Symphony #1 - Day 1 of Composition

Hello Everyone!  I began the composition of Symphony #1 tonight.  So far this has presented to be a challenge and also amazingly well fitted as far as transitioning the melodies together to create the symphony.  My challenge lies with properly fitting the instruments that I hear in my head to the score.  Even though it is easy to transfer the melody to a single line score and would seem easy to begin scoring the symphony with the outlines that I have created, it is also difficult because sometimes the instruments that I imagine in my mind do not always sound the best once written on paper.

However on a brighter note, the flow of the melodies seem to fit quite well with each other.  In my mind, these melodies were almost meant to be written together.

I have composed roughly a minute and forty-five seconds of the symphony tonight and I am sure/hope that this challenge will not be the first.

-Wes

Symphony V Phase 2

Hello and welcome to Phase 2 of Symphony V. With the first phase complete, I am updating you with a finalized idea of what the second phase of this project will be.

Starting on April 9th I began composing 14 melodies, one melody per day. Each was a minute long and used a different time and key signature. 

In a slight change from my original concept, I am going to take the 14 melodies and combine them into 4 symphonies. The symphony groupings were chosen using a random number generator to keep things impartial. 

I will compose each symphony within 7 days, dynamics and all.  Each symphony will be approximately 5-10 minutes long.  The melody groupings are as follows:

Symphony 1: Melodies 7, 10, 1

Symphony 2: Melodies 14,11, 13

Symphony 3: Melodies 8, 9, 12, 2

Symphony 4: Melodies 5, 4, 3, 6

I will be keeping a daily blog post during the composition of each symphony.  On the seventh day I will post an audio clip along with the score so that anyone interested may critique each piece.

My goal, once the symphonies are completed, is to start the process of finding musicians to help me bring these symphonies to reality.  Anyone interested is welcome to contact me at mccombsignature@gmail.com.

Thank you for your interest and time!

-Wes

Melody #14 - Final Melody for Symphony V

Greetings!  Tonight is the final night for the melody compositions for Symphony V.  I hope everyone has enjoyed listening and I would greatly appreciate feedback on the melodies listed in this blog.

I have decided to change this project up a little since the start of Symphony V.  Starting April 30th, 2012 I will begin composing 1 out of 4 symphonies, each utilizing 3 melodies from this project.  Each symphony will be between 5-10 minutes long, use 3 out of the 14 melodies and not repeat melodies within the other symphonies, and I am planning to compose each symphony in 7 days.  During this process I will be blogging a 1 to 2 paragraph post every night.  On the 7th night, I plan to post the completed symphony with score and audio file.

With that being said, I would like to talk a little about tonights melody.

When listening to this melody I hear a full men's chorus performing in vocalese.  Performing in vocalese is the singing of a melody with the use of syllables instead of words.  In my opinion, the best way to write for a chorus when composing a symphony is to use vocalese instead of using a poem or any words.  This helps with building emotion when needed and provides a smoother sounding piece, rather than leaving the audience guessing what the chorus is actually singing.

Do you hear a men's chorus for this melody?  If not, what do you feel best suits this melody?

-Wes

Melody #13

Hello everyone and welcome to Melody #13.

I have started to notice that when I compose without my piano, my compositions feel more productive and sound like they have a better structure.  With that being said, I would also like to point out that with yesterdays post on the "bag of tricks", a composer should also feel comfortable with a main instrument.  The reason I say this is because with having a main instrument you cannot only play your part within your composition, you can also have a better understanding on how to structure the other instruments within your composition.  My instrument of choice is the piano even though I have only been playing it for 10 years.

Please feel free to comment and critique any of these pieces with my blog.  Since I am nearing the end of the melody compositions, I would greatly appreciate any form of criticism so that I can better the symphony piece that I will begin composing in a week from tomorrow.

I hope you all enjoy tonights melody!

-Wes

Melody #12

Hello everyone!  I bring to you Melody #12.

I have been told that composers carry around a "bag of tricks" when it comes to their compositions.  I have never really understood that term until this project.  In my opinion, this "bag of tricks" implies a composers use of previous measures to help them get past either a rough spot, writers block, or to change up the piece that they are working on.  A composer develops these technique through the knowledge of music theory and practice.

For those of you following this blog that are musicians, composers, both, or interested in starting to learn music, please take music theory seriously.  I know from experience that it can be the most boring subject, but in the long run whether you are a composer or performer it will save you.

