Week 4: Complete // Apr 12th
Welcome to Week 4 of the Composition Challenge! 
Today's show will be the final didactic livestream of the series! Next week, we will reconvene to enjoy each other's music in the final watch party.
Click here to access the show!
In this livestream, I will not only walk you through all the steps of writing a short piece from beginning to end - I will also be composing in front of you, in real time!
Use this thread to submit the pieces you've been working on and any updates about your process.
See you in the stream!
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Hello Ashley (Ash) Lucero or anyone who can help :), I skipped week 3 assignment due to travelling, apologies . Now I am preparing the piece and have chosen a lullaby. I have developed a melody and a succession of arpeggios so far. My question is, have lullabies a set structure? thank you so so much!
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Emma I don't think so, I don't they have anything specific, but definitely not too complex. Most of the ones I know are basically song form, chorus-verse-chorus-verse-chorus etc., and the phrase structure is clear, even (as in not odd) numbers of bars in each phrase. I think the idea is you repeat the bit the baby likes as often as you can but change something slightly to keep baby interested enough to fall asleep. I think I'd think more about the general character, and if you could fall asleep to it, you're done!
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Emma Hi! Lullabies do not have any structure, it's mostly a mood. Like Roni Glaser said, it tends to be simple, in song form, and sometimes you'll even hear it in triple meter (3/4 for example) to give it a "rocking" feeling. Can't wait to hear it!
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Ashley (Ash) Lucero @Roni thank you! Yes what a question of mine ! It is a song! I realised when I wrote the question! Now trying to armonize the Melody which is absorbing and difficult ;)
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Roni Glaser thank you! It is a song of course! Let’s see if I can put you all to sleep :)
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Emma Give it a try!
My lullaby made my wife dreamed of nightmares....
I don't know why.....
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First of all, I want to thank Ashley for conducting this Composition Challenge (which it certainly was!). It got me to compose something which I have wanted to for a long time - I always needed to learn more before I was ready, a 'requirement' that is never remedied. It was also great, and humbling, watching you compose in real time. In 20 minutes you had a piece essentially filled out. I am still trying to finish the first week's assignment.
I am posting the (nearly?) finished Etude 1. I have modified it since the last posting by working in a Stravinsky quote. I am also including a modified version of the middle section. I will try to post a performance of this by week's end. The outer (A, A') sections are more or less under control (sort of). The middle section ..... well, we'll see. I intend to continue to keep trying to compose, referring to the other assignments I was never able to get to. Looking forward to the final session - really!! already?
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Jack Stewart I agree Jack. I have intended to write something for a long time and thanks to Ashley I've finally had a go. So here here! Thanks Ashley
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Jack Stewart Congratulation - a difficult piece, what an ingenuity! Will we get the recording? It would be fun to hear!
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Jack Stewart I would very like to listen to it on the guitar :)
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Jack Stewart I am touched to hear you enthuse about the course, and honestly it was an incredible experience for me too, to share my raw composition process with ya'll. It is the greatest gift to see people breaking free of the fear or apprehension towards just DOING! And i've been right there with you, not too long ago.
And let me just say.. I LOVE THIS ETUDE!! Wow, that quote was so well placed! Really, REALLY cool piece Jack :)
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Jack Stewart I also agree Jack, I've always wanted to compose but never thought I was capable and now in 3 weeks I've actually managed something. Great composition - would love to hear it on the guitar
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Jack Stewart congratulations it is a beautiful piece! Sounds very very Stravinski. Please play it on the guitar...
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Well here it is (or almost). I said last week I would write an arpeggio study based on the progression of 'minor chord', 'tonic major', 'relative minor' etc. When I first played around with it I thought I'd made a mistake as the progression didn't sound so good but I've had a little time to work on it (still not too much) and this is what I've come up with. I've called it "Planter's Paradise" and those of you who did Mircea's right hand workshop will know why. Hopefully I'll get to record it later in the week and maybe modify it a bit. Any suggestions will be welcome. I started writing it in two parts but changed to one part later which is why the bass notes are whole notes in the first eight bars but not after that
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Derek Nice job! "Planters Paradise" - what a great tittle! Mircea will be happy
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Marek Tabisz Thank you Marek. This has been an interesting exercise - maybe I'll keep on trying to write something - I think we need to plan a couple of hours every week and make sure we stick to the plan!
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Derek Great! I'm waiting for your recording :)
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Derek Evocative of the BWV 999 prelude! You have two polar opposites in terms ofharmonic representation (predictable vs. unpredictable) I think the transition between them could be done a little smoother, and the more chromatic chords could be expanded upon a bit more. You have enough material here as it is and some interesting stuff to work with! Thanks for sharing!
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Derek Great job Derek - looking forward to hearing the guitar version. Definitely a good one for Mircea's workshop
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Bravo! Good to practice the planting with this!
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Derek Very good. There is sort of a minimalist quality in the way the harmonies seem to shift thru the piece. I don't mean to suggest it is minimalist - this has a definite harmonic structure.
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Derek So nice, Derek. There´s something very interesting in the (asymmetric) harmonic changes. Thank you.
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Derek I like it a lot Derek! it has a strong moody minor groove to it - where you inspired by Stevie wonder Pastime Paradise or was it Coolio's Gangsta's Paradise?
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I would like to say thank you to Tonebase and Ashley (Ash) for running this composition challenge, it was a lot of fun and I enjoyed it a lot. I also want to thank all the fellow composers and guitarists, it's awesome to see all the ideas and discussions running here. Last week has been very busy for me and I was not in a mental state to complete my assignment, so there is two sketches for this week. My goal with this challenge was to compose, score, record and film one sketch for each of the four weeks and I think I finally was able to completed the cycle!
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Blaise Laflamme Hey these are great! I really liked them.
The Nocturnus seems to have a touch of wabi sabi. I'd love to hear the Fugatina too!
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End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
