Rhapsody in C# Minor | Original Composition

[@ingmarbergmanofficial]

Actually one of the best original compositions I found on KZbin.

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

Wow, thanks, that means a lot!

[@lotavio343]

I'm shocked at how surprised I was by this song, Each part is creative, Instead of getting stuck in one part the music was transforming, I kept thinking "this was really different than what I expected it to be" congratulations this was really amazing, At least for me, you can clearly see your effort and talent here,

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

Thank you so much! Yeah, I really tried hard to keep the piece moving, I didn't want it to be too repetitive, but at the same time, I didn't want there to be so many ideas/themes that wouldn't really flow. but in the end, I think I found the middle ground between the two. I'm glad you liked it!

[@RoyalDrummr]

This was an amazing watch and fantastic listen! You don’t know how relieved I was to see that there are still more young classical music composers out there (being 15 years old and all). It inspires me to put more of my pieces out there!

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

Thank you!

[@orangewaffle_]

Loved the chord progression at 3:33, sounds very mysterious! Great work

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

Ah, yes, one of the only slow-ish sections of the piece, it's actually a negative harmony of the previous section, mirrored on f-sharp, I thought was an interesting and cool way to variate the theme. Thanks for the feedback!

[@caxy1696]

It is amazing! You definitely should publish this masterpiece on another platforms. I'd like to listen it on spotify! You've done a great job and i loved it!

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

Thank you very much! As I have said on a different comment, if I were to put it on Spotify, I would record a live version, it would sound much better.

[@caxy1696]

@TrevorSmithComposer I think it would be great if you do it! You worked on this so much and you created a wonderful piece. I think you must show yourself more. I wish you success!

[@boyoyoyoyoing]

Id love to see this on Spotify, I'd be the first thousand listens!

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

Haha, well, if I was to put it on Spotify, I would record a live version, it would sound a lot better. Thanks for the comment, I'm glad you liked it!

[@mohammadfakhripour1144]

This is absolutely magnificent, bravooooo, can I have the score please? I want to practice it

[@mohammadfakhripour1144]

@TrevorSmithComposer thanks a lot

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

@@mohammadfakhripour1144 I just updated the description with a link to the PDF

[@jackparker4417]

What an amazing piece loved it such a great composer

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

Thank you very much!

[@Chipsomedip]

Wow, this actually sounds like proper music, and like you actually went and studied music theory. I aspire to be like you some day.

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

Thank you very much!

[@TheAbsoluteProduction]

It sounds okay...

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

It's ok if you don't like it, if there's any certain part that just doesn't feel complete or satisfactory enough to you, I'd like to know why, so I can improve on those issues in the future.

[@TheAbsoluteProduction]

@@TrevorSmithComposer When I said "It sounds okay..." I meant it in a good way, like it felt solid and well-written. There were some good moments in the melody that I enjoyed, and I appreciate the effort you put into creating it. Please perceive my comment as an encouragement rather than criticism. You're talented, Trevor! :D

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

@@TheAbsoluteProduction I suppose your original comment could be perceived either way, and I just assumed the worst, thank you for the clarification!

[@magnolia7212]

I'd love to hear this in a movie. Amazing work!

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

Thank you very much!

[@Pianoboi1i1]

Started learning this today, LOVE IT. Surprisingly easy, I’m on the third page already. The polyrhythms are kind of annoying, but I really just gotta get used to it.

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

Thank you, I'm glad you like it! To hear that someone is learning a piece that I wrote is awesome, if you finish learning it, let me know!

[@Pianoboi1i1]

@ got it. As a fellow composer, (although I don’t post my songs) keep up the *good* work!

[@brunomedeiros6775]

very dramatic! I LIked it, congrats!

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

Yes, it is probably my most epic piece to date, I'm glad you liked it!

[@GDosiris314]

A 7/8 part that doesn’t sound unbalanced

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

Thank you!

[@mr.andrew_andrew]

Really captivating. Thank you for sharing!