Tomorrow nights melody may come a little late like tonights because I have family from Iowa staying this weekend.

I hope you enjoy tonights melody.

-Wes

Melody #11

Tonight I bring you Melody #11.  This piece has inspired tonights post to talk a little about emotions with music.  Melody #11, in my mind is comforting and optimistic, unlike a few of my other melodies that are minor and sound like they have no hope for the future.  One might say that a piece that is optimistic is more creatively inspiring than a minor piece.  I, however, feel that inspiration comes during any emotion whether it is happy or sad.  Creativity and inspiration are just amazing things that come at the best or most inconvenient time, but are welcome no matter the circumstance.

We have 3 melodies left and then it will be time for the symphony composition.  Originally I had stated that I would choose the top rated melodies to compose the symphony with.  I have now changed this to a random drawing of 5 melodies.  I am going to have a friend put paper with numbers 1-14 in a hat and draw 5.  I will then take those 5 melodies and compose an approximately 10-15 minute symphony that is based entirely around those melodies.

If you have any suggestions on certain instruments that should be in this symphony, please feel free to comment that instrument on this post.

I hope you enjoy tonights melody and I hope that you have enjoyed this project so far.

-Wes

Melody #10

Good evening everyone! I release to you Melody #10! This melody was a bit of a challenge in the fact that I am trying to compose every one of the 14 melodies in a different key and time signature as well as keeping everyone of them from sounding the same.

Unlike last nights post, where I felt that the piano deserved to solo the melody, tonights post (in my eyes) is worthy of a full symphony performance for the melody.  Almost a large, drawn out, majestic sound.

Let me know what you think!

-Wes

Melody #9

Amazingly tonights melody really just rolled out of my head, almost like it was meant to be a melody (which it now is).  Even though this piece felt like it was meant to be, the image that I received from the piece was quite different.  Instead of seeing a scene or image, I continue to hear the symphony backing this melody.  Almost as though piano is meant to solo this melody.

On a different note, one thing I am beginning to understand during this project is that if you do not see an image and are use to seeing one, do not force the image.  This piece is a prime example on why a composer should not force something they are use to seeing, if it is not being shown to them.  Instead, sit back and listen to the piece a few times.  Eventually the image will produce, whether it be audio or visual.  Tonights image came in the form of a completed symphony for me.

I hope you enjoy this melody and please feel free to comment and critique this or any of the other melodies.

Thank you,

-Wes

Melody #8

These melodies are thankfully becoming progressively harder to compose, not that they weren't to begin with.  I knew I wanted to do something in B flat, but it was hard to break from old habits to get to where this melody is now.

When I listen to this piece, I imagine the start of a new adventure.  In my mind I see pirates out venturing through the ocean with no purpose but to explore.  To me this was a great image during the composing process because in a way I see this melody and the rest to come to be the ocean in which I am venturing out in.

What adventure do you imagine when you listen to music, whether it be this piece or any other?

-Wes

Melody #7

We are half way there!  Only 7 melodies left and then a weeks break before the composition of the full symphony piece!

I am currently in the process of revising the project layout to using all 14 melodies in the final piece.  This would help me in my compositional skills as well as give everyone a well rounded idea of what I was really hearing during the composition of these melodies.

Tonights piece has been with me since I woke up this morning.  When I hear this piece in full, it is the sound of a music box with the low string section playing softly behind it.  Almost like the piece has a secret that it wants to share, but is very cautious to do so.

I hope you all enjoy!

-Wes

Melody #6

Unfortunately I did not get around to creating the new blog, so scratch what I said in the last post.

On a different note I bring to you Melody #6.  This was a very fun and challenging piece for me because it was stretching out of my comfort zone of arpeggiated patterns and into something a little different.  While composing this piece I had images of walking through Joshua Tree National Park and seeing all of the desert.

With this particular melody I could see using a classical guitar primarily for soloing the melody line.

What instrument(s) do you feel best fits this piece?

-Wes

Melody #5

Tonight, I feel, was a test for this project.  That test was to see how well I could compose the melody while dozing off.  The last few days at work have been a little crazy, so the alertness has been a little off.

Nonetheless, I still feel that this is another solid melody.  For some reason the image that I had with Melody #4 is playing in my head with Melody #5.  Almost like this pianist is in some kind of limbo, playing only for the moon.

Who knows, maybe Melody #4 and Melody #5 are meant to be performed back to back?

