Concert Report

[Richard Birdsall]

Hi people. I just got back home from my visit to Olomouc. I haven't read any of the posts yet. But I thought I'd post a quick report.

I realy enjoyed meeting Gary, Andy and Petr. They're all realy great. I'm so gratetfull to them for what they have done. Thank you.

As for the other entrants pieces - I loved them all. They sounded GREAT, and I was moved by them. WELL DONE!!!!!!!

It was a nice suprise for me to hear some of Andy's music preformed live, and also for him to tell me little bits about it before hand, things that I looked out for during the concert and rehersal. (by the way Andy, I spotted all the things you pointed out and I loved your pieces!).

As for seeing my own music live for the first time - what can I say? I cant compare the feeling I had when I heard it for the first time to ANYTHING. Best experience of my life.

Thanks,

Richard.

[tgfoo]

Richard, glad to hear that you had a good time. I'm sure it must have been amazing to hear your work performed live for the first time. I'm sure given your talent and your age that it won't be the last time you're works will be performed. Again, congrats and I'm glad you had a good time.

[DPDAN]

Richard, you have a lot to be proud of, and rightfully so!

Dan

[JohnnyP]

Richard,

Loved your piece and shared it with my wife. Being a prof, she naturally asked where you were going to school. I said, I don;t know. Mind sharing?

Sincerely,

Jonathan

[Karl Garrett]

Richard,

I'm so happy for you. I hope you have lots of pictures and such to someday show your kids and grandkids. You write lovely music and you deserve all the great things that a career in music can bring. I wish you much luck and we all on this forum are proud of you.

Karl

[Richard Birdsall]

Thanks everyone for the kind words!

[MCS]

Congratulations from me also!

It´s a really very good piece of music! I was also amazed by the sound you achieved with GPO (in the mp3).

All the best,
Michael

[Fabio]

Congratulation Richard because:

- you are the winner

- you are very young and you have a life in front of you to become a big master

- your orchestration was really intelligent and smart: you show the variety of combinations and atmosphere possible with GPO.

- your orchestration is a pro-level perfect reproduction of the successfull actual orchestration used by film music composers. You find it, you write it and a real orchestra is able to play it.

BUT:

I think that critics are sometime more useful than congratulations if serious and respectful. I hope that people don't hate me if I write a dissonant note in the concert of compliments and congratulation of the event.

I don't like your harmony and melody choice at all, it's IMHO sometime simply weak, sometime really trivial. To be obvious is not a fault, it help the immediate enjoy of your music. But to be too much obvious is the grave of your futur music.
Please refine your motivic and harmonic creation, don't stop satisfied only because you are able to recreate John Williams or R.Wagner sound and new unexpected sound combinations and instrument mix.

I'm not partecipating to the competiton, then I talk only because i hope that you stay humble even if you are a winner, and you will be maybe a so good composer, that my actual critic will be listed as the stupid misunderstunding of your contemporary colleagues, in history of music future dictionaries... ;)

good luck,

Fabio

[JonFairhurst]

BUT:

I think that critics are sometime more useful than congratulations if serious and respectful. I hope that people don't hate me if I write a dissonant note in the concert of compliments and congratulation of the event.

I don't like your harmony and melody choice at all, it's IMHO sometime simply weak, sometime really trivial. To be obvious is not a fault, it help the immediate enjoy of your music. But to be too much obvious is the grave of your futur music.

Please refine your motivic and harmonic creation, don't stop satisfied only because you are able to recreate John Williams or R.Wagner sound and new unexpected sound combinations and instrument mix...

Fabio,

Just to clarify your constructive and positive critique...

Would you prefer that the harmonies would be come more complex by

1) More interesting voicings of the exiting notes in the chords,

2) Thicker harmonies, such as 7ths, 9ths, 11ths, diminished and augmented notes, and/or

3) More key changes and accidentals.

I haven't formed an opinion in this area regarding Richard's work, but I'm interested to understand your thoughts more deeply.

And I appreciate that your intent is to promote growth with challenges, rather than to retard growth with negativity.

-JF

[Fabio]

Fabio,

Just to clarify your constructive and positive critique...

Would you prefer that the harmonies would be come more complex by

1) More interesting voicings of the exiting notes in the chords,

2) Thicker harmonies, such as 7ths, 9ths, 11ths, diminished and augmented notes, and/or

3) More key changes and accidentals.

