The Mechanism - Piano Sonata by Rowan McTavish (Complete, with Sheet Music)

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  • Опубліковано 10 вер 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 113

  • @needforthegreen
    @needforthegreen Місяць тому +31

    I love how the melodies are woven into the harmonies

    • @blackmage1276
      @blackmage1276 Місяць тому +5

      That's called voicing...

    • @needforthegreen
      @needforthegreen Місяць тому +7

      I think there is a difference between good voicing of chords and containing the primary melody within the those voicings.

  • @Iko_onthedl
    @Iko_onthedl 14 днів тому +6

    this is fire
    the classical scene is so askew; its like the weirder u write the more u r recognized as a competent composer while composers that actually embrace their musical nature, often into a contemporary voice, gets no recognition

    • @RowanMcTavish
      @RowanMcTavish  13 днів тому +4

      I think the reason for that is simply that there's very little interesting, from an academic standpoint, about new music that conforms to typical tonal harmony conventions. That doesn't mean that there's not still tons of good new music that can be composed in that framework -- we see it every day, still, from pop to video game soundtracks to little piano channels on UA-cam :) -- but I won't pretend that I'm treading any new ground here. It's just a great honor for me to know that I've maybe made someone's day a little brighter, or that they liked something I wrote enough to want to play it themselves.

    • @Iko_onthedl
      @Iko_onthedl 12 днів тому +1

      @@RowanMcTavish no I know there isn’t but the contemporary accepted approach for a classical composer is basically just to write atonal etudes. Then ofc the movie and gaming scene etc is where modern, and LISTENABLE, classical music has its viability. The greatest classical composers of our time r Williams, Horner, Shore and Zimmer. It’s weird cuz in the end music is abt experience and the classical world embraces emotionless, theoretical abysses rather than modern melodic uniqueness. Anyways I think it was Chopin or Debussy or someone who foresaw this. It’s only natural but still sad

  • @jordynmoss3895
    @jordynmoss3895 24 дні тому +11

    This is such a beautiful sonata, it's genuinely so moving! I'm so glad that the algorithm brought me here!!

  • @sundorwine
    @sundorwine 24 дні тому +14

    A very modern sonata. I love it

  • @vodkat07
    @vodkat07 25 днів тому +7

    the first movement is just out of this world. absolutely beautiful

    • @vodkat07
      @vodkat07 25 днів тому +2

      my mistake; the whole thing is utterly beautiful

    • @Frederic_Liszt
      @Frederic_Liszt 23 дні тому +1

      @@vodkat07yes

  • @vanoksilver6170
    @vanoksilver6170 29 днів тому +8

    this piano sonata is very graceful. it's played very softly and carefully. Einaudi is much more interesting and noticeably more complex. Brings to mind thoughts of observing space in nature. With love from Russia for this wonderful piece and the opportunity to try to play it yourself.

    • @wheresthe4percentmilk
      @wheresthe4percentmilk 11 днів тому +1

      I'm curious what Ludovico pieces you have in mind that you consider more complex than this sonata he made. I can't think of a single one. His work is very straightforward and melodic - almost "pop" like. Which there's nothing wrong with, but in the piano world - Ludovico is always regarded as the "pop" contemporary artist.

    • @vanoksilver6170
      @vanoksilver6170 11 днів тому

      @@wheresthe4percentmilk дык, я и говорю, что таких произведений я у Энауди и не слышал, они все не то, что простые, а какие-то плоские, без глубины, что ли.

  • @ulrichlehensteiner
    @ulrichlehensteiner 20 днів тому +4

    Very delighted that such composers still do exist: both solid craftsmanship and spirit are obviously present. Reminds me of the music of Xenoblade Chronicles with all the maj7 and 9-chords that make it so dreamy and light.
    I especially like the melody of the passage in the 1st mvmt. bar 50 and the motivic development of the accompaniment-pattern in the 2nd mvmt.
    Also very cleverly structured finale with all the nods to previous mvmts. (even at the very end).
    Well done, I would definitely like to hear more! 👏🏻

    • @RowanMcTavish
      @RowanMcTavish  19 днів тому +2

      Thanks for your kind words! I love the XBC soundtracks (one day I'll finish the third game); maybe there's a subconscious influence there. 😅

    • @ulrichlehensteiner
      @ulrichlehensteiner 19 днів тому

      @@RowanMcTavish There's not as much to miss as in the previous two, but definitely worth playing (just make sure to play the DLC as well). the series actually inspired quite some pieces of mine, also the 3rd one 😅

  • @Calsas_
    @Calsas_ 17 днів тому +2

    Hey! I'm a young guy who wants to become a composer some day. Your sonata was really inspiring, it shows that classical form and music is still alive and can be as modern as any kind of music, and that's exactly what I aim for. Thank you for uploading!

