of your comment, thanks! You are a very fine composer, so your
appreciation is especially valued. (Just left a comment/vote for your "desert"
tune, which I loved, BTW!)

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New (19 May): <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20990">#3 from "Three Lorca Sketches for Orchestra"</a>

[ Reply to This ]

You're a hero!

Perfect for my collection ... "click"

[ Reply to This ]

It's just a bunch of notes, man; nothing heroic here! (but thanks all the same!)

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New (19 May): <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20990">#3 from "Three Lorca Sketches for Orchestra"</a>

[ Reply to This ]

You just seem pretty organized about it.

---
We have a cat. Our fish has recently passed away...long live Swimmers!

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What you bring to this communiy is a contribution that belongs in the premium league.

I won't comment in detail on the music because it's way over my head and what i usually listen to... but I recognize the genius composer you are and the perfection in performance and recording.

All 10's from me!

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Thor, your comments are always appreciated because they are so wonderfully
generous, but it’s a particularly nice surprise this time because it’s been a
couple of weeks since this tune has had a comment! My music is generally
written with ordinary music lovers in mind as my target audience, so any
thoughts/reactions you or anyone at all has are always interesting for me to
read, including negative ones.

As for the genius part, I strongly suspect I am no more a genius than you are,
or, for that matter, than Kelli, your collaborator in your most recent song
(which I heard today and loved, BTW). You both have exceptional talent, and
you appear to work hard at improving your musical chops on an ongoing
basis. You both have obvious talents that I lack. My secret is no secret,
really; I spent many, many years working as hard as I could on my music and
my musical studies, to an unhealthy degree, really (I’m sure it was a
contributing factor in the demise of my first marriage). And I still feel like I
don’t know enough!

Thanks again. I shall look forward to hearing more of your music.

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Visit <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.clarkross.ca">my website</a> for lots more free MP3s and scores.

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My favourite of the tryptych CC. Enervating and thoroughly engaging, I
felt like I was in a sourcerers cauldron with Respighi, Bernstein and
Herriman. The way you marry these atlantic influences is an utter joy.
Bang On!

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Another generous comment from you, Jon! All I can is I am very glad you
enjoyed and appreciated it, and thanks very much for your enthusiastic words.
Every now and then I feel inclined to give this composing nonsense up, because
it's a bit of a mug's game, but comments like yours are highly encouraging, and
I am grateful for them.

Thanks again.

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Visit <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.clarkross.ca">my website</a> for lots more free MP3s and scores.

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Very nice job...It would take a thesis sized paper to properly comment on this piece. It took me another world and made me stare blankly into the wood of my kitchen table. Suddenly there were all of these characters in my head stumbling joyfully around in search of something...

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What a great comment! It's great to read different people's responses, and the
image of different people stumbling about in your head is neat!

Glad you were able to have a listen. I left a comment for you (Maura's Movin' It)
just a few minutes ago. It was a fun piece.

Cheers!

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Visit <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.clarkross.ca">my website</a> for lots more free MP3s and scores.

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it made me think of music from the movies, with the sene changing lots,
like in Spain with bullfights, then on the desert in the hot son. i think u
must compose for the movies.

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Your comment is an example of the very best aspect of this site, namely that
people who are complete strangers will open up and tell you not only what
they think of your music, but also (sometimes) the kind of imagery they
associate with your music. When my music is performed in public, the
comments I get are usually brief and don't really tell me much about how
people feel about it ("congratulations!" or "you must be relieved!" or the ever
non-commital "very interesting!"), presumably because it's a lot easier to
open up in writing than it is in person.

All of which is my way of saying thanks for telling me about the kind of
imagery you associate with this piece; I don't get this kind of info anywhere
else!

And no, I've never composed music for films, and I have no idea how
someone would get involved with something like that, but one day it'd be
great to try something like that!

Thanks again.

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Visit <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.clarkross.ca">my website</a> for lots more free MP3s and scores.

