LUCIFER & GANDHI - Symph. Orch. (Sosnowski)

[etLux]

This has been a very productive period for you - and we benefit greatly by it! Another fascinating work, full of rich details that require/demand repeated listening. I was intrigued by the Lucifer music, in that it had great motor energy, and while perhaps manic, didn't always seem malevolent. It reminds me of Martin Luther's great reply when he was criticized for using profane songs and fitting sacred lyrics to them: "Why should the Devil get all the good tunes?" Perhaps here Lucifer has some admirable musical qualities? Certainly makes him seductive...
Sorry for the meander into Theology, but the piece gets one thinking - in a good way.
Fabulous realization. I would imagine that a pianist would love to tackle the part; there is plenty there to repay the work involved.

Hey, Ron! Glad you made it by for this one, my friend; and I thank you for the kind comments.

My productivity is, of course, legendary, here -- legendarily slow... lol. Gosh, it takes me forever to write a piece... as I said earlier, this one must have run 80-100 hours just in the composing.

And, you know, Ron, you've really struck to the heart of a number of my pieces. I want people to think about these matters: Who or what made the cosmos? How do we talk to that, and about it? What is the relationship between dark and light; and the nature of our own entanglement with both? How will we deal with these fundamental elements of existence, as we progress into the human future?

It's perfectly fitting that you bring up topics theological and philosophical -- it is the meat on the bones of so very much music, both now and historically!

David.
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[etLux]

Bravo Maestro Sosnowski!

This is a great work and you keep outdoing yourself.

The usual well-written intricate woodwinds, trombone slides (those are neat!), trumpet mute, meliflous horns, flute trills, you have it all. And the mix was outstanding.

You are inspiration to so many, not only in your helpful insights but in your compositions as well.

You got the title right. The enlightenment of Gandhi and the devil in the details.

Thanks for posting this.

Gary

Hey Gary! Thanks for stopping by for a listen on this -- and for your, as always, abundantly kind comments.

I like that: "The enlightenment of Gandhi and the devil in the details"... that got me laughing. I don't know about the enlightenment part; but this piece was the absolute devil's own, and it was the details, details, details that made it so.

[Did I ever mention I grunt copiously when I compose? My wife says I thrash and wave my limbs about, too -- says it's like watching a man wrestle with a python. Well, this piece, just about grunted myself hoarse, and I knocked over my coffee a record seventeen times (I keep track).]

In any event, Gary -- this piece, and many thousands of others, wouldn't have ever heard the light of day (so to speak) without the Garritan GPO.

In that, my friend, you surely deserve a goodly part of the credit.

All my best,

David.
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[jsp2]

Wow!,

I'm completely speechless.


...Like an observer straining to understand the meaning behind an abstract painting, so too, i find myself straining between the colorful interplay of voice and mood.

I'll be honest .. i have no clue what the dialogue is... but yet i know there is one.

Your work may at times be ambiguous, but it's never dull or unimaginative!
There's an intelligence /skill behind this arrangement,


Bravo David!


jeff

oh, and finally, I no longer believe your claims of being a slow composer!!

[giwro_jon]

Now folks....

where else can one find such an accomplished and creative composer like David who is so kind and encouraging to us all, freely sharing his knowledge...

David, this is IMHO a major new work... I hope you can find a group to tackle it... it DESERVES to be heard.

I'm still absorbing it, and need a couple more listens before I comment more in depth, but I can say that on first hearing was delighted with the clever and ingenious interplay of your orchestration, as well as the ever-morphing themes

*****
A sidelight here... this board is a WONderful place... so many forums have nasty mean folks and frequent fights - I have TOTALLY enjoyed my limited time here, and the kind words of advice and encouragement given by so many to me and others. I learn so much just by reading and listening to you all. Thanks Gary for setting the friendly tone (and also for giving us tools to realize our music with!)

Best,

[Jun Yamamoto]

I like this music very much.

Thanks for sharing.

Sincerely,

[valhalx]

David,
What to say other than, Bravissimo! A major opus. The energy level is relentless. The opening measures express a restrained evil that builds as you carry the listener through a conversation between two giants. Your rhythms and colors are very original and suited to the ideas you are conveying. Which brings up your concept. Rather than a program, give the listener proposition to consider. There have been some interesting and thoughtful comments already. I don't think you are simply considering good versus evil but rather how to approach it. We could bomb evil out of existance or we could do something utterly opposite and arrive at a similar result.

[Did I ever mention I grunt copiously when I compose? My wife says I thrash and wave my limbs about, too -- says it's like watching a man wrestle with a python. Well, this piece, just about grunted myself hoarse, and I knocked over my coffee a record seventeen times (I keep track).].

Beethoven had the same behavior. Those who didn't know him thought he was the village idiot. No you're not....

Congrats on a magnificent composition.
Bill

[etLux]

Wow David! That was spectacular! I can easily decifer the personality of both Lucifer and of Gandhi. This is a great work!! Thanks for sharing with us!

Thanks, Steph!

I like working with starkly contrasting concepts like this -- it tends to be very fertile ground.

Best,

David
www.DavidSosnowski.com
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[etLux]

That's the thing, isn't it? It's a pity not enough orchestras are willing to take risks and learn new wonderful repertoire! The music of Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, is all beautiful stuff but honestly, it's been around for hundreds of years Let's get some new standards and let the celebration of creativity not be hindered by lack of commissions or or money.

Leif, the arts have been driven by economics for centuries -- and I don't see anything fundamentally wrong with that if a degree of balance and equity is maintained.

But over the last century or so, the fulcrumal point has shifted unduly toward musical junk food, and away from more serious work... leaving modern orchestras strapped for the funds they would need to afford the luxury of exploring new repertoire more vigorously.

Perhaps the technology we're all using here is one of the paths to redressing that imbalance...

David
www.DavidSosnowski.com
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[etLux]

HOLY CRAP David!
man alive!
holy smokes,,,
geez louise !
great Scott, and who is Scott, and why is he so great?
This is an incredible display of GPO in all it's glory!

I feel like I have been to a fireworks display,
You are a monster!
This is absolutely awesome work.

I have not read any of the compliments, and have just finished listening to this. I am going back now to read what others ha ve said. I like to listen to these works before hearing any comments.

I love the pitch bends and the dynamix, it is all just truly awesome!

Man, very nice!
Dan

DPDan! Hey, bud -- glad you made it by!

Gosh, this has gotta gotta gotta be one of the best reviews I've ever received... lol!

I'm a slow learner, Dan, but I'm workin' on it -- thanks again and again for all of your own huge help and inspiration-by-example to us all along the way!

All my best,

David
www.DavidSosnowski.com
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[Rhap2]

David:

What are we going to do with you? You compose such great music up there on the Mountain. Must be the atmosphere. LOL

Actually, this a great offering for the contemporary music community. Everyone should listen as this piece integrates dissonance with consonance--which seems to elude a lot of contemporary composer's works. Seems it is both tonal and atonal at the same time: a feat not easily accomplished these days.

I really loved the piece and think it should be performed "live" ASAP.

And, in closing, a SPECIAL THANKS for making the Ken-P/Dan Kury production into a wmv so that all Windows Media Players can play back this amazing accompllishment. WOW--this was a huge contribution to our GPO community.

We owe you, David.

Jack