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Jeff N.
Eastern Michigan University

Date Joined Jul 2007
Total Posts : 318

Posted 9/10/2007 5:31 PM (GMT -6)

My favorite music is classical-romantic, with Brahms at the top and others like Dvorak, Schumann, Sibelius (early Sibelius, like Finlandia and first 2 symphonies), etc. That said, I've always wanted to pick up from where they left off and continue to compose in that fashion. Does anybody here compose romantic songs like Brahms and whatnot? If you do, I'd love to hear your peices.

As for myself, I can hardly compose as it is. I only have two songs. I'm working on composition and theory in college (first year), so I'll get there eventually (hopefully).

Jeff N.

A.L. Morrison
Pianist/Composer

Date Joined Dec 2006
Total Posts : 317

Posted 9/10/2007 6:12 PM (GMT -6)

Well, I've composed more of contemporary, though at times I've imitated classical settings. My advice to you, is to not give up. Explore possibilities, and don't be afraid of potential negative comments. I love Romantic Music more than any classical music of any kind, with Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninov, and Rimsky-Korsakov being my favorite composers of the era. I hope my advice helps you! Feel free to listen to my music!

~ A.L. Morrison: Pianist; Composer

Soundclick Website: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=702561

Jack
Registered Member

Date Joined Aug 2007
Total Posts : 292

Posted 9/10/2007 7:31 PM (GMT -6)

I love romantic music and consider some of the minimalists not a million miles away from this lyrical style of composition.

Aaron - I'm with you on Rachmaninoff - I was called Jackmaninoff at college!

I wrote a piece a couple of weeks ago which reminds me a little of Brahms:

Fantasia

Sibelius is also someone that I adore - have you heard the Swan of Tuonela?

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Jeff N.
Eastern Michigan University

Date Joined Jul 2007
Total Posts : 318

Posted 9/11/2007 1:09 AM (GMT -6)

Thanks for the comments you guys, way more positive than I thought I'd get! I'll follow your advice Aaron, thanks.

Yes, Jack, I've heard the Swan of Tuonela. I wasn't too impressed with it, but that because I like Finlandia so much! And your piece is interesting. Sounds like it would make great video music!

Jack
Registered Member

Date Joined Aug 2007
Total Posts : 292

Posted 9/11/2007 7:44 AM (GMT -6)

Thanks, it has been composed as a series of pieces designed for radio and tv, so all being well you will hear it on some programs some day!

Sibelius always felt a bit post-romantic to me. Have you heard Vaughn WIlliams - Fantasia on a theme of Thomas Tallis?

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Jeff N.
Eastern Michigan University

Date Joined Jul 2007
Total Posts : 318

Posted 9/11/2007 10:04 PM (GMT -6)

I agree about Sibelius. He was kinda of a bridge between romanticism and contemporary (leaning more on the romantic side). And yes, I've heard Vaughn Williams, and he's not too bad. Not that particular peice, though; I'll have to look into it.

lesotho72
Registered Member

Date Joined Dec 2006
Total Posts : 137

Posted 9/11/2007 11:04 PM (GMT -6)

Great calls on Sibelius' Swan of Tuonela and Vaughn William's Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis. Two of my favorite pieces of music---stunning in their beauty. Especially like the opening of Swan with the low strings slowly melting into the higher strings--wonderful use of English Horn. Only wish he would've completed his Eighth!

Another surprisingly beuatiful piece is Farewell to Stromness by Peter Maxwell Davies. Listen to 8 songs for a mad King--then Stromness--especially the arrangement for guitar--and you'll be SHOCKED that it is the same composer

Then there's always Gorecki's 3rd, Fratres by Part...modern but ancient

And for pure wild Romanticism it's hard to beat Berlioz's Fantastique

Jeff N.
Eastern Michigan University

Date Joined Jul 2007
Total Posts : 318

Posted 9/12/2007 8:00 PM (GMT -6)

Thanks, Lesotho. Now I have to go out and listen to all of those songs...... :P

I think one of the best romantic peices (besides Dvorak's cello concerto) is Brahms' two rhapsodies for piano. oh..my..god.. It's so good. Then again, I like everything Brahms did. His symphonies are the greatest (yes, better than Beethoven. And that's just my opinion by the way). I also really like his first piano concerto. One of his more...experimental works.

David Young
Registered Member

Date Joined May 2005
Total Posts : 65

Posted 9/13/2007 5:35 PM (GMT -6)

Jeff N. said...
Does anybody here compose romantic songs like Brahms and whatnot? .

90 percent of whay I know about music composition comes from studying the music of Antonin Dvorak. But no vocal music, if that is what you are asking. (With some homage to Brahms, Schubert, Mahler and the 19th century russians for the other 10 percent.) I know Dvorak's music backwards and forwards, reverentially visited prague this past summer to see the museum dedicated to him, not to mention making a sojourn to Spilleville, Iowa once. You get the idea.

I am fairly dedicated to making most of my musical career (of which there is not a lot, unfortunately) to writing music with the same spirit, style, flavor and techniques of Dvorak. Let me see what I can do. Well.... I've also written 16 piano rags in classic ragtime style, but that is besides the point.

You can find (not-withstanding the challenges of the search engine) my music on the Finale showcase.

David Young

lesotho72
Registered Member

Date Joined Dec 2006
Total Posts : 137

Posted 9/13/2007 6:16 PM (GMT -6)

Hmmm...when you say 'compose songs like Brahms' do you literally mean 'songs'? i.e. a single voice with piano accompaiment? I notice people on this site use the word 'song' for various types of music--including chamber, symphonic, etc. Not the worst thing in the world--just can cause some confusion for people who define things differently
Anyways, I do compose songs like Brahms. Not in the same harmonic language and probably no where near as skilled but I try. You can hear some here: http://www.societyofcomposers.org/user/danielcarr.html

Thanks,
Dan

http://www.societyofcomposers.org/user/danielcarr.html

Jeff N.
Eastern Michigan University

Date Joined Jul 2007
Total Posts : 318

Posted 9/15/2007 5:18 PM (GMT -6)

No, i dont literally mean songs. Sorry for the confusion. I mean any kind of composition, from symphony to concerto to rhapsody. You get the idea.

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