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I liked the Stravinsky off kilter trumpets. In fact I think the Russian Master
would have been pleased to have produced such a wonderful piece.
Strings shimmer. Harmonies swirl. You create a very specific - kind of
surreal sense of space and time. Very visual. Then, with a kind of
Bernstein swagger, you switch to an urban setting. A really like the
discord in your trumpet tunes. Gives it that 20th century edge that I love.
I know it%u2019s part of a larger work but it almost feels too short - funny
coming from me. Anyway it was a very enjoyable and will go on my list of
favorites, which is not stranger to your work.

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First off, I apologize for not seeing this sooner! I try to be relatively prompt
with my responses, but I obviously completely missed this one (and the next
two).

Thanks for the Stravinsky comparison. He's definitely one of my all-time
favs.

You know, I actually think it's too short too... I'm not sure if it's worth it to
ever return to this and lengthen it a bit, because it was never performed again
after the premiere (although this recording is from a reading session). It's the
sort of thing that I might do if I had the time and no other pressing work to
do, but mostly, that's never the case. I'd do it for sure if someone wanted to
programme a performance of this, though!

Also, this was originally a longer and very different piece. That version never
got played, so I basically canabalized it to make this shorter version when our
symphony wanted to play something of mine.

Thanks very much for your comments. I always value them, and continue to
enjoy your soundtrack scores!

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Visit <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.clarkross.ca">my website</a> for lots more free MP3s and scores.

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Maestro, please excuse my late arrival. I have a slow connection, and am trying to catch up with your wonderful compositions.

Once again, I am really impressed by the quality of the playing of your local symphony.

Out of interest, do you know how long was the rehearsal time ? And is that you conducting ?


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Always glad to hear your thoughts; better late than never!

Regarding the recording, this is actually not a public performance; the
symphony you hear was running some 'reading sessions,' and every
composer got one hour which was to include rehearsal and a play-through.
In my case, all three movements were rehearsed and played within the hour,
which is pretty impressive. They're obviously very good.

Also, the recording I submitted of the second of these three pieces ("Interlude
for String Orchestra") is not the same orchestra. It's the student string
orchestra at the university at which I teach, and they recorded it for a CD
about 11 years ago. THAT recording is incredibly impressive, considering the
players were all in the 15-22 years old range (some were still in high school).

Thanks again, and sorry for the delay in acknowledging your comment! As I
wrote above, I totally missed this until just now.

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Visit <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.clarkross.ca">my website</a> for lots more free MP3s and scores.

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You are an incredible talent. How do you choose where to compose
and interject key phrases of drum, woodwind, or horn like splashes of
texture across your musical canvas? There has to be some theory
behind it; it sounds random, yet perfectly placed to punctuate the
message you're presenting. This is incredible.

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Hi Rick! Long time no hear; I guess you've been taking a bit of a hiatus away
from the site? Anyway, glad to see you're back, and I'm excited to see you've
submitted something new, which I'll check out ASAP.

Thanks for the compliments! Very kind. The way I look at it, I'm a reasonably
musical guy who is incredibly stubborn. I spend forever agonizing over every
note choice when I compose, re-doing everything over an over and over 'till it
seems okay. The same thing accounts for my training. I started studying
classical music after I graduated from university with a non-music related BA,
and then just stuck with it for 15 years until I ended up with a doctorate.
Maybe if I had more sense I would have given up earlier and tried something
else, but ah well...

Anyway, there's never any theory behind anything that I compose. It's pretty
much all instinctual. I'm aware of proportions a lot, particularly the so-called
'golden-mean' (61.8 to 38.2), so I sometimes try to work these into the
structure of what I write. But mostly it's just trial and error.

Cheers!

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Visit <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.clarkross.ca">my website</a> for lots more free MP3s and scores.

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your mastery of electronic omposition is awsome. You make it sound like
the real thing. Really impressed.

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Hi Enrique, thanks as always for your kind words, but I'm afraid they are
undeserved in this case! This sounds like the real thing because it is the real
thing... this was commissioned and performed by our local orchestra.
Thanks for stopping by and having a listen, though!

Cheers, Clark

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Visit <a style="color:blue;font-size:11px;" href="http://www.clarkross.ca">my website</a> for lots more free MP3s and scores.

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