Composer needed!

• Dec 31, 2020 - 10:19

I sing with 2 Military Wives Choirs and have written 2 poems reflecting their life. One has been seen by professional musicians who have said that "it should be put to music". Sadly they are too busy to do this and I am not capable!!
Is there anyone who might like to consider composing music to 1 or even both poems, please?
We sing in 3 lady voice sections when we perform and use a piano for accompaniment.
Thank you.
Pollyflinders


Comments

Send me the poem and I will see what I can do. I am not a professional composer (don't do this for a living) but I do compose music for myself. So I would TRY to do it for free. If I can't I will let you know. You would have to let me know what parts you want and the style of music you are looking for. Maybe the poem will dictate the style.
Have you also thought about the possibility of setting the poem to already existing music? I have also done this.

In reply to by odelphi231

Thank you for contacting me Odelphi. (I apologise if this is not your correct name).

I will attach a part of both poems for you to see and give an opinion on.

All Military Wives Choirs sing in 3 voice groups - Alto, Sop 2 and Sop 1 and our music is usually arranged for piano but a few pieces are set with an orchestra in mind. However, very few of us are in a position of having an orchestra to sing with unless we go as a full choir to the Albert Hall.

I am aware that we have had some of our songs written to music that has been previously composed. The choir members are also asked what songs we like and then they are rearranged to be suitable for us to sing. The biggest mistake ever made in my life is not learning to read music!! Alas at 70 I won't be doing so now.

I will attach a part copy of our latest song which is quite simple - Carry Me. It is not as 'powerful' as The Poppy Red which I will also copy for you. These will give you a better idea of the style of music we sing and much better than I can possibly describe it to you. Maybe the words I am sending you will determine what style you feel is right for them.

These are the 2nd and 3rd verses of 'Defend Us' that I have written. (There are 2 other verses).

Your family told, your heart
Is pounding as once again
You close the door behind you.
The tears that are cried
Are of fear and huge pride
As you carry out your work.
Which is to defend us.

You know the risks are very high
However good your training.
The stress and strain will take its toll
But you carry on regardless.
You might return without a wound
Or lose your mind or limbs.
All for to defend us.

Here is the middle verse of 'The Walk Alone' which, to enable it to be put to music I have included, in brackets, possible alternative words. (Aimed at Remembrance Day but not solely).

We stood side by side, took our vows and (then) shared a kiss
Your head on my pillow, your soft gentle touch, are part of my life that I will now miss.
A year quickly passes, November returns (and) it’s time to reflect on the pride, love and (deep) pain.
There’s no one to walk out with, but others like me, stand quietly reflecting, in (the) pouring rain.

Carry memories of me in your heart
So that our souls will never be apart.

An alternative to Carry me in your memories =
My darling I miss you with all of my heart.
I miss dreaming my dreams with you now that we are apart.

It would be good to hear your opinion even if you say that I should bury these poems/short stories. I was never fully sure that when Alexander and Joanne L'Estrange looked at 'Defend Us' they were being honest or just polite in saying it "should be put to music".

Thank you for considering this and Happy New Year.

Kind regards.

Karin Meek

On Thu, 31 Dec 2020 at 21:34, MuseScore wrote:
Comment by odelphi231:

Send me the poem and I will see what I can do. I am not a professional composer (don't do this for a living) but I do compose music for myself. So I would TRY to do it for free. If I can't I will let you know. You would have to let me know what parts you want and the style of music you are looking for. Maybe the poem will dictate the style.
Have you also thought about the possibility of setting the poem to already existing music? I have also done this.


You are receiving this because you are subscribed on this thread. Reply to this message on MuseScore or unsubscribe from this thread.

9 Attachments

In reply to by Scarpia

Hello Scarpia. I apologise for the delay in responding to you. I am currently speaking to another composer but am very uncertain about how this will go. I am told it is wrong to ask 2 people to look at the same piece of work so I will be very keen to continue talking with you. Kind regards. Karin.

