[Fmpro] A piece I wrote based on The Odyssey

[Ted Peterson]

Constructive criticism. That's difficult in this case because I can't  
figure out what you are trying to do. First for the positive. As a  
movie background, it will fit any number of semi-romantic moods. So  
it works on that level. Oh, be sure you understand how melody works  
and the idea of musical period. There are several places where you  
leave the melody unresolved and this can't be chalked up to stylistic  
whim. It just doesn't work. But for a movie, where such things are  
hinderances rather than benefits, it would work.

Now for the negative. As musical expression, it completely fails. By  
this I mean that musical ideas are not worked out in an expressive  
sense. Take a listen to "Symphony Fantastique" by Berlioz to see what  
I mean. Descriptive music became a favorite of British composers in  
the late 19th and early 20th century. Arnold Bax, Vaughn Williams and  
others took description to new heights. Also Scandanavian composers  
like Nielsen and Sibelius were able to portray literary elements in a  
musical style. Also take a listen to any of the Roman series (Pines  
of Rome, Fountains of Rome, Roman Festivals) of Respighi to get an  
idea of scene painting using music.

I imagine you expect someone to sit and listen to this music in a  
serious way. As far as that is concerned, it is amateurish at best;  
musically, it leaves a lot be be desired. I don't know if you have  
studied composition or not but this smacks of someone sitting at a  
piano playing harmonies with the left hand and melodiy with the right  
then orchestrating the sound to give it some life. But the orchestra  
is a powerful instrument and understanding how an orchestra works is  
of prime importance. Samuel Adler has a great orchestration book with  
CD examples. I suggest you take a read and a listen.

I would suggest listening more and try to find out what makes a piece  
of music work expressively.

Ted Peterson

On Mar 27, 2008, at 8:27 AM, caseyedwards at comcast.net wrote:

> Oh, there is not .com at the very end...silly mistake.
>
> Myspace.com/CaseyEdwardsMusic.
>
> Sorry guys.