[@Quicksilver-nm1kb]

I find this quite an interesting composition, but I would still have some things I would change to improve on it. I'm not exactly an expert so this will just be my opinion as I listened through this. 1) the opening up to m.22 is quite powerful and well done, but it brings up my first point: changing time signatures. For me, it makes the whole piece quite rhythmically confusing, and I really don't see a point behind a lot of them. What was your reasoning behind them? 2) The triplets section seems promising, but I feel the high voice could be developed as much as the bass is developed. The middle voice is also completely absent and the E and G# get quite repetitive to hear. I do really enjoy the sense of accelerating and the runs in the left hand. There are again strange time signature changes that put me quite off balance. 3) Measures 73 to 84 could greatly benefit from a melody in the right hand or a developing left hand. The bass is quite static and clearly that is the point as it also has a melody to bring, but there is nearly no tension being built. 4) The A2 and B2 are obviously recapitulations, but could mostly likely benefit from a bit of variation too. Of course, this would be up to interpretation as well as the notes, but seeing as this is digitally played, that can't be judged. 5) m.147-194 is probably my least favorite section. There are once again these strange time signature changes and I simply don't find the chord progressions very interesting, they don't build to anything. The D1 feels more like a bridge sort of section, but in that case it should be quite a bit shorter, more concise, to the point. When you get to E1, you feel as though you have not moved at all, the D1 section has no impact on the piece whatsoever. Furthermore, the first melody with the chords in E1 is quite interesting, but when you reach the deeper registers, less is more. On a real piano, the notes would be so muddled between m.160-162 that you would not distunguish the melody very well and the chords in left hand would quickly sound dissonant. The F section starts quite well, the key change to D flat is really good, but I feel not enough is done once you arrive there. D-flat is a joyous key and instead of embracing it, you use there strange augmented chords (which I think are notated falsely with a b double flat instead of of a natural), which essentially artifically extend the piece. Your tension should build to resolutions, not more tension. I also find the right hand melody falls quite flat, despite being made to sound so full of despair. I think if the left hand was brought up and contributed to the melody instead of retreating to the bass, it would sound nicer. It then resolves to the D section again, which I have already given my opinion on. It's followed by a variation on the E section, which I do find well done, but the bass will be a problem just like in E1. The G section feels a bit improvisational and really does not fit the mood. Having the whole piece hold a melancholic tone of despair just to end on joy is quite contradictory. I found this piece quite interesting and full of potential as you can see. I hope this criticism will help you in your future endeavors and I wish you all the best. Again, I'd like to stress that I am nowhere near a professional and this is a completely subjective opinion. Good luck

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

Thank you for the comment! I'll go over each of your points below. 1) I do see why the frequent changing of the time signatures can be confusing, and all I can really say to that is that I really like odd time signatures, and I just love the way they sound together. 2) I guess for this section the main components are really the acceleration and the crescendo, up to the climax, and then back down, I do see where I could of variated some of the other parts, mainly the right hand, as you pointed out. I'll definitely try to improve on that in future pieces. 3) This section is actually just a negative harmony of the previous section, flipped around F#. The left hand is intended to be the melody, hence the accents. 4) For this section, I didn't think the repeat needed any variation, but I do see what you mean. But as I have already said, I'm working on getting better at variating themes. 5) I intend this section to be the grand ending. I don't think the D section is to long, but I guess that's up to personal opinion. The D section goes to the E section, which is a part to transition to the F section. As for the concern for the lower notes of the E section, I have played it, and I really like how thunderous those notes sound. For the F section, I really intend for there to be a lot more rubato then the computer can express, I used the strange time signatures to try and make it sound like it did. I also intend for the change of keys to be a glorious and joyful change in emotion, with tons of rubato. After that, the D and E variations occur, with the same glorious feeling. (Edit: I also want to point out that the Major part of the F section is in Mixolydian b6, one of the mot glorious modes in my opinion. That's why the double flats are there, in order to get a minor 6th(flat 6), there has to be a Bbb, if it was an A natural, it would be an augmented 5th, which is not it's purpose. Also the Ebbs are there because of the Neapolitan chord, you might have already known that, I'm not sure.)

[@ericwarncke]

I thought this was a fun play on Sonata-Allegro form, with your recapitulation in the middle instead of the end, but your coda was great. I liked how you had motivic ideas and built on them throughout. I enjoy your big, hammering chords to balance the delicate parts. The only advice I have for you is to think more polyphonically when you write. Adding a 2nd or 3rd voice in some sections can add a lot to a piece. Great work! I've subscribed and am excited to see your next work.

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

Thank you very much, I'm glad you liked it! I will definitely use your advice when writing future pieces.

[@Andscool]

Ever since I found one of these super small, independent, KZbin composers I’ve been finding more and more and it’s so awesome to see. I’m the same age as you and a pianist (albeit not that great of one) and I was just wondering how you got to where you are in composing. What resources (books, videos, etc) did you use to learn? Amazing work here!

