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So I tried to write something for 3 Violins and a Viola
Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 (1 votes) 
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iBud
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December 4, 2014 - 5:34 pm
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Aloha everyone,

I'm not really great at naming things, so I called this one "Walking Through the Field at Dusk" because I couldn't think of anything elseembarassed  I also wanted to do something for more string instruments, but I hadn't thought of the viola before.  in this tune, the viola is being treated as the bass instrument, but it still sounds OK.  The violists would probably throw things at me, however, due to the boring factor of their part.

Anyway, I've attached the sheet music and .mp3 file I created with MuseScore and Audacity.  Please take a look and let me know what y'all think.  I might add more later.

 

Keep-Calm-and-Fiddle-On-small-2.jpg

 

 

 

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DanielB
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December 4, 2014 - 5:54 pm
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Well, they might throw a few things at you for the demo having heavy vibrato on that open C string note... LOL 

You *could* make the viola piece a little bit more interesting by having it do a parallel or opposing movement to either match or compliment one or more of the bits on the violin part.  But that's just a thought I mention, since this is your piece and it should sound as you feel it should. 

But doing a proper vibrato on the lowest string when being played open isn't actually possible.  If you switch off the vibrato on the viola part, does it still sound as good as you think it will?  The G note could be played on the C string, and so vibrato is possible there, and not as much of an issue.

Just some thoughts for you, iBud.

The piece itself sounds pretty nice to me, though.

thumbs-up

"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman

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iBud
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December 4, 2014 - 6:13 pm
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Aloha @DanielB,

That actually isn't doing.  MuseScore allows the user to export their sheet music as .pdf as as .wav, .ogg, and .mp3.  For whatever reason, it isn't able to use the same dylib file Audacity uses, so I export it in .wav format and use Audacity to convert it to .mp3.  That being said, the vibrato is not cause by the conversion process but is added by MuseScore.  I guess they assume that vibrato is to added for all string instruments. I should let them know what you said.cool

I just came up with this today while sitting at my desk at work with some idle time.  I'm going to look at the viola part, as that is the only one that doesn't move around with the other parts.  I did want to get that low C in there somewhere, as I really like how that sounds.  I was trying to avoid too many accidentals in the key and finally decided on G minor.  I really like that key, as it gives my fingers a good workout.

I don't know if there's a way to shut off the vibrato, but I'll look for one.  I don't like it on some of my pieces.  It also appears that the violins are dragging just slightly behind the beat, which really makes my OCD run in overdrive.  I also hear some high pitched tones on some of the notes. It's not every note, thank God, but for a specific note, every time it's played, I hear a high tone.  I don't know what's causing that.

I'm glad that you liked it.  I'm trying to utilize as many different keys signatures, tempos, time signatures, and styles as I can, but I really haven't written much and only have nine tunes now (really only eight, as I have a beginner and advanced version of "iBud's Reel").  This is really fun, even if it is a bit tedious to score everything with MuseScore.  At least that way I can get a "professional" result and you can actually read the music.  Imagine were I to do as in the past and score it by hand!  

Keep-Calm-and-Fiddle-On-small-2.jpg

 

 

 

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iBud
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December 4, 2014 - 6:30 pm
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Aloha again @DanielB,

So I checked MuseScore and they only have a couple of parameters to change for the violins.  MuseScore has a mixer, and the cool thing is that while you have your sheet music open, you can go to any of your pre-defined parts (I make parts for all the different instruments) and tweak each instrument insofar as is possible with MuseScore.  Interestingly enough, there is no parameter group for vibrato - they have one set for the instrument itself, then pizzicato and tremolo (it's the same for violin and viola).  Within each parameter group and settings for volume, pan, reverb, and chorus, although adjusting them while playing doesn't affect the instrument, at least not from what I heard.  I'll have to research this further, but I don't think there's anything I can do for vibrato, even if it is on an open stringfacepalm

Keep-Calm-and-Fiddle-On-small-2.jpg

 

 

 

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DanielB
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December 4, 2014 - 6:45 pm
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Yeah, I've never gotten real familiar with MuseScore.  It's an ok program for some stuff, but I usually figure I'll end up moving anything I'm writing or working on into some software with more DAW capabilities anyway. 

I do use MuseScore for some things, just not a lot, so I'm not as familiar with what parameters can be set and etc.  It is pretty good for editing standard notation score and putting midi into a pdf.  Useful enough.

MuseScore has gotten some members here writing/composing, though.  So I certainly wouldn't call it "bad", especially for the price. LOL 

"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman

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iBud
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December 4, 2014 - 8:07 pm
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Aloha @DanielB,

You understand why I use MuseScore.  My second favorite four-letter word is FREE, following closely behind FOOD.  Combine the two and ......cool

For me, it works really well for putting my thoughts on "paper" as it were.  I've learned how to manipulate it well enough.  BTW, I really that quote in your signature, from the great Itzhak Perlman.  Maybe I can apply that to my fiddling!  

Keep-Calm-and-Fiddle-On-small-2.jpg

 

 

 

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