Abide with Me for Brass Choir (2 hours from download to upload)

• Jun 25, 2010 - 17:35

I've used plenty other software, i do like MuseScore (0.9.6.3145). While i have indicated dynamics (and still have a few to add), it doesn't seem to want to use them on playback.

Any comments on the arrangement i'd be glad to hear. Thanks.

Attachment Size
Abide with Me.mscz 3.99 KB

Comments

This is a nice arrangement of a much loved and much played hymn, but I have to say that I'm a bit uncomfortable with the rising cadence in the last two bars when the hymn traditionally ends on a falling cadence. Personally I would go back to the 'traditional' ending cadence by putting, say, Cnt 1 bar 15 last minim on top E, and bar 16 semi breve on top F and Cnt 2 bar 15 crotchet on low E and bar 16 semi breve on low F. OK, pretty boring, but I'm a bit old fashioned about these things in general and about this hymn in particular which is so very special to so many people.

In reply to by Peter B

Ending with the higher octave instruements with an asending scale while lower octave instruments are ended with a descending scale, is rather common, giving the newly made feel, like a golden feeling of joy, and not just peace. When you abide by someone, you mean to stick to them for life. So the ending is appropriate, since you are finally with them, and your days may end in joy, and not just quiet peace.

One suggestion: cymbol roll on the last Harmony, for just a nice ending touch. Otherwise, beautiful work.

In reply to by Peter B

peter's right about the rising ending being disconcerting. i like your idea about reaching golden joy and not just peace, but you know, some things are done the way they are because it works. try whatever variation you want on peanut butter and jelly, you're always going to come back to it. and i'm not "old fashioned about these things." i am open to the new. i just agree with him about this. you owe it to yourself to try it that way and see what you think of it.

moving from the middle toward the end, i felt the texture was a bit thick. it gets hard to distinguish what's going on when you have so many brass playing at the same time in such close vicinity.

i love the majesty you achieved with the harmonies and specifically the "melodic" lines you created to set up those harmonies. i think i'm going to go listen to it again!

Beautifully simple and accurately harmonised. I liked it. And it has the advantage that you don't have to be an expert to read it - which may be why such tunes have survived so long in popularity, or may be just a characteristic of your arrangement.

Musescore seems to be very good at playing back brass.

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