    • @diwali9218
      @diwali9218 15 днів тому +2

      I believe that everyone of any age can be a composer. I started composing when I was 10. Why don’t you try it now? It’s really worth learning, and I'm sure you wouldn't regret a minute of doing it! It's another powerful way to express your emotions, apart from painting and writing.

    • @RowanMcTavish
      @RowanMcTavish  15 днів тому +2

      Thank you! I think there's still plenty of opportunity out there to leverage classical forms in the modern era. Some of my favorites are Nikolai Kapustin, Masashi Hamauzu, Takashi Yoshimatsu, and Carl Vine. I hope you'll share your music once you start composing; I'd love to hear it!

    • @Calsas_
      @Calsas_ 11 днів тому

      Thank you both for you comment! Actually, I started composing two years ago. I'm waiting to have the time to make a proper recording of my pieces so I can share them with the world!!

  • @arkantyne7122
    @arkantyne7122 13 днів тому +1

    As a fellow aspiring composer this is beautiful!
    As you mentioned in a reply to a comment, you don't see yourself as 'treading new ground' in regards to the tonal harmony and conventional phrase structures. I love the way you handled said conventional harmony/phrasing though. This sort of studio ghibli-esque einaudi-esque music often falls into the trap of repetitiveness, lack of variety or overuse of pentatonic melodies/harmonies, and you have deftly avoided it with frequent switching of textures, harmonic progressions, keys and even meter.
    The first movement was luscious and bright, the second beautifully sombre, the third meditative and the fourth uplifting and refreshing, but yet in all four movements the theme of a 'mechanism' is clearly reflected, and without overshadowing everything else in the music.
    If a student composer was taught by Einaudi, Yoshimatsu and Hisaishi all at once, they might dream of writing this. Bravo!

    • @arkantyne7122
      @arkantyne7122 13 днів тому +1

      Oh, performed beautifully as well by the way.

    • @RowanMcTavish
      @RowanMcTavish  12 днів тому +1

      Thank you so much for your kind words and analysis! I hope to listen to some of your music some day.

  • @eduardogomezruiz9505
    @eduardogomezruiz9505 18 днів тому +2

    It has a strong Ghibli touch to it. Lovely!

  • @carpinchipedia7009
    @carpinchipedia7009 9 днів тому

    This is absolutely fantastic, really reminiscent of Christopher Larkin and Yoshimatsu, but also so much its own sound. Bravo!

  • @vaultboy1488
    @vaultboy1488 19 днів тому +2

    I think you were inspired by Einaudi and Ravel😊 Very nice sound. Thank you very much for this beautiful work, bravo!

  • @Frederic_Liszt
    @Frederic_Liszt 23 дні тому +16

    My faith in humanity has been restored

  • @LidiaKotlovaPianoStudio
    @LidiaKotlovaPianoStudio 13 днів тому

    I love the last mvt in particular, to me it's Ravel+ Phillip Glass. Superb!

  • @ShelbyTomov
    @ShelbyTomov 9 днів тому

    this is gorgeous. thank you so much for sharing your work.

  • @Limitsofclassicalmusic-g8q
    @Limitsofclassicalmusic-g8q 21 день тому +15

    This masterpiece: 3.2k views
    baby shark: 10 billion

    • @RowanMcTavish
      @RowanMcTavish  21 день тому +4

      Needs more "doo doo, doo doo doo doo," clearly

  • @jamescash4065
    @jamescash4065 12 днів тому

    This piece is incredible! You should be proud!

  • @AsierD-he1jx
    @AsierD-he1jx Місяць тому +4

    Woow!! I really like the concept of the whole piece, and i love the beautiful harmonies and the heartfelt melodies you use in each movement, truly inspiring :) 👏👏👏

    • @RowanMcTavish
      @RowanMcTavish  Місяць тому +1

      Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it!

  • @tommasobego4816
    @tommasobego4816 23 дні тому

    This sonata is so intelligently thought out and yet feels so natural... such a beautiful piece
    Thank you very much

  • @Ninjanugets123
    @Ninjanugets123 12 днів тому

    reminds me of a final fantasy or other old school jrpg soundtrack, while retaining uniqueness! great work.

