String Quartet No. 5 in Bb major Movement 1 by Benjamin McLean

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  • Опубліковано 28 гру 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 41

  • @saldana7395
    @saldana7395 Місяць тому +6

    Very helpful to read your comment section as I also want to composed for string quartets. Keep it up💪👍

  • @debussyman88
    @debussyman88 3 місяці тому +4

    This is gorgeous

  • @aPersonWhoHasViolins
    @aPersonWhoHasViolins 6 місяців тому +3

    It sounds great! I could try playing it.
    0:00 Introduction: Seventh chord + staccatissimo/First theme?
    0:10 Legato part
    0:21 More staccatissimo
    0:40 pizzicato
    0:41 repeat
    1:22 Development
    1:29 1st Violin starts playing hard parts/
    2:21 Cellist starts feeling bored
    2:48 this sounded familiar
    2:52 Recapitulation
    3:20 Ending

    • @benjaminpiano3110
      @benjaminpiano3110  6 місяців тому +1

      Glad you like 😊 I’d be thrilled to have my music played 😊

    • @FelineFlame-dj1xl
      @FelineFlame-dj1xl 2 дні тому

      I’ll be down if you need a second violin!

    • @aPersonWhoHasViolins
      @aPersonWhoHasViolins 2 дні тому

      Sorry... I realized that I don't have time for that, and I forgot to tell you.

  • @aloysiusdevadanderabercrombie8
    @aloysiusdevadanderabercrombie8 Місяць тому +5

    Sounds great! As a cellist I'd like to give you a few tips to write more idiomatically.
    The eighth note staccato thirds, while possible, aren't very comfortable. The cellist needs to shift nearly every single time the chord changes and at even moderate speeds they're likely to face some intonation difficulties. I'd recommend redistributing the chord between the viola and cello to have wider intervals or single notes where possible.
    The octave D at mm. 38-39 is also possible but uncomfortable, and rather difficult to get in tune, as the cellist has to use their thumb to play the lower D. Fine in certain passages, but not really good for anything at speed.
    At mm. 41-42 and 45-46, the switch between pizz and arco is very fast and liable to cause the bow to bounce or produce an unstable tone. I'd figure out a way to restructure that part if possible.
    Again, these passages aren't impossible, and if you can't rework them in a way that sounds like you want it to then that's ok. Learning the weird idiosyncrasies of every instrument that you don't play is tough lol

    • @benjaminpiano3110
      @benjaminpiano3110  Місяць тому +3

      Thanks so much ❤specific feedback is really useful - as someone who doesn’t play the cello it isn’t always obvious what is good writing and what isn’t 😅 thanks for taking the time to go through the score 😊 I will have to make a ‘2nd edition’ edited score which incorporates feedback from you and others to make the piece more playable. I’m glad you liked it and if you or anyone ever plays it feel free to change anything you like haha 😊😊

    • @aloysiusdevadanderabercrombie8
      @aloysiusdevadanderabercrombie8 Місяць тому +2

      @ Maybe I'll try to convince the peeps I meet up with to play chamber to record us sight reading this at some point :)

  • @hergestthered
    @hergestthered 17 днів тому +1

    I had to give this piece a few listens. I love the fun and wintery feel to some of the sections, plus the bolder opening measures. Excellent piece.
    I think this piece would really shine with a live quartet. Musescore gives the violins this annoying glissando sound if you write in legato. It's to the point where I wont upload the compositions that suffer from this the most on my UA-cam channel

    • @benjaminpiano3110
      @benjaminpiano3110  16 днів тому

      @@hergestthered thanks so much! I’m always thrilled when someone likes the piece 😊😊 Yes I agree a live quartet would be ideal haha, but until then MuseScore will have to do 🙃 Recently I’ve been using paid sound libraries in MuseScore different to the default ones - for example the ‘CineString’ library for solo strings is ~$20 on MuseHub and gives a possibly more realistic sound, which you might find helpful in terms of improving the sound quality, although it might not be the best solution and nothing beats real musicians 😂

  • @aramkhachaturian8043
    @aramkhachaturian8043 2 місяці тому +2

    good work!

    • @benjaminpiano3110
      @benjaminpiano3110  2 місяці тому +1

      @@aramkhachaturian8043 thanks very much 😊😊

  • @gonasjoss
    @gonasjoss 13 днів тому +1

    It's pretty fun! I would suggest you incorporate more contrapunctal writing in your music, it would level it up quite a bit. You have good ideas!

