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Larry Graham Alexander

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Posts posted by Larry Graham Alexander

    Your music's key is important.

    in Tutorials

    Posted · Edited by Larry Graham Alexander

    15 minutes ago, User 905133 said:

    Hey, Larry.  Assuming you have these as midi files, could you render the Gminor version an octave higher and the Bminor version an octave lower?  Thanks.

    Since I am no longer composing because of bad health (I am 86) , I removed all of my music software from my computer.  I am unable to fulfill your request.

    Sorry.

    Best Regards,

    Larry Graham Alexander

    Your music's key is important.

    in Tutorials

    Posted

    Just now, David Baay said:

    Not a problem. Larry. And I should clarify that my comment about other things being more determinative of the emotive impression made by a piece was also directed at the premise of that Ledgernote.com page that Joe shared, which proposes that different key have distinct (and definable) emotional characters beyond major = happy and minor = sad. Even that convention isn't totally consistent across all cultures.

    I understand.  Thanks.

    Larry Graham Alexander

     

    "Excursion"

    in Songs

    Posted

    2 hours ago, Hidden Symmetry said:

    Nice one Larry,

    I actually found it relaxing & flowing. - great job.

    Thank you, Hidden.    (You have good taste in music.  I kinda like it too).  :D

    Larry Graham Alexander

     

    • Haha 1

    "Excursion"

    in Songs

    Posted · Edited by Larry Graham Alexander

    I composed "Excursion" to demonstrate that a musical work can be too complex in the use of countermelodies.

    This composition would possibly make some people climb the walls because of the constant, never-ending patterns in the background.

    Simplicity is the guiding word.

    This is an all-synthesizers piece except for the drums which are sampled. 

    Larry Graham Alexander

     

     

    • Like 1

    "Brassticles" (All Brass Ensemble)

    in Songs

    Posted · Edited by Larry Graham Alexander

    Y'all,

    This is one of my all-brass ensemble pieces, "Brassticles".  The title is semi-X-rated.   :o  9_9

    Instrumentation:  Trumpets, trombones, Fr. Horns and one tuba.

    (Were you a member of your high school band?)  Have a go at writing something that

    utilizes brass instruments.  (A brass punk-rock chune with guitars? )  Soitenly!  Why not?

    Larry Graham Alexander

     

     

     

    • Like 1

    "Questions and Answers" composing technique

    in Tutorials

    Posted · Edited by Larry Graham Alexander

    Try the "Questions and Answers" composing technique that I have demonstrated in my work below:

    "Questions And Answers"

    You don't have to restrict the questions and answers to just two instruments, of course and this

    technique is applicable to all genres of music.

    The changes of keys from minor to major and back to minor are another compositional thang.   :)

    Regards,

    Larry Graham Alexander

     

     

    • Like 3

    Your music's key is important.

    in Tutorials

    Posted

    11 hours ago, JoeGBradford said:

    My thoughts after listening (nice piece by the way Larry!) 

    I found the G minor darker than the B minor which seemed more optimistic. However I did wonder if that was merely because it was starting from a higher position on the scale (if it was?)

    Interesting what wiki says about those scales - especially the Beethoven quote

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G_minor

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B_minor

     

    And this

    https://ledgernote.com/blog/interesting/musical-key-characteristics-emotions/

     

    Very interesting post.

    Thank  you, Joe.

    Larry Graham Alexander

     

     

    • Like 1

    Your music's key is important.

    in Tutorials

    Posted

    Of course there are more factors than different keys that determine the characteristics of  compositions.  That was the point of my post.

    The capital B is merely a part of the link title.  It doesn't indicate 'flat' in this case.

    Larry Graham Alexander

     

    Your music's key is important.

    in Tutorials

    Posted · Edited by Larry Graham Alexander

    11 hours ago, David Baay said:

    All other things being equal lower pitches will evoke darker, less optimistic emotions.

    I'm not buying it... at least not for equal temperament-tuned instruments.  Other characteristics of a musical piece have a much more predictable impact on it's emotive content than what key it's in, and I'm quite sure my own repertoir includes many counter-examples. And what's with capital 'B' being used to indicate 'flat'.  ;^)

    Of course there are more factors than different keys that determine the characteristics of  compositions.  That was the point of my post.

    The capital B is merely a part of the link title.  It doesn't indicate 'flat' in this case.

    Larry Graham Alexander

     

     

    Create new, original instruments...

    in Tutorials

    Posted · Edited by Larry Graham Alexander

    If you work with sampled instruments you can create your own original sounds

    by combining  instrumental voices together,  specifically for your lead (melody) instrument.

    Write the parts in unison with each other or write one or more in octaves.

    Some suggested combinations are flute and clarinet, guitar and tenor sax, trombone (upper range)

    and alto sax.  oboe and clarinet.   Harpsichord (yes, harpsichord) and almost any tuned percussion instrument. 

    The possibilities of instrument combinations is endless. 

    Make sure that none of the instruments in the group dominates the others in volume.  It's best to limit the

    number of instrumental voices in the group to three or four for best quality.

    Play around with your own combinations.  It's fun and it will certainly add listening interest to your music. 

    By experimenting you can create some ear-catching, fresh, new, original instruments.

    I have used this technique since sampled instruments came upon the scene.

    Larry Graham Alexander

     

    • Like 2

    "Analog Fourteen"

    in Songs

    Posted · Edited by Larry Graham Alexander

    7 minutes ago, David Sprouse said:

    I got a *serial* feel to this.  Like progressing through a scene.  You said a lot in 2'33"!  Nice one!

    I thank you for your input, David. 

    Best,

    Larry Graham Alexander

     

     

    "Analog Fourteen"

    in Songs

    Posted

    5 hours ago, Douglas Kirby said:

    An interesting composition - it made me think of some sort of a mystery show theme song - that's what came to my mind - it made that type of impression on me.

    As always - an enjoyable listen.

    Thanks, Mister Doug.  I'm glad that you liked it.

    Larry Graham Alexander

     

    "Guitar Duet Number Seventeen"

    in Songs

    Posted

    5 minutes ago, thegaltieribrothers said:

    Hi Larry,

    A lovely duet and great example of counterpoint to my ears - well played!

    Thanks for sharing.

    Good Job!

    regards

    paul

    Thanks for the kind words, Mister Paul.

    My best regards.

    Larry Graham Alexander

     

     

    "Dueling Hands"

    in Songs

    Posted

    20 hours ago, David Sprouse said:

     Loved your song larry graham alexander!

    Thank you for taking the time to listen to my "Dueling...", David Sprouse.

    Regards,

    Larry Graham Alexander

     

     

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