Balloon Songs

[macetheace]

soundcloud.com/mason-gregory-wright/balloon-ride-1


soundcloud.com/mason-gregory-wright/an-adventure-was-had-by-all




www.scoreexchange.com/scores/balloonride-61763.html


www.scoreexchange.com/scores/an-adventure-was-had-by-all-606119.html

Attachments:

Balloon Ride Corrections.sib (84.62 KB)

An Adventure Was Had By All.sib (61.89 KB)

[Kevin]

Mason. BALLOON RIDE Once again a catchy tune but lots of notation errors in the strings parts and the viola line goes too low.

Could you think about a re write maybe as a string quartet?

[Kevin]

AN ADVENTURE WAS HAD BY ALL Once again catchy little piece with errors. How long does it take you to write one of these little tunes?

[macetheace]

Hi Kevin. Thanks for listening to my pieces. I was aware that in "Balloon Ride" the Viola goes too low near the end. Maybe I will add a cello for that part instead. Perhaps the strings should be labeled parts 1+2+3+4 as well. I don't believe I can condense the piece down to a string quartet, there are too many parts I want to maintain.

I'm not aware of any errors in "An Adventure Was Had By All". I don't see any range issues. Are you referring to the intro section?

"Balloon Ride's" melody was conceived long ago, about ten years time. The score has received a complete revamp for the rest of the parts, which was done about 2 months ago. The viola got a range change. I also changed the ending. The revamp took just a few days.

"An Adventure Was Had By All's" opening section and melody originated about 4 months ago, then I mulled it over for about 2 months. Then I wrote it down. The section with the trombone and tuba was composed later. I think the whole process of composing took about a week.


Thanks again.

Mason

[macetheace]

Okay, I changed the score. More string parts were added. I also added a cello. Range inaccuracies were amended. Visine, it gets the red out.

Attachments:

Balloon Ride Corrections 2.sib (85.59 KB)

[Kevin]

Jan 31, 2024 18:57:13 GMT macetheace said:

Okay, I changed the score. More string parts were added. I also added a cello. Range inaccuracies were amended. Visine, it gets the red out.

Your string parts in the lower two staves are un readable assuming you would like the parts to be played.

So much cleaning up Mason I am afraid.

[macetheace]

Well, I gave it a go.

Attachments:

Balloon Ride Corrections 3.sib (85.42 KB)

[Kevin]

Feb 1, 2024 19:55:04 GMT macetheace said:

Well, I gave it a go.

Here is my take on the opening few bars Mason.


01 - Full score - Balloon Ride.pdf (47.94 KB)Balloon Ride - Flow 1.mp3 (919.11 KB)


Your choice of instrumentation is non-standard. After listening I heard a sort of string quartet and I am sure that it will all sit well in that layout.

Some of your note lengths are difficult to read, I have corrected some in the example shown.

I am sure that your talent for composing little melodies could be enhanced by someone taking your melodies and creating music that people can read and enjoy playing.

[macetheace]

I appreciate your comments. Thanks Kevin.

I'll get to this soon.

[macetheace]

Kevin: thanks for your suggestions. The notations were clearly wrong, and I have corrected those (Balloon Ride Corrections 3). I will post the corrected version to Soundcloud and Score Exchange. I think it sounds much better with a more prominent cello part. However, I think that condensing this piece into a string quartet would make it lose its epic and pneumatic qualities. Many string parts=a more aerial perspective, in my opinion. I want to hear a fuller sound.

Thanks for the suggestions, I always take them into consideration.


soundcloud.com/mason-gregory-wright/balloon-ride-1


www.scoreexchange.com/scores/balloonride-618286.html


Mason

Attachments:

Balloon Ride Corrections 3.sib (85.44 KB)

[Kevin]

I am afraid I cannot see much in the way of alterations Mason. If you are wanting a fuller sound then it just needs scoring for string orchestra. As you have it now it is definitely non-standard.

It should be laid out like this.

01 - Full score -.pdf (25.09 KB)

This is the way to create a standard layout for a string orchestra.

Along with this a lot of your note values and beaming are incorrect.

[macetheace]

Hi Kevin. Thanks for your advice. I've arranged the piece for 12 string chamber orchestra. 4 violins 1's, 3 violin 2's, two violas, Two cellos, and one double bass.


You mentioned beaming. How could I rectify?



soundcloud.com/mason-gregory-wright/balloon-ride-5

Attachments:

Balloon Ride 4.sib (92.95 KB)

[Kevin]

Sorry to say that you are not getting the idea Mason. Just doing what you have done does not rectify anything, if anything it has made it a bit worse. You really need to study string ensemble writing to understand how it works.

As far as beaming I suggest you get www.amazon.co.uk/Behind-Bars-Definitive-Guide-Notation/dp/0571514561 if you have the funds.