I haven't formed an opinion in this area regarding Richard's work, but I'm interested to understand your thoughts more deeply.

And I appreciate that your intent is to promote growth with challenges, rather than to retard growth with negativity.

-JF

FIRST OF ALL: IT'S JUST AN OPINION. The piece is "almost" successful...;-) It win the competiton, and a few people had the will to criticize it. Then in some way it works! But I'm a composer and teacher then I can seriously explain what I say. I would like to be natural English speaking to be less rude and confuse. Please forgive me.

I've not apreciated the frequent parallel moving as full shift to near tone or half tone, without a smart voicing, as countrary motion, or opening or closing intervals. It's more effective if you use it rarely and with more rich and dissonant harmony as you suggest in point 1) and point 2)

I've not appreciated the simple melody treatement, that start very tonal and move to modal or viceversa IMO creating confusion and loosing both tonal and modal sense. It sounds amatorial, even when it's starts or sounds in the beginning good. My feeling is that it happens because of a lack of concentration on the musical base, un-balanced by pressure to focus on orchestration. May be I'm wrong, only Richard can tell us if my suspect is correct.

I've not apreciated the very low level of theme development or variation (not enough melody, rithm, and harmony development, but more a sequence of short ideas and repetitions, more like in movie background or canvas , than in main theme expositions: but no picture help you, then only music must work alone, sorry, I hope it make sense in English...).

I would like to see the score, then I can explain in single bars details what I feel hearing the piece. But sometime the audio music is enough (or even better than score) to find a weak point. :rolleyes:

TO KEEP IT POSITIVE:

I add a lost congratulation: the production mastering is really excellent. The mp3 is a masterpiece of mix and sound balance. ;)

[SeanHannifin]

Congratulations Richard, I certainly enjoyed your work very much. I hope you continue to pursue music and keep sharing your talents with us. The orchestra did a wonderful job, I would say you certainly deserved it, and I hope it is not the last time an orchestra plays your music! :)

[joaz]

Many Congrats Richard,
You really got so much out of the GPO,and it opened the eyes of even a few crusty old veterans such as myself,as to what is possible with this remarkable software. :)
You clearly have a remarkable and precocious talent.
May I also endorse Fabio's plea,that you use this as a spur for fresh growth,and more development as a composer.
The joy of music,is that we all never stop learning and growing.
I am very excited for you at the prospect of what new learning will add to your cosiderable achievements.
I heard my first orchestral rendition of one of my pieces,when I was 19(28 years ago),and I still get goosebumps at the memory. :eek:
goodonyer mate ;)

[JonFairhurst]

FIRST OF ALL: IT'S JUST AN OPINION...

Thanks for explaining. Your intent is very clear, and not rude to my ears. I will listen to the adjacent chords closely, when I get the chance. I read your words as a critique, rather than a criticism.

And, of course, congratulations to all involved. If there is magic in the world, we have recently experienced it.

-JF

[Jeff Hurchalla]

Congratulations Richard. I realy enjoyed the piece and was great to hear it over the internet broadcast. What a thrill it must have been to actually be there. Thanks for the nice post. Everyone's pieces when performed gained a whole new dimension. Best of wishes for your coming time at the Pacific Northwest Filmscoring Program, and to continued success in music!

[Christopher Duncan]

Hey, Richard.

Glad you're home safe and sound, I'm sure you had a great time. It sounds like all the people there were wonderful to work with and get to know. What a blast! :)

[FredProgGH]

Congratulations from me also!

It´s a really very good piece of music! I was also amazed by the sound you achieved with GPO (in the mp3).

All the best,
Michael

I was going to say much the same thing. While it must have been incredible to hear your work performed and nothing matches that ineffable quality that a group of performers gives it I think your original GPO realization is outstanding.

Either way it's a wonderful piece!

[Hardy Heern]

Richard,

Heartiest congratulations on you remarkable achievement and experience of a lifetime. Don't listen to Fabio and others.....you're smart enough to be making your own decisions. Go ahead do what you want to do in your way!http://www.northernsounds.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

I don't want to say this but I think it needs saying (and call me over sensitive if you want) but I thought that Fabio's comments and timing were very ungenerous. Even the 'congratulations' part of his email was veiled and guarded IMHO to the point of bloody ignorance and impertinence. I didn't find his email at all pleasant to read (pissing on the party atmosphere)....particularly with respect to his timing.

