Too many melodies!

[SeanHannifin]

I have written too many melodies and I don't have enough time to write and orchestrate the actual music for them all! Don't you hate when that happens? :eek: And I just keep writing new melodies . . . I just can't seem to stop! When I die, I'll probably leave behind a good number of finished pieces . . . and thousands upon thousands of melodies.

[jesshmusic]

You should.... uh... probably write the whole thing at once, not just the melody. ;)

[SeanHannifin]

I should . . . :D I always seem to write a few melodies at first and then build it into a piece. Problem is I tend to write melodies, plan the piece in my head, and then go write more melodies . . .

[rwayland]

I should . . . :D I always seem to write a few melodies at first and then build it into a piece. Problem is I tend to write melodies, plan the piece in my head, and then go write more melodies . . .

Well, I almost always conceive of the piece as a whole, at least in general terms. Often, I will write melody, parts, everything at once. But just as often I write the whole thing in a sketchy form. Sometimes it doesn't get finished right away, but if I have a decent outline, at least I can recall what I had in mind. Nothing wrong in writing melodies in a sketchbook, or whatever, but do something with them. You may have to discipline yourself a bit to stick to something long enough to finish it, but it is a necessity.

Richard

[gugliel]

If you find that xxxx is easy, you're doing something wrong.

just correct your signature line, replace xxxx with MUSIC! melodies are the easiest part of writing music (not that a great melody isn't special ...)

[SeanHannifin]

just correct your signature line, replace xxxx with MUSIC! melodies are the easiest part of writing music (not that a great melody isn't special ...)
http://www.northernsounds.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif Very true!

[Ken-P]

I always tell my private students these...
1) Unfinished pieces is like unfinished love letters. It will not tell anything to the person you fall in love, because it is unfinished and unsend.
2) The ability of composer is almost proportion to the number of pieces that one finished...not started.

I think it benefits everyone that if you finished composition.

[Styxx]

Use each melody as a counter melody in one piece! :D


Too many melodies! In other words ... Looney Tunes! :D

[SeanHannifin]

So it probably comes from my laziness . . . and my short attention span from too many loony tunes in my youth :D

I better work on trying to change that . . .

[Ray Lindsley]

I do the opposite (but I do mostly jazz,blues, and rock type stuff) and start with the rhythm, then harmony and then melody. I find that listening to a completed rhythm and harmony inspires the melody. I do it kind of like a jam session playing the lead instrument (keyboard guitar or vibes, usually) over the "backing track". It's actually quite fun.

[southportJim]

. . . and my short attention span from too many loony tunes in my youth :D


No joke! Dew-dee dew-dee dew-dee dew-dee dew dew dew...DEW

But really, I don't think writing a lot of melodies is such a bad thing...I think many composers have done so. I read that Arvo Part had notebook upon notebook filled with just melodies...

And you do occaisionally finish compositions...more than I do at any rate!

;-)

[GDG]

I have written too many melodies and I don't have enough time to write and orchestrate the actual music for them all! Don't you hate when that happens? :eek: And I just keep writing new melodies . . . I just can't seem to stop! When I die, I'll probably leave behind a good number of finished pieces . . . and thousands upon thousands of melodies.

Didn't Stravinsky keep a big manuscript book, and write melodies in it daily? I seem to recall hearing that he wrote down everything he thought of, and would go back to the book for ideas when seriously composing.

Index them. Play them back on different instruments. Sometimes just hearing the melody played on a different instrument will suddenly inspire...

Grant

[SeanHannifin]

Didn't Stravinsky keep a big manuscript book, and write melodies in it daily? I seem to recall hearing that he wrote down everything he thought of, and would go back to the book for ideas when seriously composing.

Index them. Play them back on different instruments. Sometimes just hearing the melody played on a different instrument will suddenly inspire...

Grant
Thanks for the tip! :D I do index as much as I can. I have a folder on my computer called "The Melody Vault" which now has about 110 Overture files, usually of just one melody, but sometimes a couple. It's fun to go back and listen. :D (Of course, some of them have been used, so I think there are really only about 88 unused ones :D )

[Styxx]

Man, I was just thinking (rare) how the music seemed to have died in me. Maybe you could throw a melody or six my way? :o

[SeanHannifin]

Man, I was just thinking (rare) how the music seemed to have died in me. Maybe you could throw a melody or six my way? :o
:D Sure!! Just $10 per melody . . . :D

[Styxx]

:D Sure!! Just $10 per melody . . . :D
You'll never get rich with those prices! :)

[SeanHannifin]

You'll never get rich with those prices! :)
:D Darn! No wonder I'm not making any money . . . how about $1 per melody plus royalties? :D

[SeanHannifin]

Okay, here's you a waltz melody I never used . . . http://www.northernsounds.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif I can't even remember when I wrote it . . .





http://wizardwalk.com/styxxwaltz.gif




There ya go! http://www.northernsounds.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[SeanHannifin]

Styxx, don't you want my beautiful waltz melody? :|:

[cptexas]

Can I have some of your melodies?
I've been running out or them myself. :D

[Styxx]

Styxx, don't you want my beautiful waltz melody? :|: Sorry, haven't had time lately but I do have the melody instrumentatedski!