IV. Lento-Allegro, main theme sketches

I played with the main theme for the 4th movement a while tonight, with three little variations. One was the theme in the flute with the triplets in the harp. Not quite what I needed, but my goal tonight was to throw things out there and see what happened.

Next I scored the main theme as heard in the Sonatina for the strings alone. That was nice, and rather meditative. Perhaps for the ending, or maybe an interlude, or maybe one of the variations before we hit the big climax.

Interestingly, I took that variation and transposed it up a fifth, an lo! without my doing a single other thing to it, it took on an entirely different character. It was triumphant and soaring, partly because the violins were now in their heroic register, and partly because it was in D major, which can’t help itself: it just sounds heroic. Something to do with the being a good key for the brass back in the day; if you go check all your favorite glorious baroque bits, almost all of them are in D major.

The problem, of course, is that the symphony needs to end in G, the key of the meditative variation. I’ll think about that another day.

No mp3s today.

I worked on my Assignment L.08.01 after that, and I think I have something. It’s not excellent, but it’s there. It’s also fairly NSFW, although you have to squint to figure that out. I’ll post it wherever the Lichtenbergian Society blog ends up.

5 thoughts on “IV. Lento-Allegro, main theme sketches

  1. It sounds like you are on the right track, as I was a bit concerned about the beginning being so mournful. I actually had some doubt that you could take it to a heroic ending without it being way too long – silly me. I’m sure you’ll resolve the key changes in a harmonious manner. Sorry for ever doubting you.

  2. I make no promises on length, actually. I was astonished to find that my few measly measures so far were a minute and a half long, a hefty percentage of my projected ten or twelve minute length for this movement.

    Oh well, if it was good enough for Mahler, it’s good enough for me.

  3. That sounds like a song for Moonlight.

    If it was good enough for Mahler,
    It’s good enough for me!

  4. I know your midi sounds are just for sketching and listening purposes, but can you add a little “hall reverb” to the playback. The cold cut-off in the strings mad it difficult to fully feel the mood. Lovely brooding Teutonic stuff.

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