(that too, after flunking DipABRSM last year, how ironical)
I had terrible experiences with music competitions and events (except the choir concours) - my applications for the Puisi Berlagu competitions were cut, I pulled out from Fete de la Musique because of the venue, and there were so many other events I had to miss. I hope I get some luck with this one.
Anyway. Just to give you a clue of what I'm thinking of submitting.
The piece is tentatively called Impromptu 8.27.
Well, those who listened to it so far - Petra and Fad - they both noticed there's a rising tension and cheer in the middle section, but the beginning and ending are slow. Here's a reason - when I first came up with the idea of this piece in my head I wanted to visualise the kind of faith and hope dad and I had before mom passed away. She went on the 27th of August, hence the title. I've a few more experimental titles - Impromptu Huit Vingt-Sept, Huit Vingt-Sept, 8.27, Eight Twenty-Seven......
So the first part, which is slow, is meant to depict mom's hospitalisation ; the middle part is slightly faster - and it gets faster and faster until it reaches a certain tempo - thus depicting the kind of faith we had that she'd get home - she was already on the road to recovery - and then, there's a sudden slowdown, depicting mom's death. A high, lonely-sounding section after that shows the kind of loneliness filling the home - and then, it's back to the first section, trying to convey the message that the sadness from mom's passing is eternal.
Oh, and it's in C minor and I did two recordings - the first one took 4 minutes and 21 seconds ; the second took 4 minutes and 32 seconds. I do admit that I hastily recorded the second one (because I added the middle section into the piece) and the handphone light went out on me, and thinking that I exceeded five minutes, I decided to hurry on to the ending without any regard for timing and dynamics. Yikes.
I guess I should consider myself lucky because ABRSM isn't looking for recordings. So I can hide my slips and blunders I guess...... and put in the necessary additions. It's much easier to play and then put it down on paper, than to do it the other way round (because if I do it the other way round, I'll have a tough time actually reading what I wrote). When I first did my composition project for Yamaha in 2001, I had to put it on paper first, before playing it. That did me a lot of injustice because I'm more of a person who conjures the tune in the head rather than anything else.
Before I actually complete the submission I have to determine for which grade this piece is composed. Petra told me that this could land at grade 6 or 7. I set my standards a little lower (considering the fact that ABRSM examinations have become increasingly tougher) - I thought, grade 5. Well, I'll gather some more opinions soon. I'm thinking of gathering... Joaan's, Adoravelle's, Tharshini's, perhaps Louisa's and Shing's opinions - I'll try round up somemore people. And if Sabrina comes online, I'm especially gonna ask her ! She's my Ressonnant comrade !
I don't know how I'm gonna put it up here. Perhaps I'll put it up here only if it materialises. If you're anticipating it, the file is in .amr format (handphone recording) and thus, the sound will be very patchy, there's interference behind, and the only way I know how to play it is by using QuickTime. Maybe iTunes can play .amr files too, I'm not sure - QuickTime is the best for me.
Thanks so much, Petra, for the link. Man, I thank God I'm seventeen this year. (That competition is reserved for all those who are eighteen and below on the closing date - 2009.03.31).
And to the rest of you, do wish me luck. ^^
P.S. I wonder if instead of my real name I can put in my stage name (troisnyx*) in the place where they type the composer's name ?
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