BEYOND THE EVENT HORIZON - Violin & Symphony Orchestra (Sosnowski)

[etLux]

Hello David!

David:

Very nice piece indeed. I have listened several times and feel bad about taking so long to comment - but I never feel up to the task of stating how I feel about the marvelous music you post for us to liten to and admire.

David, I most appreciate that you listen -- and I, too, certainly
stumble and search for words often enough when trying to convey
what I hear in a piece. As I think I said earlier, if it could be
adequately addressed in words, I guess we'd have no need of
the music!

I continue to marvel at your control of and use of the gamut of the sonorities available to you in the full orchewtra. also the way you have of finding new combinations of sounds to help push yout compositions along in satisfying and often surprising ways.

Thanks, David. You know, the orchestra's a big place, when
you think about it. The possible combinations are practically
endless... and I admit I delight in exploring them all. All those
colors to play with! But there's more to it, too; with color
and texture lately being folded into composition as elements
of form and structure.

I love the way you have of using the piano to build tension.

The violin solo is exquisite, often providing the called for realease from tension building in the orchestra. Your realization of it is masterful.

Thank you so much, David. I don't often write for solo
orchestral instruments, very few pieces over the years for
the violin. But with its great range and enormous versatility,
it's such a joy to work with...

Your ability to build tension harmonically, thematically and through the use of sonority and then find just the appropriate moment and manner to lead to repose is always wonderfully evident.

Again you have provided us with a challenging and extremely enjoyable composition to chew on for some time to come.

Thank you.

Your friend,

David Mauney

David, you've always been very supportive of my work, and
I thank you again for your kind comments.

All my best,



David
www.DavidSosnowski.com

[etLux]

Hi Karen,

Hi Dave,
Writing as I listen....
I always feel somewhat inadequate to comment on your music, Dave, nevertheless -- here goes.

Words can unwieldly and ungainly when the congregate
around music... lol.

There is so MUCH to hear, in such a fabric of quickly changing moods (yet tied together by the original motif) that it is all I can do just to pick out various parts that strike me.

the opening, there is your theme. slow, gradually elaborated.
at :41 - like the chord there, a gentle major chord moment before it moves one... love that soaring violin!

1:24 chaos breaks out, and the violin screams!!

2:13 the stair-step runs down, like those....

2:40 the pizz. in low strings, and low (contrabasson??) notes

3:05 a waterlike quality, like something making noise under water... with the pizz in high strings, and i guess the reverb does the rest? (not sure)

4:22 a quality of pathos in the oboe, and runs in the strings like a bird sturggling to get out of a net -- a quality of panic, frantic

5:55 trumpet breaks through and a nice chromatic line in strings

6:25 a transition, brass and cymbal with a return to original motif

7:58 some chaos in the brass and then a quick change to gentler strings, pretty consonant harmonies

8:42 -- the tension in high strings with the (gong? bass drum?) is a wonderful juxtaposion.

9:20 the theme again, and elaborated, differently, again

I'm going to pause and write more in next post....

It always fascinates me to hear what people focus on like this;
what jumps out at them, Karen. It's most helpful in calibrating
my sensibilities, actually!

My best,



David
www.DavidSosnowski.com

[etLux]

Wow, round two! I admire your persistence, Karen!

OK, I've just got to listen more organically -- too fast for me to write the times down ---

Sometimes the best way to listen is not to listen too
attentively... at least I find I take more from a piece
if I don't take it apart on the run... lol. But from the
standpoint of learning, I certainly do -- it's the best
way for us to learn our craft.

When all chaos break out past 11:00 it's -- wonderful! Then things quiet down and the pizz strings and that lone high (arco) violin and low staccato winds .... what adjective can I use here? It's a feast for the senses. Usually I have pictures that come to mind with music, but this is as difficult to picture as a black hole is to understand.

I am learning alot from the alternation of dissonance with the most beautiful consonances (bringing Persichett's discourse on that to mind.)

Well, I think I'll just sit back and enjoy the rest, Dave,

there is nothing much I can add to all the other more insightful and knowledgeable posts that are already here (many of which I read as an education in themselves.)

As always, a great big bravo!!

Karen

Thank you for the honor of spending so much time with this,
Karen -- and for the kind comments!

My best,



David
www.DavidSosnowski.com

[etLux]

Hello David,

Wow truly amazing David. So many emotional outbursts in this piece.

As a violinist, I can't say how amazing the solo is!

Best Regards,

David

Thank you for listening, David -- I'm especially pleased that,
as a violinist, you spent some time with the piece. I've
some concerns if the player might survive the playing... lol!

My best,



David
www.DavidSosnowski.com

[etLux]

Was this all done with Garritan?

Yes, Matthias, all Garritan. The Strad of course, for the
violin. The trumpet is from JABB. All else is GPO.

My best,



David
www.DavidSosnowski.com

[etLux]

Hiya Ben!

You always amaze me with your work David.

Many thanks, Ben!

Sometimes I wonder how it's possible to get GPO to sound like that. Lots of patience I suppose!

I'd be the last to say it's easy... lol! But the key factor
(I work in Finale) is putting *exactly* what you want played
on the page.

I'm more of a fan of tuba solos myself, but this piece really takes the cake. Very very contemporary. Excellent work.

I'll have to think about doing a tuba concerto, Ben!

My best,



David
www.DavidSosnowski.com

[etLux]

A Message From On High

Well, this is a first! A message from God Hisself!

(Everyone's a critic... lol.)

We'll David,

I'm glad you got that off your chest. It's always great to listen to one of my creations really musically rattle their cage so to speak. So many of you are content to just amuse yourselves with my little gift, which is understandable. Others like to stir things up a little, trying to scratch the surface of my reality. You know I don't often touch bases with folks but I will at least tell you that you're getting warmer dude. Ha, ha.

All these new inventions like the Garitan Strad make me proud of you all. I like to see my beings put so much work into their projects. And I'm sure it's a joy for you also.

Now don't be too concerned about the length of your piece. My current universe has been around for 13.7 billion earth years, give or take a wink of an eye. We can all spare a few extra minutes of concentration for you to communicate your ideas.

Yes, it can be a little scary out there at times but I have given you all the ability to find peace within yourselves.

So keep up the great work and don't be too concerned with the unknown. If you knew everything I'd be out of a job!

You friend forever,

God himself.

Thank you, Lord, for stopping by. I'm deeply honored.

But just one thing.

Will you ever forgive me for what I did to the trumpet player...?

Eternally yours,



David
www.DavidSosnowski.com