    • @RowanMcTavish
      @RowanMcTavish  11 днів тому +1

      I was raised on old-school JRPGs (and still love them!), so this checks out 😀

  • @MinYangLeong
    @MinYangLeong 11 днів тому

    Beautifully written and played.

  • @IsabellaRollim
    @IsabellaRollim 8 днів тому

    What a great composition! Bravo!

  • @fczyn8612
    @fczyn8612 23 дні тому

    I am touched..For the emotions, feelings and memories. For beautiful world created by your great heart. I am under impression that You brought to life modern piece tastefully....

  • @Kikidium
    @Kikidium 15 днів тому

    Thanks, this is great to listen to when stressed, something to occupy the mind.

  • @poczatek8
    @poczatek8 Місяць тому +2

    i think it's like something from fantasy world, where you with your friends, explore the world

  • @alexandrebeauharnais6849
    @alexandrebeauharnais6849 10 днів тому

    Reminds me a little of Ryuichi Sakamoto. It's a beautiful sonata. I think I'll try playing it myself.

  • @dgrtnio
    @dgrtnio 17 днів тому

    I love It. This sonata can reach the soul of everyone. Bravo

  • @jillwark2782
    @jillwark2782 Місяць тому +1

    Wow just found a gems in the sea of internet. Nice competition btw, sounds like background music in the space documentaries with Jpop infused.

  • @Yaro_Yurs
    @Yaro_Yurs 21 день тому

    Thank you for such a touching and extraordinary piece!❤ I especially liked the filigree clear playing of the pianist, it was pleasant for the ears and soul, I was immersed in other worlds.

  • @sadbeans7232
    @sadbeans7232 25 днів тому

    I love the way you incorporated the heartbeat sound throughout the first movement, makes it sound alive!

  • @dspumoni7365
    @dspumoni7365 15 днів тому

    Wow, this is just marvelous. Thank you for the lovely accompaniment to my morning!!!!

  • @eline8087
    @eline8087 19 днів тому

    I like it! It's easy enough to play that I can attempt it, but it also has enough complexity, and of course, has some beautiful harmonics.

  • @Jeramyd69
    @Jeramyd69 23 дні тому

    This is a very beautiful piece of music. I enjoyed the work as a whole, but especially the first movement. It was so nice to be surprised by the harmonies at each turn. Thank you so much for sharing.

  • @AbeLincoln1
    @AbeLincoln1 24 дні тому

    If this isn't absolutely amazing, I don't know what is! Outstanding dude! Keep up the great work!

  • @leonidyakimov6249
    @leonidyakimov6249 20 днів тому

    Just wow. Beautiful. Very relaxing. Melodies are kind to the listener and the form is perfectly built. Great perfomance btw.

  • @iMacxXuserXx485
    @iMacxXuserXx485 25 днів тому

    I love it! It's like very soulful anime music to me. I like that you keep the rhythm very sweet and simple but keep things fresh with the harmony or by moving melody to the bass.

  • @jakeharrison5523
    @jakeharrison5523 13 днів тому

    This is amazing!

  • @joshuacervenkamusic327
    @joshuacervenkamusic327 27 днів тому

    Thank the algorithm. I have not heard this piece before. Absolutely stunning!

  • @shshsh0
    @shshsh0 16 днів тому +1

    6:04 esse trecho que vai do compasso 152 ao 158 me lembrou Poulenc. Adoro Poulenc.

    • @j.thomas1420
      @j.thomas1420 15 днів тому +1

      From his piano concerto, first mvt.

  • @alejandropolanco5997
    @alejandropolanco5997 14 днів тому

    This is really cool!

  • @bethanywakim6175
    @bethanywakim6175 23 дні тому

    This is beautiful; really loved that moment of bitonality going into a key change near the end of the first movement. Glad to have found your channel!

  • @ackamack101
    @ackamack101 19 днів тому

    Very nice! Thank you for posting this. I like it a lot! 😌♥️👍🏻

  • @pianosenzanima1
    @pianosenzanima1 15 днів тому

    Excellent!!

  • @lionelmenguina658
    @lionelmenguina658 25 днів тому

    Beautiful. Wish to compose like that some day.

  • @jonaskatona7136
    @jonaskatona7136 24 дні тому

    Sounds like Yoshimatsu in the best way possible! Beautiful, serene music that transports you to a far away fantasy land :D

    • @RowanMcTavish
      @RowanMcTavish  23 дні тому +1

      Always happy to come across another Yoshimatsu fan!