-Wesley M. McComb

P.S.  Keep an eye on the blog tomorrow.  I will separating this blog with a new blog that I am creating that is actually for McComb Signature Studios.  On that blog, I will be uploading some pieces that I have composed in the past as well as a few that I am currently working on.

Melody #4

For most of you who do not know, I travel for my daytime job.  The last two melodies were composed in a hotel room, but thankfully tonight I was at home and completely relaxed which I hope you hear in this new melody.

Before I sat down to begin notating this piece, I started warming up my creativity by playing around with a few ideas on the piano.  Usually these ideas are just a few basic chord structures that have been running around my head.  Not only did I have an bit of a structure, but I also have a bit of a visual tonight.

When I hear this new melody, I envision a grand piano in the middle of a tall grass prairie.  At this piano sits a young man dressed in the nicest tux, almost like he is ready to perform a concert at Carnegie Hall.  As he begins the piece the moon slowly starts to rise, yet hides like a bashful child.  As he becomes more comfortable with the feeling of the piano, the moon starts to soar across the sky and almost seems to dance as the emotions fill the prairie with a sense of a homey feel (even though the piece is in C minor).  The piece comes to a close and the moon begins to fade, the performer is now becoming familiar with what is now the end of his piece.

Even though this is a single line melody, if you really close your eyes and listen, you can hear the structure of a symphony.

What do you see or hear when you listen to this melody?  Can you think of any other pieces that fill with with similar emotions?

-Wesley M. McComb

Melody #3

I'd like to start by saying that tonight was quite a challenge for me. Not exactly having the greatest day today made for a real challenge in the creativity department, but once my emotions started to come out due to all of the frustration of the day, the creativity faucet was turned on high.

 A little about my writing style:

 I've had a hard time explaining why I compose a piece and what my method is for composing. Lacking quite a bit of knowledge in the music theory department, my struggles are also my pet peeves. I have at least the basic knowledge of theory, however I would like to remain composing with no method or any reasoning except for the simple reason of how I felt during the composition.

 Take for instance, Melody #3. This piece started off with the frustration of my day. As I dove deeper into the piece I began to loosen up a little which is brought out after the 16th and 32nd note fiasco in measures 18-20. You'll notice a slower pace at first which then starts to build until the majestic ending. In my eyes, this helps simulate my brain doing sort of a reboot from all of the stress. I noticed that once I had finished notating the piece, my mind was at total peace with the rest of the composition as far as dynamics are concerned.

 I hope everyone enjoys this melody and I would greatly appreciate any comments or critiques on the piece, or any of the other pieces that have been composed so far. 

Also, I would like to pose this question. Should a composer feel the need to have a method or reason to why they compose?

-Wesley M. McComb 

Melody #2

Todays composition is very different in my eyes.  I composed this melody with a 4/4 time signature and in the key of D Minor with a C# accidental.  It has a very erie feel to the piece, however my feelings were very relaxed and my mind was completely at peace.  I hope you enjoy Melody #2 and I would greatly appreciate some feedback in hopes to better the upcoming melodies.

-Wesley M. McComb

Melody #1

Hello Everyone!  I am pleased to present the first melody for project Symphony V.  With the composition of melodies, I am trying to change the key and time signature for each melody.  I am doing this to better my skills and to provide a new and better palette for your ears.

Please feel free to comment!

Thank you.

-Wesley M. McComb

Hello and Welcome to McComb Signature Studio. My premier project is titled Symphony V and it is an experiment in compositional processes. 

Beginning April 9, 2012, I will be composing 14 one minute melodies in Treble clef on piano.  My intention is for you, the audience, to view and comment on these short pieces. I am also asking viewers to suggest the instrument that they feel best compliments each piece. I value the opinions and insights of others and plan on using these comments to formulate the final piece.

Once all 14 pieces are composed and released, I will then begin a two week process of composing a 10-15 minute symphony out of the top 5 viewed melodies utilizing the instruments and comments suggested.  

I would like to ask members of the audience to assist in creating the final symphony by performing a section of the piece and submitting it via video/audio file. I will compile these files and premier the final symphony. 

The projected timeline for this project is as follows:

April 9th-23rd - Composition of Melody 1-14.  Melodies to be released on blog the day after composed.

April 30th - The start of composing the symphony.  Release of forms for interested individuals to perform the completed symphony.

May 13th -  Audio release of the completed symphony via Finale Garritan.

May 14th - Release of the symphonies score.

May 28th - Forms due.

June 15th - Audio/Video files due.

June 30th - Premier of Symphony V.