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

One thing that I'd say helped me is listening to lots of classical music, I think it really helped to form my musical ear, so I know better whether certain harmonies/melodies sound good or not. The music I generally listen to isn't music that has very simple harmonies(Mahler's symphonies for example), so I think that helped as well. Knowledge of modes and scales helps to. Another thing is just experience, composing a ton, finding out what works and what doesn't just by trying. A lot. I have read some of "Harmony" by Walter Piston, only a little of it though.

[@Andscool]

@ on that note, how do you actually compose anyway? As in like do you compose at the piano and just write down what you play or do you enter it straight into notation software?

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

@@Andscool Most of it is just messing around at the piano, finding what sounds good, and if it sounds good enough, I'll then write it in the music software. Occasionally, not very often, a theme will form completely mentally, then I'll play it on the piano and write it down. But, when I compose my string pieces, or anything orchestral, I'll compose straight onto the computer. Also, with the piano pieces, if I didn't compose it first on the piano, I would have no idea it's playable or not. I only compose piano pieces that I can play, it doesn't really make sense to compose something I can't play.

[@potatohunter3763]

man i love c# nice piece

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

Yes, C# minor is one of my favorite keys

[@sketchdoesmusic]

Those are some threatening triplets Edit: alright, this rocks. I'd love to look over a full score. This is just downright masterful. The phrasing, the variety of themes and textures, the time signature and key changes. Amazing.

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

Thank you, I'm glad you like it! I can agree, the triplets are brutal, my hands become a little sore after playing that part, though it may be because I go at a little bit faster tempo than notated on that part! I tried to share the sheet music in the description of this video, but for some reason I have to be "verified" in order to put links in descriptions, I have no idea why. once I figure that out, I'll put a link there for sure.

[@sketchdoesmusic]

@@TrevorSmithComposer Awesome. Incredible that you can actually play that.

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

@@sketchdoesmusic Yeah, I don't compose any piano music that I can't play.

[@sketchdoesmusic]

@@TrevorSmithComposer Good grief. So how long have you been playing? Edit: Holy crap, you're my age- I've got some catching up to do...

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

@@sketchdoesmusic I really haven't been into music for that long, I started playing piano on my own about 5 1/2-ish years ago, and until about a year ago I never took any lessons. As for composing, I didn't really get into it until about 2 1/2 years ago, mid 2022. I composed some pieces then, I might post them on here, but they really aren't that good.

[@Dani-my5kx]

This goes harddd

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

Thank you very much, I'm glad you liked it!

[@Paganini-Liszt]

Beautiful

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

Thank you!

[@wifty362]

This is pretty good! Overall, I think you should hold back with the repetitions just a little bit.

[@FredericChopin-if5rn]

It feels like this site is just growing more and more talented creators. You really shouldn’t be on this site, You should be in the top music schools like Juilliard. The whole piece really encapsulates a rhapsodic experience and tells an enriched story full of despair and grief, but luminescence and prosperity during some moments, It reminds me of Liszt and Rachmaninoff. Two greats merged into one piece, I’d love to hear more pieces like this from you. You need a scholarship to a music school ASAP! I’ll be checking out your videos and subscribing.

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

This is the single most encouraging comment I have ever received, I can't thank you enough for your kind words!

[@michaelhanrahanmoore1622]

In my opinion you hold onto many roots for too long plus a tendency to go from i to iv then chuck in v which makes it sound slightly commonplace. Ive not heard the entire piece yet but you use seemingly big chords which are actually not big chords at all since they are almost exclusively built on nothing but triads . As i told you in another comment i believe in your potential and really want to see you progress which you will do without my advice anyway but its nice to be able to just give you some small help. Ive been a composer for 30 years but my own compositions are on the whole derivative and mediocre. Yet i can honestly say i do have insights musically which sadly rarely appear in my own music. Keep writing and within 10 years the sky will be the limit for you.

[@michaelhanrahanmoore1622]

I suggest you listen to maybe some scriabin, liszt and wagner. They were masters of harmonic progression. Liszt was a pioneer even more so than wagner truth be told.

[@Dylan_1344]

This is nice

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

Thanks

[@BreeflickOasis1097]

Nice work! We have a similar creativity

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

Thank you! I checked out your channel, you've got some pretty cool stuff!

