Orchestration Challenge V

[cptexas]

Chris...<whisper> neither have I, and I'll bet that you haven't either! ;-0


;-)

how did you know?
Actually, these past four themes have been extremely difficult for a more 'simple' (OK, not so much simple as inexperienced and new) composer like myself. What I've noticed happening is that the really advanced composers always win the challanges and they post really hard themes for the next challange.
Maybe there can be a seperate challange for us less compositionisticly inclined?

-Chris

[southportJim]

how did you know?
Actually, these past four themes have been extremely difficult for a more 'simple' (OK, not so much simple as inexperienced and new) composer like myself. What I've noticed happening is that the really advanced composers always win the challanges and they post really hard themes for the next challange.
Maybe there can be a seperate challange for us less compositionisticly inclined?

-Chris

You're right...of course everyone complained that Sean's original theme was "too diatonic", remember?

I guess we could score it for non-pitched percussion!

;-)

[cptexas]

You're right...of course everyone complained that Sean's original theme was "too diatonic", remember?

I guess we could score it for non-pitched percussion!

;-)

That's exactly what I mean--I can make 'better' music out of diatonic stuff, but not really this advanced stuff. That's why I think maybe a split for us less compositionally inclined might be good, unless I end up being the only one participating in this new challange. I guess it's just my style, I'm more classical, like Mozart--lots of scales and arpegios. I LOVE scales and arpegios and the way they sound, so I write with 'em!

I don't mean to be selfish here, just I'd really like to participate in these challanges, but they're just too advanced for me.

-Chris

[Stephanie Pray]

how did you know?
Actually, these past four themes have been extremely difficult for a more 'simple' (OK, not so much simple as inexperienced and new) composer like myself. What I've noticed happening is that the really advanced composers always win the challanges and they post really hard themes for the next challange.
Maybe there can be a seperate challange for us less compositionisticly inclined?

-Chris

Hi Chris,
I probably have no business even saying this because I've not entered one of the challenges yet (because I've been so busy) but it looks to me that you're copping out. "it's too hard..." and "everyone's more advanced than me..." is what I'm feeling that you're really saying. Well, you're young and talented, so you can do it just as easily as the rest of us. If you don't try you won't win and you won't learn anything. Why do you think that it's called "Orchestration Challenge"? It's meant to be a CHALLENGE! It's supposed to be difficult. Having separate catagories for the "inexperienced" or "less compositionsticly inclined" rids the contest of it's main purpose of being a challenge and takes the fun out of it for everyone. I hope that this doesn't come across as being rude, but sounds to me that you just want the easy way out. Have some fun, give it a shot and see what happens.

Steph
(running away to find a place to duck and cover....)

[southportJim]

WHOA!!!! Everybody duck!!!!!!!!

;-)

[SeanHannifin]

Yes, it is supposed to be challenging, but I can understand your plight. I don't think you have to worry about all winners coming up with a non-diatonic stuff though . . . but that's part of the glory of winning, it's completely up to the winner . . . and everyone has a different style. So if you can, just have fun with the theme. Experiment with it and see what you can do with it . . . and don't be afraid to send it in! (even if you yourself are not happy with it, others may like it a vote for it )

By the way . . . HAHAHAHA!!! What a great avatar you have!!

[southportJim]

Experiment with it and see what you can do with it . . . and don't be afraid to send it in! (even if you yourself are not happy with it, others may like it a vote for it )

And if you don't get any votes, then you can just remain anonymous at the end and not take credit for it...which is what I'm probably gonna do this time around. I just started this morning and so far...well, things don't look so good!

;-)

[dewdman42]

I agree and disagree about it being too hard. It scared me away too actually. I don't know anything about post-tonal music yet and I would simply be pulling music out of my rear end if anything at all. Hey I think its great that post-tonal people can have this contest..and I am definitely intrigued by it..and would love to learn more...but I must confess.....There was no point in me submitting something I pulled out of my rear end...so I am not. Something a little more diatonic might engage me.

On the other hand... It can be very interesting to go in new directions. It is true that there are people of varying ability levels on this forum and most of the stuff I hear on here are from people who are seriously quite accomplished. That is great for them and frankly I think they should be challenged and have some fun with something like this. Maybe we need a another parallel challenge for those of us who are less experienced.

[88fingers]

And if you don't get any votes, then you can just remain anonymous at the end and not take credit for it...which is what I'm probably gonna do this time around. I just started this morning and so far...well, things don't look so good!

;-)

Ha! So now we know Southportjim will be the entry that doesn't look so good.
See, you gave yourself away.


Steph,
You are so right about taking the challenge. I think that I could take a descent stab at these harder melodies, but don't because they don't fit my style. I use the cop out of not being able to arrange for these, oh, and not having GPO loaded back on my computer for a while.

Time for me to man up and post my efforts no matter how good or bad.
Come to think of it, some entrants may apreciate my bad posting Cuz it will make thiers sound better.

Dont worry Cptexas,
Someone will eventually post a melody you like to work with, and just think of how great it will feel for you to orchestrate it after you have challenged yourself with these harder melodies that tax your imagination!

So here, with my big mouth open, I had better get to work on this piece and give South port a run for his money in remaining annonamous.

[SeanHannifin]

Well, no one could stop a parallel orchestration challenge that is meant to stay diatonic I guess from developing if there is enough interest. However, I'd hate to see this particular line of challenges become strictly "undiatonic" or something. Because if the winner of this round chooses to write a more diatonic theme and there's already another diatonic theme being used in the parallel challenge, it may be kind of superfluous.

We could have the winner of this challenge write one diatonic theme, and an optional parallel undiatonic theme. Then it would branch out into the two parallel challenges, one "free themed" where the winner can create whatever kind of theme he or she desires, and one "tonal themed" where the winner must follow some kind of rules in the theme composing (not sure what those would be yet though).

Or we could just keep it all together . . .

And also now that JABB is out we could start a JABB Orchestration Challenge branch as well . . .

Whatcha think?