He should keep his opinions (and his opinions, sadly for him perhaps, are only his opinions and are no more worth than any others) for a few months until Richard's had enough time to relish his wonderful success. Incidentally, I haven't heard anything better from Fabio than the piece he is criticising!

There;.... Fabio's made his criticism of Richard's music and I've made my criticism of Fabio's email hoping that he'll learn something too.http://www.northernsounds.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

Frank

[MCS]

I think Fabio wanted to be constructive with his critics and it´s important to critisize.
I´m also a composer, and I can tell you:
Of course there could be more complexity and the progressions could be done "better" in a musical meaning. But: Anything could be done better. You never come to an end, if you want. In my oppinion the important thing is, that this piece of music "works", and it works great! Wonderful colors, despite it´s sometimes simple.
I listened to it approximately 15 times now, and I would have judged it as the winnner also!
Some lines are simple but it works, as I said before, it´s also a great mix.

Best,
Michael

[Sicmu]

I'm also a composer and I claim the right to criticize if it's polite, argued and constructive (any composer has to face it) : it's exactly was Fabio did and I agree with him.
To me the winning piece is too simple in its melody, harmony and rythm but I don't mean it's a bad composition : there is nevertheless a good knowledge of orchestration and orchestral colors and while the composer is very young there is no doubt that with his talent and further training he will become a great composer.
I only listened to the four winners and I strongly think that Mr Reeves entry was the best : there is rythmic vitality, harmonic richness and real sense of structure and narration, and I mean only craftmanship, I don't talk about subjective preference, it's a work of an accomplished composer and I suspect that because it's a movement of his symphony and not a piece in its whole he couldn't be the winner ( but it's only my opinion).

I'm shocked by the "critique" of Hardy Heern : where Fabio displays musical arguments Mr Heern just says that he should shut up because he didn't listen anything better from him. This is a really mean (and childish) comment and especially totally out of musical argumentation. I hope Hardy heern will learn something from that too.

[Tom Hopkins]

I see the issue as one of letting Richard bask in the glow of being chosen first out of over 200 entries. This sort of thing only happens rarely in most people's lives. There will be plenty of time for analysis and criticism later. For now, it's Christmas morning; let him enjoy it without distraction.

Tom

[Fabio]

I don't want to say this but I think it needs saying (and call me over sensitive if you want) but I thought that Fabio's comments and timing were very ungenerous. Even the 'congratulations' part of his email was veiled and guarded IMHO to the point of bloody ignorance and impertinence. I didn't find his email at all pleasant to read (pissing on the party atmosphere)....particularly with respect to his timing.


My friend,
I really can't understand the need of words like "bloody ignorance and impertinence" and the need of "pissing on the party atmosphere".

It's your opinion, but really you need to be so rude and aggressive?

Remember that I'm writing in a foreign language. You are using your natural language...

I'm simply surprised. (I hope you at least enjoyed writing that).

If you are so strongly reacting, then i've offended you with my message, and I really apologize for this effect. It was absolutely unwanted.

But I can still confirm what I wrote by a simply friendly analytic point of view. People that want demolish your work, IMHO don't write usually what I wrote.


Incidentally, I haven't heard anything better from Fabio than the piece he is criticising!

There;.... Fabio's made his criticism of Richard's music and I've made my criticism of Fabio's email hoping that he'll learn something too.http://www.northernsounds.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

Frank

Do you really need somebody let you hear something better before share his opinion? If Mozart or Bach were the author of the message, something changes?

I accept only your suggestion about timing (don't brake the dream and the glory too early, let the winner enjoy), and I don't agree.

It's obvious the winner already enjoyed: it's time for future planning.

I used exactly this timing because it's the time to say "hey man congratulation. But go on, because you really can do something better with a few details of your work now". But of course it's only a matter of OPINIONS.

His professor will do the job. (...or simply the market and the rest of the world! And I'm a little piece of the market...)

Sorry friend, I know that you already have a bad opinon about me, then I don't fear telling you that I didn't learn nothing by you and your message, but that the world is big and various...

friendly,

Fabio

[Tom Hopkins]

It must be something in the water this week. This makes two threads I've felt compelled to lock. Gary has made it very clear in the past that he intends this forum to be a genial and pleasant place to visit. One way or another that's the way it's going to be. There will be no debate about this policy. Now, everyone go watch a Marx Brothers movie and eat some delicious chocolate. When the smiles have returned to your faces come back and continue. I feel like a referee.

Tom