All is quiet once again in the Degg household, with children having returned to school. Our eldest began secondary school and is discovering the delights of homework, lunchtime dance clubs and travelling on the bus.
I was glad to be able to get back into some composing, although was a little apprehensive as to whether the brain cells might have left home during the holidays! I'm glad to report that they seem to be hanging on in there!
I don't know if it's just me, but I have to have a theme on which to start a new piece, it could literally be anything! Sometimes someone just mentions something and the music immediately begins forming in your head, bizzarre!
When I first began writing (last year really!) I was a little stumped, and it seemed like a 'chicken and egg' scenario (which came first?!) I assumed that I needed to compose the melody first but found this almost impossible. I soon found that as I doodled on the piano, the required mood, via accompaniment, was created. From there all I had to do was simply record it into my digital piano then replay it in order to 'find' my melody. I was frequently surprised to find that the melody came quickly and it was a struggle to write it down in time as it tumbled out. Sometimes it just doesn't feel right so you have to just lose yourself once more into the accompaniment. If a melody keeps returning after a few goes you tend to know it's 'the one' (where you can't imagine anything else, possibly being right there).
At present I am writing a Tango suite for both Saxophone quartet, and Saxophone octet/larger group. I was pleased yet surprised at the favourable comments I have received about 'Kayleigh in Killarney' (SATB sax quartet written at the start of this year) as I had never attempted a quartet it was more or less an experiment.
Again, once the ball is rolling, the piece tumbles out very quickly and two movements of the Tango suite have been completed in almost as many days. I say 'completed' but actually the first drafting is the 'bare bones' and I will then try it out on our sax quartet group to see how well the piece works. Upon hearing it you start to hear other parts in your head, or where dynamics need to change etc, so then further work can be done. It's a fantasic road of discovery, and I'm really looking forward to continually learning much much more and experimenting writing in different styles.
Well enough of that, i'm off to do some practice now and am quite delighted that I got my top G and A out nicely today on sop sax, they've always been a bit unpredictable to date!
