write a symphony

Writing a symphony can be daunting because we associate it with a big orchestra and being as long as a Mahler symphony. Whatever the piece of music, you can begin by writing something shorter for a smaller orchestra. Say you start with 30 seconds for solo clarinet and violins. You can do that pretty thoroughly in an hour or two. You’ve started your symphony even if you don’t know where it fits. You may not use it at all, but you’ve begun.

I know this is going to take a long, long time, but it’ll be very rewarding. I’ve already started.

I’m a composition major, so I really want to write a symphony by the time I graduate from college. I’m not sure yet if I’ll be able to do it by then, but it would be really cool. If not, I know I’ll write one sometime in the next 10 years.

I kind of did this. I wrote this nine part electronic piece called UfSFL which I am very proud of. I am also working on another similar one once it gets cooler.

I’m thinking of a much more modern piece. I want to ditch the idea of having set movements, specifically not limiting or stretching myself to cover four or five. I don’t feel the subject matter of a piece of music should have to fit into a five movement structure with even further specific types of pieces such as a scherzo…

I want this symphony to be much more cinematic and I want to be able to score it like a film, handing off major themes across the spectrum of the orchestra and incorporating key instruments to signify specific characters.

I already have my subject matter down…now I really simply just have to SIT down.

I’ve tried this several times. I never manage to finish though. The closest I’ve come is writing an intro track for a friends concept album using an orcestra.

classical music has such a long and academic tradition that many standardized forms have arisen. this is really to place a destination on my desire to study music theory.

i am mostly self-taught because i used to fear studying forms would overwrite any personal authenticity i had to offer. i’m pretty confident that i can absorb and build upon what others have learned without losing my own form. i now see study as a means to practice and advance more efficiently. also, ignorance is more of a limitation than a door to creativity. accident will always be present, and i would rather be able to seize the inspiration capably when it does strike.

i’d consider another advanced compositional form to meet this goal.

I’m working on a Sinfonietta for strings.

Exposition of the 1st movement is sketched, but there just ain’t any time.

This might be cheating a bit—because my list of 43 things might just end up being the list of 43 things I’d like to do this summer, but…

I’d like to write a symphony based on our slightly overbearing conductor. It’s actually a tryptich: “Blood on the Stand” (a fanfare), “It’s All About the Triangle” (for solo triangle and orchestra), and “Going out for Lattes.” The conductor only has a two-year contract, so I’d better get busy…