(MONARCH) in BM - M. Wiktor

[Michael A. Wiktor]

"...Wiktor's a Jekyll-Hyde personality..." - Lycos Music
http://www.miserymadebeautiful.com

[Josh]

wow - quite the bipolar piece! or to put it more organically, it's like gusts of wind on a quiet day

really enjoyed the dichotomy, yet lined with a sort of darkness - and the ending was perfect

good work, michael!

josh

[Larry G. Alexander]

Nice job, Mr. Michael! Very dramatic and original. Sounds cinema-like. I enjoyed your work. Your bass clarinet entry was delightful.

That's some fine writing.

Regards,

Larry

[suspenlute]

The phrase "Tour de Force" comes to mind when I hear this. Such power, such emotion, and mostly such variety. It seems like you really snuck a bit of everything in here and it definitely kept my attention up to the end. It sounds like an audio catalogue of the composer's "sk1llz" as they say. Nice combination of instruments from various sources too.

That's all for now.

-Chris

[rbowser-]

Hi, Michael

I love it when music manages to weave a magical spell, and your Monarch certainly does that. It's full of great surprises, and extremely dramatic contrasts. I really admire what command you have of sweeping moments, like the very opening of the piece.

What plans do you have for this work, Michael? I think it's superb and could do well in a number of different situations.

Thanks!
Randy B.
(rbowser)

[etLux]

Welcome back, Michael!

And one darned interesting piece, at that. The term "bipolar" has
arisen, but I rather hear it as magnificent handling of contrasting
streams of thought, brought about with sure-handed skill to a
superb overall result.

I'm well aware of the work and thought that goes into a piece of
this complexity and size; and most pleased with the coherence
and sense of it, all clearly Wiktor and it could be none else.

Bravo!

Michael, I do hope this one somehow finds its way before a live
orchestra...

My best,



David
www.DavidSosnowski.com
.

[LHong]

Wow, beautiful composition, especially Percussions and GOS rendering!

Thanks,

Long

[SeanHannifin]

Really addicting piece here, constantly interesting, always something new and exciting around every corner! I really enjoyed the variety in orchestrational colors and rhythm. Well done! (By the way, great avatar as well. )

[Josh]

michael - upon listening to this again (and again), i'm gonna have to go ahead and agree with everything david said and retract my "bipolar" statement - it really is quite congruent and all of the "outbursts" are justified and convincing - this is a lot more complex than i initially heard - though i still enjoy the underlying dark quality of the work - and the march/percussion and highlighting of pic., bass clarinet, and tubas is very effective

once again, great work - still love the ending

josh

[etLux]

Michael, it gives me much pleasure to see you back with a work
of this quality; hence the welcome -- and work this good deserves
to be heard, hence the shout. It was also remarked earlier (by
Nikolas, I think) that one listen is so often not enough with a new
work in a new voice -- so I hope others will take the time as I
just did to relisten this... there's much depth to be found with
even greater familiarity with the work.

I also specifically want to comment on your statement that you
"feel very emotionally numb to the work". My heavens, do I know
all about that... rofl. Michael, when I finished The Discourse
of Stars a while back? That took so much out of me I couldn't
write a note for weeks; and far, far worse, I couldn't even
hear or understand my own piece -- had no idea if it was even
comprehensible to others. So, my friend, this is not in the least
unusual after a major effort like Monarch... In time, in time,
patience, that sense will pass.

In the meantime, trust me on this one: Monarch is a superb
composition.

My best,


David
www.DavidSosnowski.com
.