Water

Very musical, perhaps 4 and a half minutes are a bit excessive given the repetitiveness of the melodic pattern and harmonic content... but it seems well conducted to me.

Compliments.

I like it, and I don't mind the alleged repetitiveness veiled by Paulo... will you play, Giulio?

It was me playing! Thanks for the comments and the appreciation!

The initial repetitiveness might seem boring, but I thought of it to communicate the "nightmare" of the water drop in a crescendo to enhance the central theme

Stylistically it is very close to minimalism, it flows and that is an asset; I don't find such a descriptive nature in it ... but, who cares if while listening I don't think of water?

I suffer too much from repetitiveness; in my opinion, you started well and up to the first minute, minute and a half it was okay... then it seems like you pull a bit too hard.

Try listening, for example, to the piece by Ravi Shankar

https://www.youtube....h?v=ENagJfLAtlo

...it repeats but it doesn't bore, it is difficult to imitate the great masters.

Until next time

Open content (youtube)

GiulioRiccardi wrote:

Hi, my name is Giulio and I am new to the forum

Welcome

GiulioRiccardi wrote:

this is the first composition I am publishing

I don't want to seem intrusive, but what goals did you set for yourself in writing this piece?

Not at all indiscreet! I'll be honest, I haven't set specific goals.

I took inspiration from water, the water drop; I would like my music to be used for soundtracks for films, documentaries, short films, etc.

What do you think?

I agree that there is a lot of musicality, and this is already an excellent starting point

overall it also seems quite naive to me, as if it were a piece constructed mainly by ear, with a collection of catchy but static ideas, in which the simple variation of rhythmic patterns is also pleasant but not particularly significant. After a while it feels like the piece doesn't know where it's going and spins in circles; it could have lasted 2' or 6' without giving the sensation of losing or adding anything.

perhaps by conceiving the work through "tonal planes" rather than simple harmonic progressions, it would have gained complexity and flow, allowing you to have less material but paradoxically more richness. And obviously also more unity, which at a certain point here feels missing (I am convinced you decided to close not because you ran out of ideas, but because you perceived that you were drifting and could no longer manage between repetitiveness and lack of coherence).

if you disagree with anything, feel free to say so

Hi!

So, yours is an opinion that I certainly take into consideration and I do not contradict it, but rather I am stating my point of view on the piece.

I didn't want to give too much substance to the piece because I wanted it to be simple; perhaps it can be too simple, but it is not my intention to create things that are too complex and significant; it is obvious that one can cross over into banality, and it is that, more than simplicity, that I try to avoid. In fact, I have no presumption other than not falling into the banal. I believe it is better to be simple and not banal, rather than complex but banal. (I don't know if I am being clear about what I mean)

My music (naive, I agree) would like to be an accompaniment to images, and I would like it to create images in the listener's mind.

From the point of view of unity, however, I have often changed the tempo to give the impression of a change in the states of water; personally, I thought of a drop, then a more substantial mass of water, then a river, then a lake, but everyone is free to see whatever images they want, since this is my goal.

Let me know what you think about all this, and sorry if I wasn't very clear!

GiulioRiccardi wrote:

What do you think?

In any case, I always find it appreciable (for better or worse) when someone presents the fruit of their own work, whether it be a piece, a performance, or both in your case.

This is because it allows for getting to know each other better, understanding one's aspirations, results, and levels of preparation at a glance... even if one piece is not enough to get to know an author's style. Furthermore, one lays oneself bare, exposes oneself to criticism, which demonstrates a great openness.

That being said, the most important thing is to evaluate the piece within the context in which it aims to express itself, which is very close to Italian pop ("minimalism" in a distant sense).

There are several analogies with the usual Allevi regarding the approach, but I don't feel an authentic pronouncement, that something distinctive that one finds, for example, in composers like Allevi.

GiulioRiccardi wrote:

i would like my music to be used for soundtracks for films, documentaries, short films, etc.

Well, in films of a certain level, you certainly find the piano as a protagonist, but in an area that is more jazz-oriented or otherwise something targeted and linked to the story told by the film.

If you notice, soundtracks on average do not use solo piano; if the context requires it, well-known composed pieces are often used that immediately capture attention.

