Minimalism
This is a minimalism I wrote for piano. It's actually not my first piece, but is is the first I have posted here. I'm only twelve, so I don't have much formal training in music. I know it's repetitive, but I just let my impulses guide me... and this is minimalism, so I think it's OK. :) It only took me about twenty minutes to write, so you won't hurt my feelings too badly if you don't like it. :)
And to all of you that know advanced theory out there, what key could this be considered to be in? I know it had one flat in the key signature, but it's definitely not in F or d, as when I tried to end on an F, the only note that sounded final was C. I was thinking this could be in a mode, possibly Mixolydian. I'm probably wrong, so don't worry about offending me if I'm wrong. :)
| Attachment | Size |
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| Minimalism 1.mscz | 5.56 KB |
Comments
Sorry, should have checked to make sure I had the right version... So here you go. I added the flat in the key to keep accidentals from clogging up the piece.
I have been playing piano for 11 3/4 years now, and I can't even come close to getting that. I am only 14, and I can guarantee a 12-year-old shouldn't be that good. HOW THE HECK CAN YOU PLAY THAT?
Um, well... I don't actually play piano... This was meant more as a theory exercise... I figured it was really hard! I play violin and cello, but I'd love to learn piano, I'm sorry I didn't take it up alot earlier. I figured some Rachmaninoff out there might be able to play it, otherwise, a player piano or electric keyboard? Or would you suggest two pianos, or four hands, that way one could play the ostinato, the other the melodic lines?
In reply to Um, well... by Spencer
Try to see if someone, say, at school with a music major can play it. You are 12, correct?
Go to Youtube and search Philip Glass. (Glass-Glass-Glass-Glass) [Personal joke] Minimalist Composer.
As a suggestion I replaced the semiquavers (sixteenth notes) with triplet making it easy and simpler to play.
In reply to Go to Youtube and search by Sphyther
Sorry to say, but I think I still like mine better. If there's ever a time when someone wants to play this though, I think I'll include the triplet version.
And I got your Philip Glass joke, btw... :) He's one of my favs!
Thanks-Thanks-Thanks-Thanks
Hi, I'm twelve too, and I do similar things like this with various bits of composition software. I guess the joy of it is that you don't have to play it! BTW, I do play piano, I'm taking grade 6 soon!
I have always had a soft spot for slightly mad pieces like this one. If you want to continue in this fashion, can I please recommend that you have a go at some point using an Indian "Raga". I would really love to see the results. :)
A raga is a scaelic pattern used for improvisations by Indian Sitar players. There are over 250 in total. If you know how to write music with good phrasing and a little skill, so long as you stick to the raga, you can go wild.
To illustrate this, I have included a piece I composed when I was around 8 years old. It has many flaws, but I was only just begining to even be able to write proper music. Outlined at the start is the "raga".
(Unfortunately I can't attach it in the original program, so have had to use 3 jpegs instead. Sorry!)
In reply to Hello by Greensage95
That is weird because I am 12 years old, play the piano and in 6th grade too! I have not really composed my own peices, more like arranging them,but here they are. The last one is one I wrote tell me what you think.
In reply to That is weird because I am 12 by Cookie Monster_
Hello!
We seem to have similar tastes, I did a piano arrangement for to mend a broken heart, take a look.
I really like your sunrise piece, one of the first pieces I created is of a similar tone, I will try to write it up with MuseScore and publish it very soon!
BTW, I am also an arranger, I often find suitable pieces on MuseScore and arrange them for a band I play in every so often. Look for the piece "I'm Me", I'm just about to post my arrangement, you can see how I like to do things.
Thanks for your comment, I would love to see any more of your work!
In reply to Hello by Greensage95
PS - Sorry, I'm afriad that I cant post what I promised today, as my usual computer is having something done to it, but check back tomorrow ...
In reply to PS ... by Greensage95
Cool I am exited to see it!
In reply to Cool I am exited to see it! by Cookie Monster_
Sorry I'm late, I had a few computer problems!
It's not as I remember it at all (again: I only made it when I was very young), but I have posted it here anyway. It sounds hideous with playback, but who cares?
I shall post the arrangement I mentioned just now ... I would love to hear your opinion on it, have a look for it in the topic "Help with lyrics", it's a piece called "I'm me"
In reply to Hmm... by Greensage95
Here's a link that works:
You might want to check the minimal music scores here : http://musescore.com/group/2875 and maybe add your own
I'm 14, so to be honest, I was just about the same level as you it seems when I was twelve. The minimalism is really nice and I think I can play it with practice (because I started piano at age 2) so I'm going to print it out and take a look at it. Honestly though, it a great piece. (:
Nice work Spencer, I enjoyed it and I look forward to playing it.
Now, I don't know that this is minimalism per se, but I decided to attatch some warm-ups that I do as they do have some minimalistic tendencies and they are also very fast. I do these warm-ups nearly every time I practice piano and I thought someone out there might be able to appreciate their value and usefulness to a pianist. (Oh, and by the way, yes, I do play them that fast.) Enjoy!
In reply to Nice work Spencer, I enjoyed by rj45
I have played piano for 7 or 8 years and I can come no where near that, HOW IN THE WORLD CAN YOU PLAY THAT THAT FAST?!
In reply to I have played piano for 7 or by Cookie Monster_
Practice. As cliche as it sounds, that's how you do it. You start out slow. I remember the first time I played them, it probably took me an hour, and I didn't even do anything after that, my forearms hurt so bad. It probably took me about two months to be able to play them proficiently, and another two or three months after that to get it that fast. Now, of course, it's a good 10-15 minute warm-up instead of an hour. ;)
In reply to Nice work Spencer, I enjoyed by rj45
Do you mind if I save a copy and use these every so often?
They seem to both exhausting and exhaustive!
In reply to Could I use these? by Greensage95
Yes, Definitely! That's why I posted them, I saw potential in these for other pianists to grow, and I thought there would be those who want to use these warm-ups to their advantage, so they could get better at playing piano, so sure, I think it would be great if you wanted to use them! :D
Hey Spencer, nice composition. It's repetitive, as you say, but there are places where repetition works. You could listen to repetitive mottos like this in film scenes for instance.
You are right about the harmony: this piece can be defined as Mixolydian mode. (You could also say it's in F major, but it's like a repeating fragment that never 'reaches home').
Maybe I wouldn't call this exactly minimalism - think the term is a bit overused these days- but nevertheless the piece is nice and doesn't need a particular label.
I think your knowledge of theory and your intuition are quite good for 12. Should you take music seriously and start studying more deeply, you will go very far.