[@AlexDaProtogen]

Is there any sheet music? I love this piece so much. :o

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

I just updated the description with a link to the PDF!

[@AlexDaProtogen]

@@TrevorSmithComposer Thank you! :D

[@iluvyou210]

The first part of the song is hiphop

[@MasterLJAMGaming]

is there a place where you can find the full score?

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

There's a link in the description.

[@NokWizard1]

Im curious, how long did it take you to write this composition?

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

Probably too long honestly, many times I thought it was good enough to be done, but then I would find small things that I didn't like enough to keep, over and over this happened, even now, I'm not quite fully satisfied with it. The first parts were composed in mid October 2023, it grew bit by bit until mid October of this year, a full year later, and I've finally called it complete because I've just spent too long on it, it's time to work on other projects.

[@eboone]

yuh

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

yuh

[@sulpicius7602]

Long stretches with little harmonic movement or melodic development are tedious. I feel like you could have said what you wanted in a quarter of the length.

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

I personally really like long, drawn out sections of music, but if you're not a fan of it, it's ok, I guess they aren't for everyone. Thanks for the feedback!

[@michaelhanrahanmoore1622]

This kind of rushing sound might seem impressive but actually from a purely musical stand point it is quite banal. The chords reveal the work of a very talented yet still very immature composer. The thing i like most about it is the mood it conjures.

[@laneotaku7855]

Great composition man, but played by machine can't transmitter the real emotions of the piece, anyway it's a great composition

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

Thank you, I'm glad you liked it! Yes, I agree, the computer can't sound as good as a real person, I might eventually upload a video of me playing it.

[@musiccritic12]

It's decent, rather repetitive at parts, however.

[@wanisz_]

Do you offer online composition lessons? I'd be interested

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

Unfortunately I do not, I'm still getting my bearings as a composer, I still have a lot to learn in harmony, Melodic lines, structure, and just music in general. Thank you so much for your interest, but I am in no way a professional :)

[@wanisz_]

@@TrevorSmithComposer I think you could help complete beginners though, one can learn a lot from a person that is 3 steps ahead, if you change your mind one day, please let me know

[@adrianomeis184]

It seems AI music, sorry for being so drastic and rude. You will improve only starting making little compositions. Work on the sound and musical ideas, before on the form itself will make your music better.

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

I wonder, what part makes it sound like AI to you? Is it because the audio is computer generated? Because if that's part of it, I totally agree, it sounds awful, it doesn't have any of the emotions or dynamics that I, or any other pianist playing it would have.

[@thenumberthree-3-3]

You've done a very well, I'd say. You did a great job of putting the melodies inside of larger structures. The rhythms and time signatures work amazingly. I love from measure 31-57. The high register shines especially bright. And even in the lower registers, there is a melody. The polyrhythms make it sound even nicer, which is a pleasant surprise. I love that section very much. Measures 163-177 are a bit dull for me. The chord progression is nice, but I get a little tired of the structure of it. The piece is also generally structured a bit weirdly. The repetition of the first part I do not like. It is such a big section, and it is great, but it doesn't hit quite as well the second time around, because it feels like more of the same thing, which leads to my second point, that the piece is all intense throughout. There are very few calm sections throughout the piece, and it seems there is constantly something very big going on, which is fine, but it gets rid of a lot of contrast. There are calmer parts, by all means, but they aren't particularly memorable, and more feel like they're just leading us to the bigger parts. This leads us to the ending, which, to me, feels a little underwhelming. It is intense, yes, but just as much so as most of the piece. And as a result, it doesn't stand out very much. There are parts more intense than it, yet it concludes the piece. In my opinion, the easy solution to this would be to make a calm ending that fades out. This puts it at odds to the rest of the piece, and we can better acknowledge that this is the end. I apologize if I am sounding mean here. It goes without saying, it is a great piece, but that is what I would've done.

[@TrevorSmithComposer]

Don't worry, you're not being mean. you're just giving me some constructive criticism, which is what I want, because then I know how to improve! Thank you for your complements on the 31-57 section, that happens to be the section that I composed first, with everything else kind of coming together around it. As for the ending, when I finished this, I really wasn't satisfied with how it ended. I came to the conclusion, same as you, that it should end with a very peaceful, sweet, and overall comforting section that fades out to finish it off, and, I'm actually working on it currently. Now that I know that it's not just me who thinks that would be good idea, I'll upload an updated version when I'm finished with it! Thank you for the advice!