The choice of instrumentation is excellent here; you make maximum use of all the instruments, with the result that the scoring sounds a lot more full than a quartet.

Occasionally it sounds like there is more than one clarinet playing at the same time, such as during the section introduced at 1:43. The quick notes at 1:56 seem almost unplayable, but obviously someone DID play it recently!

The dissonance and shifting rhythms give this piece a brooding quality, perfect for dark, introspective Scandinavia.

The pizzicatos and sliding pitches add greatly to the color and atmosphere. It has a "Stravinskian" feel throughout.

The 6/8 section in the last quarter of the piece provides a nice, light contrast to the earlier material.

This is truly excellent music to accompany stage-action. It would be very suitable to dance to as well.

I would truly enjoy actually SEEING this play while hearing this music. Although the ambitious, substantial piece could stand well on its own merits, I am sure that the combination of action and music is even more compelling.

The East West Orchestra Pro suite is the most convincing, realistic sound-set I've heard yet! It's very, very close to the way real instruments sound. You've done a masterful job with it.

Wow, was this 17:30 long? It went by quickly.





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I’m so glad you stopped by ! Thanks so much for your comments.

I should specify that the live performance played only three of the themes: Alva, Beppe, and the Time theme. The music was taken at a slower tempo, and some small changes were made in the more difficult passages. Still, I was amazed how the excellent musicians pulled it off in the very short space of time they had for rehearsals, considering that during the culture night this was just one of the many concets they had to play throughout the evening.

I’m delighted you hear some Stravinsky in the music. Whilst I was working on this, I was listening to a lot of Gypsy music from the Balkans, and borrowed their Cyprian key for a lot of the themes.


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Christopher, not only for having your music performed (which is wonderful) but also for creating this remarkable piece. I especially like the Time theme.
It really does sound like live and masterful musicians playing to me. The sound and production is amazing. I have no idea how you managed this - it must have been an enormous amount of work.
Good luck with the opening, I am sure it will sound incredible in the theatre.
Cheers
Len



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The Time theme works really well, I think. It also is very effective in the play.
The great thing about working on this project, is that I was able to prepare the music from the very beginning, and evolve it as the play eventually became more concrete. I think this is a rare thing in the theatre/film world when, very often, the music comes last, and one is expected to deliver the goods in a very short period of time. I had the great luxury of having a whole year in which to do it.


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this is so brillaint I sat at the studio with
east and west and the guy who work there cant do
much with my Midi files ..you ve done an impressive
work arranging and directing these ..this is just
so huge and brilliant and I think to see it playing
live will be so special thing to be ..great writing
and arrangment ...thnx alot for sharin !!!!

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Thank you for listening !!
The East West software is pretty amazing. It does takes a while to get the hang of it, and you do need a lot of memory in the computer for it to work well.
But I must say that one of the great bonus of this project was being able to have a live performance of the piece. I learned so much from it.


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...possibly say enough good things about this piece...

I just wish I could see it live...

Bravo, sir! Bravo! Excellent!!

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Thank you Bob for such a nice comment !

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What wonderful interplay between light playfulness and deeper emotion in this music, Christopher! I think this may be my favorite of all your classical work I've listened to so far (and good lord, once again, that East West Orchestra Pro software is amazing. They should hire you to promote them). I love the space in this composition juxtaposed with the moments where you have packed notes as tightly as possible (as in the clarinets that Cameron mentioned above). I also know that it wasn't written this way, but I do love the segues between movements. It must have been magical to hear it played live by real musicians. I wish you a wonderful opening!

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Before uploading this piece, I spent quite some time trying to figure out the order in which the themes should follow each other as a "suite", so I’m thrilled you picked up on that, because I wasn't sure it really jelled in the current format.

I'm really looking forward to the opening. It will be nice to be able to sit back and enjoy the play, as my work is more or less done.

Thanks for your good wishes


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I really enjoyed this. I agree with Cameron about the Stravinsky-like qualities (ca. a Soldier's Tale), but you make the music your own. I am highly impressed; it stands on its own very well, but as accompaniment for theatre, I think this is absolutely first-rate. Just fantastic.

And man, those samples are unbelievably good! I guess I know what I'll be saving up my money for over the next few years...

Congratulations on a wonderful achievement.

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It was interesting having to compose something for a specific setting, to fit a specific story. It scared me at first, but in fact it was a great incentive, and gave me plenty of inspiration.


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& congratulations !!! It's just so Awesome... 10s !!! Wish I could be there - I'll have You all in my thoughts !!
( : lena

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I've just recently discovered Sweden thanks to this project. Although I’ve really only seen part of the South and Stockholm, it’s stunningly beautiful. After the premiere we are all going to a Surströmming-party - Should I be worried ?


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This suite is a remarkable achievement, Christopher. And aside from the very high level this composition reaches, I am in awe of the realism you've created here. While East West makes great software, it must be in the right hands to create excellence of this magnitude.

Congratulations on this triumph.

-Patrick

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It is always a pleasure to see you drop by. I’ve really, really enjoyed working on this whole project.


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so clear and concise. Very classically inspired, full of rich tons.

Having the magic two, the incredible classical music playing, composing and the great software.

So glad the note to come over here to hear this gem was posted at the forum so I knew about it.

Thanks for sharing !!! Wonderful indeed!

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Today’s world is what makes it possible for me. I work solely through trial and error. It’s a bit laborious, but it’s the only way I know. I am painfully aware that without the software that gives me the realistic sounds, and the technology which allows me build on those sounds, I would be incapable of coming up with something. I am in awe of those who can compose in their heads prior to putting it down on paper.

I'm really glad you enjoy this piece.

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It's so great to hear what can be done compositionally with these new tools. The music is wonderful and your ability to get a good "performance" from a sample library is great. I love the transition in the violin part from senza vibrato to expressivo in the same phrase. The position of the instruments in the virtual space, etc. all impeccable.

The music itself is very emotive and interesting. A great blend of restricted instrumentation. The bass clarinet parts definitely are Stravinsky-esque, but the overall feel of the piece is really not derivative to my ears...fully your own voice.

Very nicely done!

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I’m impressed your sharp ear was able to pick out those transitions. You know, I’ve had East West Orchestral Pro for about two years now, and I haven’t even began to explore all the articulations for each instruments. There are so many ! It’s really a great product !

Thanks for your comments.


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An impressive piece of work Chris.

Beautifully measured and played. You have amazing control over the instruments. The bass clarinet is particularly good (but then again so is it all).

I can only stand in awe at what you've produced here.

And congratulations on getting it performed live.

Cheers

Dick



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I've just come back from the premiere which went very well. I am very happy, thanks a great deal to the director and to the actors, the performance from the show and the music complement each other really nicely

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great mix. love the full sound of this and the playfulness of everything in the beginning. and that little drum/bass break near the end totally caught me off guard but I love it. brilliant. enjoyed every minute, thanks.

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Really glad you like it. I’m assuming the drum/bass break was from the Time theme. I like to be surprised when listening to music. If I can achieve some element of surprise on my own pieces, I think that’s great. Thanks for stopping by.



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Best wishes on that premiere! It must be exciting to be part of something on that scale. Really interesting instrumentation, too. The mix of strings and low woodwinds give you some great chances to play with texture and timbre! (I got to listen on a friend's computer last week, so I finally now get to make some comments in my own name.)

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The Contrabass and Bass clarinet work really well together. Even though they are both Bass instruments, they cover a pretty wide range, and are very versatile and agile in the quick passages, which makes for some interesting and wonderfull possibilities.



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