  • @Peppercof
    @Peppercof 19 днів тому

    Great!!!

  • @ArthurSabbatiniBuoro
    @ArthurSabbatiniBuoro 20 днів тому +1

    Muito bonito. Meus parabéns!

  • @nikriedel
    @nikriedel 23 дні тому

    Gorgeous work. Thanks for sharing

  • @RowanMcTavish
    @RowanMcTavish  Місяць тому +3

    (Actual new music coming soon!)

    • @boyleiidea
      @boyleiidea Місяць тому

      I'm looking forward to it!
      Your work is amazing! I can't wait to hear more!
      May the Lord bless you!

  • @willymusic1698
    @willymusic1698 24 дні тому

    I really love this! Nice job!

  • @iMacxXuserXx485
    @iMacxXuserXx485 25 днів тому

    3:19 is awesome. I might do something like this. Sounds so good. Def sounds like Ryuichi Sakamoto. Love it :)

  • @lluisrafalessole-classical5068
    @lluisrafalessole-classical5068 28 днів тому

    This is very beautiful music

  • @cyrene7985
    @cyrene7985 Місяць тому

    such a wonderful music!!

  • @prs_81
    @prs_81 Місяць тому

    Beautiful

  • @gameclips5734
    @gameclips5734 Місяць тому +1

    tenuto seems like an odd marking to use for the melody. Definitely getting a lot of japanese (videogame) vibes, nice job.

    • @RowanMcTavish
      @RowanMcTavish  Місяць тому +1

      Hah, yeah, I stole that from one of the Russian composers, can't remember who (Medtner, maybe?) -- they used tenuto throughout a long run to indicate which notes were melodic, and I liked it. Just a little bit of weight to distinguish it from the other notes. Typically I'd just use a second voice, but I intentionally try to keep the scores simpler for beginners. And thanks!

  • @cinplux
    @cinplux 14 днів тому

    2:05 has Interstellar vibes

  • @alexmaleyeff293
    @alexmaleyeff293 22 дні тому

    Love it ❤❤

  • @emanuelevercellinodicastel2409
    @emanuelevercellinodicastel2409 24 дні тому

    Bravo 👏👏👏

  • @liltick102
    @liltick102 22 дні тому

    Do you have anything posted stylistically similar to Satie, Mompou, or Glinka?

    • @RowanMcTavish
      @RowanMcTavish  22 дні тому

      Not really, I'm afraid; I'm going for more of a contemporary style.

  • @christopheluciani1913
    @christopheluciani1913 День тому

    Beautiful work! I would be interested to know what you think of my waltzes 2, 3, and 4 if you have time to check ^^

  • @hiritoguevara7500
    @hiritoguevara7500 2 дні тому

    I would really like to know what inspired you? this is beautiful

    • @RowanMcTavish
      @RowanMcTavish  День тому

      I wish I had a good answer! I started writing the first movement as a standalone piece quite awhile ago, and set it aside pretty early on because I didn't like it. But then I came back to it and decided it wasn't so bad, and by the time I'd finished, the theme of some sort of "mechanism" had kind of revealed itself, so I kept running with it.

  • @liltick102
    @liltick102 22 дні тому

    Impressive

  • @nuclearbass9780
    @nuclearbass9780 25 днів тому +1

    Me recuerda mucho a Hollow Knight,

  • @DelaCruzHJesus
    @DelaCruzHJesus 23 дні тому

    Beautiful!!! I've got a question. Did you got inspiration on Bach's Prelude (C minor Book I)? I talk about the 3rd mov.
    Thanks for this beautiful piece. Greetings from Perú 🇵🇪🫂🎶

    • @RowanMcTavish
      @RowanMcTavish  22 дні тому +1

      Yes! Just a little nod to how Bach's music is still inspiring us centuries later. And thank you!

  • @cinplux
    @cinplux 14 днів тому

    What program do you use to notate your music, and what about playback?

