Very Interesting piece, well done ! For human performers A flat on bar 7 would be more easy to play (and so on on some other bars) but it doesn't matter here. Sounds great.
On a technical note: when writing in a tonal or nearly-tonal environment like this, you do need to pay attention to enharmonics. On an equally tempered synthesiser it makes no difference to the sound, but string players -- if you ever show this piece to human players -- will automatically play an A flat and a G sharp with different intonation, because they are different notes. So in m. 12, that's not a G sharp, that's an A flat (the chord is A flat major); and in m. 29 (next to last), that's not a G flat, that's an F sharp (leading tone in harmonic G minor). And please rethink the opening gesture. That opening will immediately associate with the Barber Adagio, even if your piece isn't otherwise close enough to prompt uncomfortable comparison.
If I see an Adagio for strings I usually figure it has been inspired by Barber or Mahler 😉😉 The Barber influence is not that obvious, even at the climax you take the harmony to a really wonderful place...and like one commenter below I would like to see the climax expanded.
Thanks so much! I’m so very glad it’s subtle in its appreciation for Barber’s wonderful music, and Mahler too. I think maybe I should expand that climax, it’s come up a few times.
Hi Martin, thanks for the question. One of the main things I was keeping in mind would be how the sound would be distributed across the strings. I like the idea of everything being contained and then expanding out, which is why the 1st violins and basses are pretty similar in their cues (although basses less so because of how rich their tone is). Besides that, 2nd violins also don’t get a whole lot of love usually, so I gave them the introduction to the theme. Also it makes doubling slightly easier on those higher registers, especially in full divisi sections towards the climax! Hope this answers your question!
Very, very nice. I'd love for the climax at bar 25 to be drawn out and lengthened, it was so well built up and I wanted more. Really lovely harmony though :)
