The Plot of my new Symphony

October 7, 2013 at 1:54 AM

I don't really want to post it on YouTube yet, not until it's completely done. However, I kind of still wanted to mention that I finished it, and I'll tell you all about it. That way, come November, when you hear it in its entirety, you can head back to this article and understand everything.

There are four movements/sections of the piece, and each one describes a different character/moment of a story which I wrote into a script for a movie we might back next summer (2014). Basically, I'm doing what Howard Shore did when he wrote The Lord of the Rings Symphony, but in reverse. I'm going to use parts of the symphony in the score for the film, which still doesn't have a name yet! I need to think about that...

So anyways, here is a brief description of each of the four sections. The symphony is scored for piccolo, 2 flutes, oboe, two horns in F, two trumpets in Bb, two trombones, timpani, cymbals/wood blocks, harp, piano, and strings. I'm thinking about adding pictures for a visual throughout while it's playing, just for reference.

I. Prologue: The First War

It's the year 2235, and aliens came to Earth to attack. Strings sweep beautifully through the score as UFOs fly across the night sky. Towards the end, the piano begins to thunder, and that's when the aliens come out to attack. The score reaches a climactic b minor chord, and the scene stops.

II. Ebonique

Fast forward 200 years into the future, and meet a young 14-year-old girl wondering through a forest. Her theme is innocent and scored very lightly, brass not included. There's a spot in the score where an oboe (and later solo violin) illustrate Ebonique's meeting of the two aliens, and when the score reverts back to the old theme, she's walking alongside them, ready to lead them to safety.

III. Execution

The evil President plans on executing Ebonique and the two aliens because of the War before. Ebonique's brother, Niccoló, and his friend, Aurora, have come a different way to help out. There are two spots, both right next to each other, where the score leads into a fff or ffff climax. For the second time this happens, the cymbal crashes represent the President's shooting of Fridalk, the female alien, and Ebonique. Solo violins mournfully play out as Niccoló carries his dying sister in his arms, lulling her to sleep.

IV. A Symphonic Finale

I bring back Ebonique's theme, but other than that this has no relation to the story.

Sorry if this didn't make much sense, but again, once you hear the symphony and once you watch the film, hopefully it will. Thanks for reading, and I hope I've whetted your appetite! :)

Oh, by the way, yesterday at 9am I was playing through random violin music for half and hour. It was fun! :)