    • @RowanMcTavish
      @RowanMcTavish  13 днів тому

      I use MuseScore 4 for notation. It's pretty good, overall. It's occasionally frustrating, but I've learned workarounds for dealing with specific things over time, so I feel pretty comfortable with it these days. I also like supporting free and open-source software when I can.
      For recording, I play on an M-Audio Oxygen 88 MIDI controller and use the East West Bosendorfer piano VST in REAPER. I'm not a digital audio engineering guy, like, at all, so I could probably get a better sound out of it, but it's worked well enough so far. I feel like it lacks real "oomph," though, so I don't get quite the dynamic range I'd like; all of my recordings sound kind of...flat, I guess, to me. After I finish my next few pieces, I'm going to look into trying the Modartt Pianoteq -- their Steingraeber sounds incredible.
      Ideally, I'd love to simply record on my acoustic piano, but getting a good recording out of an acoustic piano is a nightmarish endeavor I'd rather leave to the pros. Maybe one day I'll book time in a recording studio and re-record some stuff.

    • @cinplux
      @cinplux 13 днів тому

      @@RowanMcTavish Thank you for your reply! I'm getting into arranging songs for piano and appreciate the recommendations

  • @bananana6380
    @bananana6380 Місяць тому

    If I may ask, why did you decide to only use one voice in the treble clef in 2:25 ? If it were up to me, I would've separated the melody from the F ostinato using 2 voices so that the score would be more understandable interpretation-wise. This is especially a problem (for me, at least) in the following bars at 2:43 to 3:01 since I'm not entirely sure if the repeated F notes are still considered to be part of the ostinato or part of the melody itself.

    • @RowanMcTavish
      @RowanMcTavish  Місяць тому +1

      Good question! When I started this channel, I made a conscious decision to minimize more complex voicing to keep the scores visually simple for the sake of beginner pianists, my target audience. That's why you'll frequently see tenuto, rather than a second voice, being used to indicate melodic notes. This sonata in particular is a slight departure from my target difficulty level, so I probably should've just written it using the multiple voices I'd typically use.
      And excellent point about 2:43 to 3:01; I see how a simpler-looking score can actually complicate interpretation here. A (hopefully?) generally safe rule of thumb is that if there's no explicit indication that some notes are melody and some aren't, then they're all roughly equally important. During that segment in particular, the ostinato becomes part of the melody (it's a slightly modified, drawn out version of the figure in the right hand in measure 7).

  • @kamilibragimovbayan7707
    @kamilibragimovbayan7707 Місяць тому

    Bravo!🔥

  • @amitjena8082
    @amitjena8082 20 днів тому

  • @Goodpianist
    @Goodpianist 18 днів тому

    B minor always the saddest key

    • @RowanMcTavish
      @RowanMcTavish  18 днів тому

      That's not what Spinal Tap taught me 😁

  • @alexandertarasov1191
    @alexandertarasov1191 24 дні тому

    Would suit well an anime cartoon as based on a pentatonic

  • @dazza2350
    @dazza2350 17 днів тому

    Mfw I find a lava rock

  • @Whatismusic123
    @Whatismusic123 8 днів тому +1

    This is not a sonata nor is it music. At best this qualifies as poorly composed background noise.

    • @RowanMcTavish
      @RowanMcTavish  7 днів тому

      A visit from the legend? Am I famous now?

  • @derenou
    @derenou 25 днів тому

    Tempos are too boring (only the first part is different): all are near 80 - 90 bpm. Too many melodic and rythmic repetitions. Obviously you want depict the mechanism, but your mechanism is not interesting. Listen (and analyse), for example, "time forward" by Sviridov, or "der leiermann" by Schubert. These pieces also depicts mechanisms, but in very interesting and charming way.

    • @RowanMcTavish
      @RowanMcTavish  25 днів тому +2

      Eh, I think you're just not the target audience, honestly. I write "sleepy," quasi-background music for hobbyist pianists, not serious music for the concert hall.

    • @derenou
      @derenou 25 днів тому

      @@RowanMcTavish ah, ok, but i think you have a potential for more serious music

    • @RowanMcTavish
      @RowanMcTavish  25 днів тому

      Thanks! I've certainly written more serious (and substantially more difficult) stuff in the past, back when I was performing. Some of it I'll likely record and upload here one day!

    • @senortenpiedad8515
      @senortenpiedad8515 24 дні тому +2

      There's always an academic classical musician that puts down new composers because they don't sound like old dead XIX or even earlier century composers 🙄

    • @RowanMcTavish
      @RowanMcTavish  24 дні тому

      It doesn't bother me; they're not invalid complaints. My specialities back in the day were (and still are, I suppose) Russian composers: Medtner, Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, etc., so I'm very aware this is a different kind of music for a different audience. :)

  • @chutdigadut
    @chutdigadut 20 днів тому

    Brilliant! You are an amazing composer