Flux

posted in OHC464 on Aug 31, 2017
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So I've been writing a lot more stuff for concert performance lately - I have a wind quintet piece being performed in less than 24 hours (!) plus a clarinet quartet in a few weeks, and a sax quartet which I'll get performed at some point.
Today I thought I'd just have some fun with chords and harmonies.

Also! It is now THREE WEEKS until I move to Glasgow to commence my masters in composition at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

[bonus entry do not vote] Aviary

posted in OHC447 on May 04, 2017
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A wild Forty-Two appears!

This is for everyone who remembers me and wonders what I've been up to.
It's been about six and a half years since my first OHC on this site and I definitely feel I've come a long way in my composition because of it. I haven't been very active here over the last year but that doesn't mean I haven't been composing!

In fact, I am very proud to tell everyone that I am headed to Glasgow in September this year, to start a masters degree in composition at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland! This conservatory was recently ranked in the top 3 performing arts schools worldwide. I am super excited about this opportunity and am more certain than ever that composition is what I want to do with my life.

This would never have happened without the countless composition and feedback opportunities offered by sites such as this and battleofthebits.org (thank you for introducing me to that!) Playing a wide variety of repertoire in a wide variety of ensembles has also considerably broadened my compositional toolbox.

So what is this piece, you ask? Well, at the end of last year, I decided to do what the conductor of my university's wind band has been asking me to do for years, and write a work for them, because you're only young once. This live recording was taken from a rehearsal (as the concert performance kind of fell apart a bit...). They struggled a little in parts, but this being my first ever work for wind band, I wrote a bit differently to what they were used to. It also took just slightly longer than an hour to write, of course (more like a month...), but I still wanted to share it with everyone.
I also now have in the works a wind quintet, which will be performed later on this year. I feel like a proper composer now :)

I'm also going to do a slight plug/advertisement/whatever it is, here. Postgraduate study is very expensive, especially as an international student. If anyone has enjoyed my music over the years and is able and willing to lend some support, I would appreciate any small amount!
https://www.gofundme.com/stuarts-postgraduate-study

One Frog's Journey

posted in OHC400 on Jun 09, 2016
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Probably takes the record for my shortest ever OHC entry, but I put a bunch of stuff in that I felt represented my own compositional journey across the years :)

Owl Watch

posted in OHC356 on Aug 06, 2015
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Only had about 40 minutes for this one due to arriving so late, otherwise I would have opened it out a bit more.

Mirage

posted in OHC333 on Feb 26, 2015
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My last entry for a few months, I think. I went for more of a 'soundscape' than a piece this time, just for fun.

Adventure Time?

posted in OHC300 on Jul 10, 2014
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I wanted to do something clever and new to celebrate OHC300 but of course I couldn't, and I'll probably end up doing something great for OHC371 or something which nobody will care about because it's not a special number :(
But I think there are some nice bits here.

See You Soon

posted in OHC295 on Jun 05, 2014
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This would have been more apt for me next week, as I'm then going on a two and a half week trip to Europe (and will miss two compos). But here you go anyway.

Study on a Short Piano Motif

posted in OHC293 on May 22, 2014
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Because I'm feeling really imaginative with my titles today.
Restarted everything and did something completely different twenty minutes in again because what I had done felt stupid. So here's my stress-reliever piece #34256. (was stressing over uni work this morning)

Reflections at the Beach

posted in OHC291 on May 08, 2014
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Lately I've taken to going to the nearby beach during breaks at uni (literally 10 minute bus ride away) and just sitting and letting my thoughts wander. So this is that.

Red Giant

posted in OHC290 on May 01, 2014
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I had to leave slightly early today so here's a very quiet and hopefully not too boring repetitive track that I wasn't really able to fully realise the potential of.

Backstabber

posted in OHC281 on Feb 27, 2014
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I'm really sorry about being late! I got distracted playing Minecraft all morning so I missed the start by about 25 minutes :(

Casino Robbery

posted in OHC277 on Jan 30, 2014
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I tried something different today. Wasn't as great as I was hoping, but meh.

also check out http://weeklybeats.com/#/marimbal for my weekly beats stuff, most of which I really like.

Monotony

posted in OHC244 on Jun 13, 2013
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Ironically, I was feeling incredibly dissatisfied with my piece all the way through this compo so I stopped as quickly as possible. I don't seem to be able to do anything new and interesting anymore :(

Star Travel

posted in OHC232 on Mar 21, 2013
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Uni stress prevented me from composing as effectively as I would have liked. So, this one's a bit shorter and not as fleshed-out as normal.

No More Hope

posted in OHC219 on Dec 20, 2012
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Ok so I experimented some more this week and it didn't turn out as nice as some of my other ones. So, I regard this piece as a 'miss' in my collection of hits and misses.

Unsung Heroes

posted in OHC200 on Aug 09, 2012
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Thank you OHC for helping me to improve and refine my composition skills, and for providing a weekly event for me to always look forward to!

Memories

posted in OHC189 on May 24, 2012
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My first OHC with Sibelius 7. I think I'll stick to Sibelius 6 in future, it seems more suited to my style of composition, and doesn't vomit over random moments while exporting.
Seriously, my first half a dozen export tries had random bangs and other stupid noises inserted here and there.
I realy hope this works.

Winds of Fire

posted in OHC188 on May 17, 2012
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I was a little pressed for time this week so I just threw down some random chords, strung them together somehow and called it a song.
Meh.

Fantasy

posted in OHC184 on Apr 19, 2012
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Sorry about being so so late... had to write most of this on another computer which just had midi sounds available, so had to redo all the instruments on this one.

Then this stupid electric piano sample kept being stupid so I had to redo a couple times.

Night of Magic

posted in OHC157 on Oct 13, 2011
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Again, you might have to turn up your volume for this, since Sibelius is really cowardly when it comes to the maximum volume you can set for something.

Grassy Knoll

posted in OHC149 on Aug 18, 2011
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I wish I'd had time to make a proper ending, but drum beats take way too long to get right, that's why I've done without them the last few weeks.

Mountain

posted in OHC139 on Jun 09, 2011
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If only this could be the OAAHHC (One And A Half Hour Compo) :(
But, well, here you go anyway. Another short little song.

Spaceship

posted in OHC073 on Feb 25, 2010
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Spaceship: a ship that has space in it.

I can think of many ways to improve on this (the song, that is) but I'm out of time. :(
(Now if only I had a time-travel machine!)

Down Below

posted in OHC063 on Dec 03, 2009
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I'm a lot happier with this one than I was with my last submission. I think Sibelius felt like playing fair this time.

Gratitude

posted in OHC062 on Nov 19, 2009
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Yay first compo submission. Hope I followed all the rules.

If you get annoyed by the sax alternately being too loud and too soft, blame it on Sibelius 6 >:(.
Votes (2)
Round Date
OHC261 Oct 10, 2013
OHC258 Sep 19, 2013