That should explain everything. Of course if this piece is not something you are too worried about getting a performance made then it is fine as a midi file that someone can just listen to.

[dko22]

I actually find Balloon Ride infectiously jolly and could easily see this as background music or a theme tune for a children's TV programme in particular. I don't understand the notation either -- the score (just as well I still have Sibelius installed although I hardly ever actually use it these days) gives the impression that it's for solo quartet plus a chamber ensemble but perhaps I've misunderstood.

[macetheace]

Hi Kevin. I rarely compose music in a standard format. Of all my compositions, only a few are duets or in solo format. The rest are "mixed ensembles". I felt like I was forcing the parts in "Balloonride" to fit into a standard model, and that was not comfortable for me. I inferred a bit late that you wanted me to maintain consistency throughout the violin 1 and 2 parts. This does not seem possible with "Balloonride". When I write I just keep adding instruments as ideas arrive, and I don't write with a specific standard model in mind. I would still love to hear my pieces performed, but any group would have to take into account that the ensemble is mixed and non-standard.

Thanks for your advice during the review of this piece. I'm going to keep the format of "Balloonride 3 Corrections" and I am going to add the Double Bass part, I felt it was worthwhile.

I suggest for the future, when you are reviewing my pieces, that we try to focus on other corrections, and refrain from trying to fit the piece into a standard format.



soundcloud.com/mason-gregory-wright/balloon-ride-1

Attachments:

Balloon Ride 5.sib (87.09 KB)

[macetheace]

dko22: Thanks for your compliment on my piece. I have the opinion that the Children's Song genre is underutilized and under developed. Plenty of potential still exists to be explored.

[Kevin]

Of course I can reserve comment for non standard ensembles but this particular piece is of a standard ensemble-strings- so you have to write accordingly.

It should be played out as

3 solo strings- Violin, Viola and Cello

The rest of the string parts that you have grouped should be given separate lines and if possible, written out as a string orchestra

It would also benefit with the addition of dynamics.

I only give these comments as I believe in your music and think it needs to be out there being performed.

[macetheace]

Okay. How about now? I gave each part only one note to play at a time, and added a few dynamics. I also made a few cuts.


soundcloud.com/mason-gregory-wright/balloon-ride-for-string-orchestra

Attachments:

Balloon Ride for String Orchestra.sib (56.12 KB)

[Kevin]

Sorry to say but that does not really address the issues Mason. Your beaming over notes is not correct and the layout is not as I suggested. You cannot just give a part a separate line to solve the issues.

[macetheace]

Hi Kevin. I guess I misinterpreted what you were saying. You said:


1. 3 solo strings- Violin, Viola and Cello

2. The rest of the string parts that you have grouped should be given separate lines and if possible, written out as a string orchestra


I believe I satisfied issue number 1, I gave the piece solo violin, viola, and cello.

Somehow I misinterpreted issue no. 2. Please clarify.

I don't think I can condense the arpeggiated string sections, they glue together the piece. Without them, the piece flounders in my opinion.

[Kevin]

Not sure how it can "Flounder" Once you have the solo strings down the beats should be as follows.


Balloon Ride.sib (86.65 KB)

Change some of the quavers into semi quavers if you wish. I cannot do it on Sibelius first.

It is sounding as a string quartet just paste it into a string orchestra for your bigger sound.

[macetheace]

Hi Kevin. I was unable to open that file, due to me still running Sib 7.1.3. Can you send it as a PDF?


Mason

[Kevin]

Mar 4, 2024 16:23:51 GMT macetheace said:

Hi Kevin. I was unable to open that file, due to me still running Sib 7.1.3. Can you send it as a PDF?


Mason

Maybe someone can help as I only have Sibelius 1st

[macetheace]

Oh, you can't make a PDF in Sibelius First?


I guess I can wait to see if someone can do that.

[dko22]

I also stopped with Sibelius 7.1.3 and can't open the file either, unfortunately. Can Sibelius First not export to an earlier version?

[Kevin]

Mar 5, 2024 13:02:58 GMT dko22 said:

I also stopped with Sibelius 7.1.3 and can't open the file either, unfortunately. Can Sibelius First not export to an earlier version?

It does not do very much!

[dko22]

fair enough -- as a Dorico user, i have neither need not interest in paying a Sibelius sub. If there was a reasonably priced one time perpetual upgrade, I could consider it but it would only be to read the scores of others as I long since converted all my own Sibelius scores to Dorico.

[macetheace]

I put up the most recent version of Balloon Ride on Score Exchange. I'll leave it there for now. If someone can translate Kevin's file into a PDF or Sibelius 7.1.3 score, I'd appreciate it.


www.scoreexchange.com/scores/balloonride-618286.html

[Kevin]

Balloon Ride.mid (677 B)

Here is a midi that you can maybe work with.

[macetheace]

Thanks Kevin, I was able to open that. Was that what you wanted to send me, or was it just a test?


Mason