Surely the pop-like atmosphere doesn't help... probably in soap operas (like Cesaroni, to be understood) you can find something similar in terms of genre... or even in some variety shows or in the world of advertising, where 30'' well-made clips are enough and, indeed, coming back to the piece, precisely in this context I suggest that, since you already have the melodic and musical idea, you make the best use of the beginning of the piece, which is what works well in the context where the piece can be utilized.

Often in that genre, pieces rarely exceed a few minutes; your Giulio lasts almost 4'30"... it seems like little, but with the language you have chosen, it takes skill.

Anyway, it seems like a good starting point; it is your first piece, and things change in life over time and with growth in terms of preparation.

Obviously, I am writing this to you aware that I am a drop in the ocean, so perhaps you have already had your own feedback.

Enjoy your progress

I forgot

GiulioRiccardi wrote:

My music would like to be an accompaniment to images, and I would like it to create images in the listener's mind.

I notice that you insist a lot on the subject of imagery, expressed in these terms: any piece evokes images in the listener's mind... the problem lies in creating that specific image; music is connotative, it makes sense but does not denote, it has no meaning.

In rare exceptions, the music was born first and then the images—my friend Berg teaches us... on average, the opposite always happens, so much so that when music and images travel together, the director always sticks their nose into the music... pursuing their own objective, their "images." The composer becomes a means...

You will say, one can always dedicate oneself to theater or... become a director. True. But at that point, I don't know if images or music will prevail more in you, who can tell...

I gave my judgments on another forum... but regarding this topic "music for images"... nothing prevents one from taking a short silent film, a YouTube video, or anything else, and using it as a basis for a new soundtrack. Many people do it on the internet.

Hi Giulio, I am replying to your response to better express the concept.

The problem with this piece is not so much the language, but the structure which does not hold up for 4' and results in being too left to chance. The idea of a drop transforming into a sea could have been a good common thread and given meaning to the progression, but unfortunately, in my opinion, this constant arc of growth is not perceived.

I feel a piece that goes up to 1'50'' (A-B or verse-chorus), then the beginning of a new piece, along the same lines, up to 3' (just one A, with a feeling of being unfinished), then another different piece up to 3'55'' (intro + short A), then a closing....

these are all pieces that would be fine for some kind of sound design/scoring but, if this is your only intention, it is better to make "auditions" of maximum 1' and then touch them up based on requirements.

If instead you want to attempt an autonomous piece, you must keep in mind the horizontal dimension of the structure, and not just the vertical dimension of pleasantness and catchiness at every single moment.

bye

Good evening, I had the same impression listening to it as well; the beginning is the point to focus on and try to develop a few elements as best as possible (said by me, which is blasphemy, I realize),

however, I can only confirm the other opinions.

thallo wrote:

i gave my judgments on another forum...

... extremely useful information and a nice "who cares"?

thallo wrote:

but compared to this topic of "music for images"... nothing prevents one from taking a short silent film, a YouTube video or anything else, and using it as a base for a new sound design. Many people do it on the internet.

...to me it seems like yet another case where the music is born after the images ...

Talentuoso wrote:

...very useful information and a nice "who cares"?

Kindness in abundance.

I wanted GiulioRiccardi to understand that I am the same user (from that other forum) and that the matching nickname was not a coincidence. But I imagine you aren't even interested in knowing that.

...to me it seems like yet another case where the music is born after the images ...

so? I don't think I said anything regarding that. My suggestion was related to the exercise of pairing music and images. An exercise that doesn't need a director calling you at home.

thallo wrote:

Kindness in abundance.

I wanted GiulioRiccardi to understand that I am the same user (from that other forum) and that the nickname correspondence was not a coincidence. But I imagine you aren't even interested in knowing that.

Ok, but a copy-paste of what you have already declared? You know that I am always very attentive to your comments, Cla'.

In fact TheSimon, I think that is what Talentuoso wanted to imply... saying that someone posted a comment adds no value to the discussion; if Thallo weren't a moderator, it would almost make me think of a malicious intent.

Thallo, if you wanted to be recognized, writing him a PM would have been enough.

That being said.. I'll be honest, it bored me a little and towards the fourth minute I gave up despite knowing from the comments that there were only 30'' left.... personal difficulty, I see that some people liked it, so it's my own problem.

thallo wrote:

An exercise that doesn't need a director calling you at home.

It's true, but if there is always someone evaluating the image+music result, so in the case of autolearning... the composer handles part of the directing themselves