    • @benjaminpiano3110
      @benjaminpiano3110  12 днів тому +1

      @@gonasjoss thanks 😊 I love contrapuntal music, and I should indeed write some music which includes this (to the extent I can manage contrapuntal writing haha 😅)

  • @SammyLopaz-s8v
    @SammyLopaz-s8v Місяць тому +2

    Now could you create a tuturial on how to write a string quartet (I'm too lazy to correct my spelling)

    • @benjaminpiano3110
      @benjaminpiano3110  Місяць тому +1

      I’ve actually been thinking about making a video of composing a piece, this is a good suggestion and I should do it soon!! 😅😂

  • @adam_salha
    @adam_salha 2 місяці тому +2

    Wonderful!
    I felt that the violin 1 sound was very unique. Any insights as to why?

    • @benjaminpiano3110
      @benjaminpiano3110  2 місяці тому +2

      Thanks very much I’m glad you enjoyed :) the software I use is MuseScore 4 which has pretty good timbres for their instruments (although real musicians are always best 😅), what do you mean by unique?

    • @EthicalEthicsEnteringEthically
      @EthicalEthicsEnteringEthically 2 місяці тому +3

      Usually, for however much my opinion’s worth, I use the solo sounds for viola and cello but use the orchestral violin 1 sounds for violin 1 & 2 because it makes it much easier to work with.

    • @benjaminpiano3110
      @benjaminpiano3110  2 місяці тому +1

      @@EthicalEthicsEnteringEthically thanks for the tip 😊 anything to make the sound quality better in MuseScore 😂😂

  • @James-ll3jb
    @James-ll3jb 7 місяців тому +2

    You should be writing for the BBC

    • @benjaminpiano3110
      @benjaminpiano3110  7 місяців тому +1

      If they have a job opening I’d be honoured 😂😂😂

    • @James-ll3jb
      @James-ll3jb 7 місяців тому

      @@benjaminpiano3110 It's worth checking out. Soundtracks for indie films, documentarys, etc.

  • @chiatomas4877
    @chiatomas4877 26 днів тому +1

    it's pretty good - WAY too violin oriented (like most string quartets). Move more of the melody to the viola / cello sometimes.

    • @benjaminpiano3110
      @benjaminpiano3110  25 днів тому

      I agree with you 😅 I hope as I get better at writing music I will give better/fun parts to all instruments 😊

    • @williammuthig1052
      @williammuthig1052 6 годин тому

      Sounds like something a viola player would say 🤨

  • @ImJumber
    @ImJumber 2 місяці тому +3

    Bowing 👎
    Places where needed legato, you didn't put, where is not much needed, u put.

    • @benjaminpiano3110
      @benjaminpiano3110  2 місяці тому +4

      Hi thanks for the comment - I’m not a violinist 😅😅 working on improving writing for violin and other string instruments 😂 if you or anyone plays this feel free to play with whatever bowing you prefer

    • @ImJumber
      @ImJumber 2 місяці тому +2

      @@benjaminpiano3110 ok👍

  • @salvopappalardo4956
    @salvopappalardo4956 2 місяці тому

    Plus or minus unuseful, save the children.

    • @benjaminpiano3110
      @benjaminpiano3110  2 місяці тому +2

      @@salvopappalardo4956 not sure what you mean by this 😅😅

  • @camilorojas1744
    @camilorojas1744 Місяць тому

    Your approach to functional harmony is oversimplified and lack interest. The music doesn't take you anywhere

    • @benjaminpiano3110
      @benjaminpiano3110  Місяць тому

      Hopefully I will write more exciting/interesting music as I improve 😅😅 thanks for your comment

    • @hergestthered
      @hergestthered 17 днів тому +1

      How does it not take you anywhere? How exactly? You're just stating non-arguments. Where are your compositions? Let's see them.
      I'm all for criticism but it should be meaningful.
      I do think it may linger too long around 2:30 but the piece isn't long enough for it to be a big issue. I really like the way he shifts from the more modern commercial sound when the strings are playing 8th notes in unison back to a more traditional sound. I don't think any given part or melody is that interesting on it's own but I love the structure and the fun attitude the whole piece gives.
      I can appreciate this piece as someone who really struggles with giving music interesting and cohesive structure.

    • @benjaminpiano3110
      @benjaminpiano3110  16 днів тому

      @@hergestthered thank you for your thoughtful and insightful comment 😊 May we all continue trying to compose music with a cohesive and interesting structure! 😂😅