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You've probably heard this a lot before, Maxwell, but your music is honestly amazing. It deserves so so much more views on youtube. Have you tried publishing any of this music? This sonata immediately melted my heart. You seem to have a lot of influence from Debussy (maybe Scriabin as well? The start reminded me a lot of his Sonata no. 5 beginning) fit in the 21st century. What'd you think about when you made this piece?
Honesty, When I was in Fourth Grade, there was this Student in my Class Named Morgan, He brought his walk man to school one day and started playing this song on it. He then started to sing the song to him self, but it sounded nothing like the actual song on the walkman. The main theme from this Sonata is a variation of what he was singing to himself. I usually give the sonata's that I write a name. This one I called "Morgan", but I haven't put that in the title of the YouTube video yet.
Just listened to your entire "Morgan" Sonata -- a couple of comments about this composition and several others:
1 In general, I prefer your "up-tempo" efforts, my particular favorite being the "Scarborough Waltz". The slower, reflective material (which dominates in the Morgan Sonata) is for my taste too close to "cocktail noodling", although I have to admit your efforts are far better than that particular genre. Your playing and musical thinking is uncannily reminiscent of Bill Evans, but his reflective, introspective side - while beautiful - is too excruciatingly sad for me, particularly in large doses.
2 I don't relate to this music as a "sonata" -- I liked the 2nd movement the best, and I think the concept would be better served by turning some of the material into an extended one-movement Fantasy -- about 12-15 minutes long
3 Your thinking is ungodly virtuosic, although convincing throughout. You may want to think about having some mercy on lesser technical wizards such as myself.
Thank you Tim, for sharing your thoughts on the Pieces. I am quite glad that you noticed the Bill Evans influence in some of the pieces, most notably the Sonata. To be honest with you, I spent a lot of time listening to his live performance of My Foolish Heart, which gave me a lot of insight to writing the Third Movement of the Sonata. Speaking of the Third Movement of the Piece, when considering what sort of title goes to a piece, I don't usually have any convictions that lead to relating a piece to a name. What I do is relate the structure of a piece to a title. In this case. there are four movements. the first seems to follow a Modified form of Sonata Allegro form. the second movement is Slow. and the Third Movement (if you listen carfully)is actually a Minuet and Trio which leads into a Finale Rhapsody/Rondo Movement. However, if I understand you correctly, It isn't common to attach such a classical term as "Sonata" to a more modern sounding piece I have also though about this. In that regard I have considered some other approaches such as maybe writing a Jazz style Singing sort of (lady in the red dress sits on the piano with the spot light on her)piece. If not, I'll probably just do a Fantasy, or even a medium length Tone Poem based on these themes.
I think I agree with you on the level of virtuosity required for these pieces. It is just too much work. I remember being able to play most of these pieces when I first wrote them. But since it has been some years now (especially since I haven't played seriously in quite some time), when I go back to play them, I can hardly get past the first few measures. So I think that with the current evolution of my musical style, when I start up writing again, there will be a vast difference, and the Music will probably be technically simple-intermediate.
I'm a great fan of your work, you should get these published if they aren't already, you are a wonderful composer. I greatly enjoyed your comical impromptu, very animated piece, energetic and amusing to play and listen to. Your Grande Valse is brilliant, you have used some wonderful techniques in the composition, as well the variations throughout, very brilliant indeed. Where did you study composition and/or piano? (If you're not self taught?) I hope you keep up the inspiring work, looking forward to more...maybe a concerto. All best
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Currently working on~ Piano .Beethoven appassionata sonata .Chopin opus 25 and opus 10 (24 etudes) Violin .Saint Saens- Introduction and Rondo capriccioso .Bruch- violin concerto no 1
Thanks for the Comments, I'll be working on getting the music published. Most of My music study came from the various music teachers and the Royal Conservatory. I have a lot of time now, so there might be a concerto in the works at some point.