Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum My first recorded composition.

I beg to differ. Often music can be inspired by an image or idea or the other way arround. And as archetypal psychology has pointed out, some of the best art, whatever its form, is inspired by collective ideas in the culture (in this case likely the impending holiday, All Hallows Eve). The images and the music both seemed inspired to me, but together they lifted each other to the level of art.

Music, even classical music, doesn't have to be overly complex to be powerful and beautiful. I thought the simplicity and repetition of the music and imagery perfectly evoked the the macabre mood associated with childhood and our collective childhood expressed in horror films derived from early cinema and the silent film scores these films employed. The inclusion of the melodramatic reactions of the biggest star of that era to these images and the ghostly early 20th century figures dancing to a 19th century style waltz evoked the ghosts of our collective cultural past. I personally found it thrilling. Brilliant debut, Rossy!

Most excellent use of cardboardano and cardboardweathereffects.

The benchmark I use is this: if I heard this in a movie or a cartoon or a video game, would it be effective? Yes, it would be effective. That's a sign that it's a successful composition.

Could it be more creative--not in terms of the arrangement, the use of video and arrangement of sounds was tasteful and unique, along with the rhythmic texture--but in terms of the musical expression? I believe it should have had at least one surprise in there to break up the routine. As helpful as that is. OTOH, as an unassuming composition that prefers to play accompaniment to a lead motif (e.g. the video, or a more potent overarching thematic device like the macabre effect itself, rather than the music) it is perfectly balanced.

Over all, I endorse your composition, and recommend you seek Austrian Noblemen to entreat further commissions.

I've already commented and said how much I liked this eerie-haunting type of production; (especially around Halloween time!).

I think what trapper John may be eluding to by referring to the numerous sound effects etc is Rossys composition is a great first production/composition but doesn't really fit into a "solo piano" performance...(even though there was some piano being played).

This is not a good or bad thing but rather it may be more a compatibility issue with a 'solo piano' forum.

Of course, this just sets the stage for the next Can-O-Worms disscussion; that being solo piano performances vs audio/visual productions.

What I heard/viewed from Rossy was a very very good initial production that included piano playing. His 'production/composition' may or may not be viewed as a true 'solo' piano performance however.

Again, this is NOT a good or bad thing. It just depends on what we want on our 'piano' forum. Do we want ONLY solo piano submissions? How 'bout digital piano performances accompanied by digital strings, violins, echoing effects? How about full MTV type videos with piano playing along with dancers, special effects etc.

How far do we want to get from solo piano? Is this forum dedicated only to solo piano?

Yup, I've done it again. The Can-O-Worms has been opened and probably would be a discussion for another thread as not to highjack Rossys thread.

NOTE: Rostosky, this 'solo piano' vs 'production' question probably DOES belong in another thread but please know that I DO love full productions (I'm a HUGE Castlevania fan as I LOVE the haunting melodies) and I thought your initial performance was outstanding irregardless of what category it belongs in.

For the record, I also LOVE solo piano performances too.

Cake reference?

Nick that was so witty! and apt, as A minor ( the waltz) is the relative minor of C.
To be honest Mrs R googled the cake reference!
The "Accidental" is because of the F#C#D# 's.

Indeed, I'm so thankful that fish didn't swim through the net.

Hey, that was very good, and well worth the time for a listen. Keep it up!

That was really cool, R!

Wonderfully chilling! I love halloween and the season. Great way to set it off!
All waltzes are a tad repetitive, and yours seems just right to me. Heck, I don't want to dance to a minute waltz, I want to dance to a 5 minute waltz, ghostly or not, but particularly a ghostly one - they're much more fun! Great video and composition!

Hawgdriver, there are a couple of us trying to puzzle this out, and we are probably failing, could you elucidate please?

It is indeed a Cake reference. He's glad that it didn't go unnoticed. Commissioning a Symphony in C, by Cake.

Thanks beechcraft, got it now! ( sometimes I am so slow.)

Me too! Thanks for that clarification beechcraft!

Nice comp and vid. I thoroughly enjoyed it!!
btw, in case you didn't know, there is a composer's lounge forum, perhaps it's worth post a link to this thread over there?