In reply to by [DELETED] 36966704

Thank you for sending. I will look at the poems and see what I can do. The Defend Us poem needs some reworking to turn it into song lyrics. Here are my initial comments about your poems:
1. The poem would be better to set to music if the lines rhymed. Also, if the lines had the same number of syllables. Not impossible, but it would sound more like a song.
2. In the "Defend us" poem you have your pronouns mixed up. You say "Your family told". I am guessing "your" is referring to a soldier's family. Then you say, "you close the door behind you." Who is closing the door? The soldier or the family? This is just one example of several mixed up pronouns.
3. The "Walk Alone" poem is better but can also use some reworking to make the # of syllables in the verses the same (or close to the same) Also, I only have one verse.
By the way, at the end it says "9 attachments". I didn't get any attachments. Did you mean to attach something?

In reply to by odelphi231

The start wasn't very good but thank you for being honest.
My email possibly would not have made any sense without you receiving the attachments which I have attached this time.
I was being very cautious about overloading you the whole poems/short stories but I have included them now. If you are happy to work with them then I will be very happy to take your advise and reword them as required.
I look forward to hearing from you. Karin.

Defend us.

You say “goodbye” and wave
Then you close the door
As you leave your home
For another day of training.
Then suddenly you get a call
To say you’re off to fight a war.
A war that’s to defend us.

Your family told, your heart
Is pounding as once again
You close the door behind you.
The tears that are cried
Are of fear and huge pride
As you carry out your work.
Which is to defend us.

You know the risks are very high
However good your training.
The stress and strain will take it’s toll
But you carry on regardless.
You might return without a wound
Or lose your mind or limbs.
All for to defend us.

This is war that changes
Life, love, hope and dreams forever,
You lose your pals
And watch your comrade’s fall.
We say you’re brave
You don’t agree. It’s your work
And still you will defend us.

The Walk Alone.

Now, I can only look back with (so much) love and huge pride
As the passion you felt for your Country you (just) couldn’t hide.
You fought (in) a war, lost your life and were often afraid
I stand here alone now to/and tell the world (of) the price that you paid.

Carry memories of me in your heart
So that our souls will never be apart.

We stood side by side, took our vows and (then) shared a kiss
Your head on my pillow, your soft gentle touch, are part of my life that I will now miss.
A year quickly passes, November returns (and) it’s time to reflect on the pride, love and (deep) pain.
There’s no one to walk out with, but others like me, stand quietly reflecting, in (the) pouring rain.

Carry memories of me in your heart
So that our souls will never be apart.

How can I possibly continue when (with) so much of my life (has) now gone?
No one to support me, no hand to hold on, no laughing together but I have to (will) be strong.
I look back on your pride at the job you once did to give us the freedom that we all share
We stand (sing) here to thank you for all that you did. We (all) share the (that) price as our lives are now bare.

Carry memories of me in your heart
So that our souls will never be apart.

An alternative to Carry me in your memories =
My darling I miss you with all of my heart.
I miss dreaming my dreams with you now that we are apart.

In reply to by [DELETED] 36966704

Thank you for sending the attachments and the rest of the poems. I hope you don't mind, but I have found a classical piece that I think "Defend Me" will fit and provide the proper mood. When I finish it, I will send to you. If you could rework that song to make the lines rhyme, like "Walk Alone" that would help make it more "popular" in style. Otherwise, I envision the song more "operatic" or hymn-like (which may be what you want) where the lines don't have to necessarily rhyme and the verse length doesn't matter as much.
The "Walk Alone" seems more popular song-like, so I think I may write an original song for that one.

Hello!

You had quite an amount of responses already.
I just want to offer my help if ever needed. I am a professional composer and orchestrator, I also own a music school and have the instruments to make an organic rendition (grand pianos :) ).
I am a pianist but can also play the cello and I have access to musicians in my school.

If ever you still need help, let me know.

Wish you the best.

  • Emanuele

emanueleboth.music@gmail.com

In reply to by E_both

Dear Emanuel, I have had a few responses to my request and I am very hopeful that, after many years, I might even be successful!! I was told that it was bad manners to ask more than one person to compose music to the same words and I have taken that onboard. However, as a member of 2 Military Wives Choirs, and we are always looking for composers so I would like to take your email address for future reference if you are happy for me to do this. Karin

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