Unit 9

Composition Proposal
Step 1

Instrumentation/Performing Forces - Wind Quintet
Meter - 4/4
Key Signature - Ab Major
Tempo - 120bpm
Dynamics - Ranging from p to f (depending on part)
Song Form - ABACAD...
Numbers of Measures - ~30
Chord Progressions - Probably follow a flow chart to find what sounds nicest
Cadences - Deceptive, Half, PAC

Texture(s) - Monophonic, Homophonic, and Polyphonic (not in said order)
Title - Luft

Step 2
What is it you hope to accomplish?

My hope is to not only compose a piece that I may enjoy, but one that in the future I could improve and potentially play with friends. I want a composition that I will feel accomplished when I finish it and enjoy every time I listen to it. It needs to have a sense of beauty and sends chills through my body.
Does this project relate to any of your Benchmark Goals?

My goal was to develop a better understanding on music in general and be able to compose pieces and analyze music much stronger than I was able to in the past. This project will significantly help with this goal. Not only will I be reviewing all of the concepts I learned, but I'll be utilizing them in my composition. And of course, I will be completing the goal of being able to compose.
What concepts will need additional research or review?

Not only listening to Wind Quintets, but researching how the bass instruments (in this case, bassoon) and written within a composition. Another review over most music theory concepts as well as how they will effect and play within my piece. Having a fresh mind on all of the concepts will significantly help while writing this composition.
How will you sequence this process? What will you do first, second, third, etc.?

I believe I will tackle studying Wind Quintets in the beginning, then proceed to compose the bassoon first. The way this bass instruments plays in the piece will affect how I overall with compose the melody above, and what will occur throughout the piece. After the bassoon or during this, I will also work on the Horn part. Afterwards, I will attack the Clarinet, which feels to be more of a middle instrument, both playing harmonies and melodies throughout. Lastly will be the Oboe and Flute, which will often times have the melody.
How will you know it is a success?

I believe at the end of composing my composition, I will have a sense of completion and satisfaction that arrives. It will be a signal that I am truly done with what I have written, and as I stated before I will get a sense of chills as I listen to my piece. Even if I cannot achieve those chills, simply the idea of completing the piece and knowing I am satisfied with it will be enough for me to know it is a success. The composition is already helping my significantly build on my Benchmark Goals, so I guess it can be deemed a success the second I finish and know it greatly displays the concepts I studied.

Composition Presentation
Step 1

Step 2
Describe the skills/knowledge you needed to complete this assignment that you learned/refined as a result of taking this class.

Forming harmonies and melodies was a big piece of it. The worksheets we received definitely prepared me for what I was going through in this composition. Another strong part which is quite obvious is the knowledge of how to work Finale, which I received towards the beginning of the course. Without that and the composition practices throughout the semester, I would be completely lost.
Describe the resource/information that was most helpful to completing this composition.

The most helpful resources were the Lessons sheets that were provided to us throughout the entire course. It was also helpful listening to youtube videos of Wind Quintets or Quartets. Also simply having the presence of both teachers in case I needed any help.
How close was your final product in relation to your initial proposal? If things changed, why/how?

The key changed from Ab to Bb simply so that I could compose in a key that I am most familiar in, even though it impacted the sound. It feels far more basic and elementary now that I am in that key. The dynamics only ranged from mp-mf instead of p-f just for time constraints. Also, I didn't put much focus into cadences besides at the very end. Lastly, the only texture I didn't exactly include is monophonic because I did not have the time or the best idea on how to write a solo line. Lastly, the amount of measures was significantly reduced due to being unsatisfied and not having enough time.
Comment on your time management for this project.

I believe my time management for this project was relatively decent, but I did not get a result I wanted. My composition sounds like a very random and unorganized, yet somehow slightly organized piece. Hopefully in the future I can just sit down with Finale and work on a composition at my own pace without having it be significant due to the fact that it was something being graded. This feeling of it being mandatory made me feel like I had to have some sort of academic approach rather than simply composing for my own enjoyment.
What was the greatest benefit of your learning experience for this composition?

I learned from this that my approach for anything academic doesn't sound the best or how I planned for it to be. I wished to compose something I enjoy just for myself, but instead I composed something I don't enjoy because I wanted to just turn it in. From this I learned that I have a lot of time that I have to put into my composition in order to improve my abilities.
What was the greatest challenge of your learning experience for this composition?

Almost the entire composition was a significant challenge for me, but I would say the greatest would be composing a melody I enjoyed. I still do not exactly enjoy the melody I created (and even my composition as a whole). Another significant challenge was writing for transposing instruments, which I did not address until roughly 2-3 days into working on the composition. I found a setting that significantly helped me with my issues though.
Were there any aspects of your outcome that were surprising or unexpected?

The biggest surprise was forming harmonies and then the transposing instruments had a strong dissonance. It took me a while to realize why this was happening, and it definitely came as a surprise. Another shock was to how difficult it was to compose for multiple instruments and have it sound the way I wanted it to.
How would you approach the compositional process differently if you had another opportunity to learn in this manner?

I would just work better on my time management and try to make sure I am enjoying myself. I did not enjoy the results I had, which was probably due to failure in time management and severe levels of stress. For future projects, I definitely hope to work on my time management in order to put out a piece that I enjoy.
Describe the kind of composition you would pursue if given another opportunity to do so.

For another composition, I would try to break out of my comfort zone and try to compose for instruments that I have little knowledge about. This would not only improve my composition skills, but improve my overall knowledge of that instrument as well. To complete this goal and pursuit, I would probably compose a piece for a string quartet of some sorts. I would tackle a percussion piece, but that seems far too difficult for my current understanding of music.