Thread: What are you currently working on?

Originally Posted by Praeludium

Not much. I try to write two voice counterpoint (duos, inventions, whatever. Rather small pieces which gravitate around one thematic material) in a modern idiom (nothing new. A kind of extended tonality, sometimes in the gray zone, sometimes with a rather precise tonal center), while I'm studying Bach's two parts inventions.
It's hard to write good two voice counterpoint, actually. By good, I mean which doesn't sound like an exercise and which doesn't sound thin.

I feel like I absolutely have to learn more about... well, all the instruments and how they work. I know nothing about percussions for instance. What a shame lol

I still have my neo-classical guitar sonata in project for this summer, but I wonder if I'm ready for such a big work. I'm 18 and it gets on my nerves to try to write a rather consequent work which will not really be satisfying as a work of art. I wonder if I should not just keep writing smaller pieces and studying the repertoire rather than trying to run before walking.

I hope that in 2013 I'll be a good enough pianist and sight-reader to study a lot of material. I feel like that's what I need to really make progress. to study music from the inside.

In my extremely limited experience, I can tell you that I have learned a lot just trying. Try to listen to a lot of music, try to study a lot of pieces, but also compose a lot. There are many things that you learn and discover with practice. I always do a small search about the instruments that I'm going to use: information, technique, youtube videos, etc.

Thanks for the tips. Yeah I have to write more !
When I get myself to work regularly on something, I learn tons of things. It's just that it's not easy to work on pieces that will never be played by anyone (and within reason) q:
I'll try to experiment more in my work. I think I try too hard to have a perfect product at the first time.

I've thought about composing again, either for a contest or for fun, but I've instead started looking back at an old concert overture I started a couple years ago and never finished... it's still in the condensed score, and will still need more edits than a Bruckner symphony when I've finished writing that, but it's on my agenda right now.

"Forever Alone," for wind band, is a concert overture in the 3- to 5-minute range. It was originally about the desolation of the awkward, single life, but it's instead turned into my generic "I feel sad" piece.

I am writing a second flute sonata for a friend and a string quartet for myself.

Slow going: I like the ideas too much to waste them by writing a bad piece for them.

Working right now on a suite for bass.

I am trying to finish my small orchestral work only with 1 theme.

Preparing my Twenty Four Preludes for publication, working on a set of romances for piano and sketching a symphony that may or may not see the light of day, as an orchestration exercise.

Finally started work on Annoying Skin Conditions. The final instrumentation is: harpsichord, piano, horn, trumpet, oboe, flute, bassoon, bass clarinet, harp, xylophone, five toms and a modest field drum ensemble. One movement will feature obbligato alto saxophone. There will be only one vocalist, who is required to sing and speak in various different manners.

I will be taking on the role of obbligato sax and vocals for the release version.

I have finished my suite for small ensemble of instruments (with prominent percussion) and now I will rest, since it costed me a great effort. I'm really satisfied with the last movement.

I've been looking back over my old requiem written when I was 13/14 and thinking about doing it up so that I'm not embarrassed by it's existence.

I am going to start the last movement of my Piano Concerto in C major tonight. Got a theme so see how it goes. Only got Sibelius 6 student so limited to 12 staves.

I use musescore its free and it can do everything i need at the moment.

Originally Posted by jani

I use musescore its free and it can do everything i need at the moment.

Cheers for that! Just downloaded it and it is nice to not be limited to the 12 staves you get on Sibelius Student

I use manuscript paper and I can download for free so many different types that I am far less restricted than anyone using music notation software.

Originally Posted by ComposerOfAvantGarde

I use manuscript paper and I can download for free so many different types that I am far less restricted than anyone using music notation software.

Except ink costs a fortune (I use both anyway)