Red Kite -A gentle piano piece inspired by nature.

[Alan T]

This piece is a rare departure from my usual overt style of open chord progression and simple melody; I have no idea if it works:

http://soundcloud.com/alan-t/red-kite

The piece was inspired during a recent walk in the Welsh mountains, my original home, where I was fortunate to have a rare sighting of a Red Kite souring and sweeping high above me.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/bird...ite/index.aspx

[sd cisco]

Hi Alan; I thought this was very good! I also like the picture of the Red Kite - interesting name!
Wales, eh? Do you speak Welsh?

Very nice music, Alan - thank you for posting!!

Best regards,
sd cisco

[Alan T]

Hello Sd Cisco

Thank you for responding to my post, I was starting to panic that I had been over ambitious with the style of this piece, self confidence is not one of my strong points! I am trying hard to advance my composition style, but years of traditional study for the piano are proving very difficult to shake off.

I have just listened again to your beautiful, atmospheric, Wind over Wetland, a fine example of the style I would like to work toward.

Regarding Wales, I still have very strong Welsh ties, what is referred to as Hiraeth and this sometimes comes across in my music. Unfortunately, I have lost most of my Welsh vocabulary; I’ve been away from Wales for a very long time now.

Regarding the Red Kite, it is the UK’s most beautiful bird of prey, although a predator, it is neither particularly strong nor aggressive despite being a large bird. I was so thrilled at seeing one in the wild that I just had to write this simple tune.

Thanks again for your kind words of encouragement.

Alan T

[swinkler]

Very nice Alan. I enjoyed this quite a bit. I could hear some orchestration behind this as well but certainly stands alone with piano.

At about the 3:29 mark I looked up from what I was doing. That was a nice contrast rhythmically from the rest of the piece. I thought to myself it would have been nice to hear a little more of that. I don't have any specific suggestions about where it belongs but those couple of bars left me wanting to hear more.

Thanks for sharing and keep exploring.

[sd cisco]

Hi Alan;
Thank you for your compliment re. Wind Over Wetland! Regarding shaking off years of traditional training - I know precisely what you mean! Think outside the box and listen to your heart is the best advice I can give.
And the Red Kite is a beautiful looking bird - we have none here!
And the Wales is a most mystical place - as I am sure you know!
Also, I will say I liked your 2 ragtime numbers, I had a Scott Joplin LP in the early 70's and nearly wore it out! I actually wrote a ragtime piano piece back then, I need to find the tape and relearn it someday!!

Best regards,
sd cisco

[Alan T]

Hello swinkler,

Thank you for responding to my post. Yes, the modulation you refer to at about 3:29 in was one of those rare moments that I actually managed to escape my shackles of conformity, it is very encouraging that you felt that the idea should have been developed further; I will definitely have to revisit this.

Regarding orchestration, yes I had thought about this too, it will enable me to thin out the busy left-hand accompaniment which is trying to compensate for the unsustainable melody line.

Thank you for your encouraging comments.

Alan T