Symphonic Poem No 1 - Original composition - Musescore 4.2 score

My first full orchestral piece, written in 2021 (using Logic Pro) then re-written in Musescore 4 in December 2023. Austria is the intended theme with a bit of Alpine majesty, perhaps a mountain castle, and a good old-fashioned Waltz in the middle.
Yes, the woodwind is mostly too loud! I used, to my regret, the latest Musescore 4.2 upgrade (entirely with Muse Sounds) which is buggy, slow, laggy, mistimed instruments with some weird woodwind sustains, a CPU hogging disaster of an update which, hopefully, they'll fix in 4.2.1. Hard to complain when it's free but I'd far rather pay to get their major releases right first time as this feels like we've gone backwards.
Written in Musescore 4 with Muse Sounds.
Some of my symphonic pieces in Musescore:
• Symphonic Poem No 1 -...
• Symphonic Poem No 2 -...
• Symphonic Poem No. 6 -...
• Symphonic Poem No. 5 -...
• Symphonic Poem No 4 -...
Some of my chamber pieces in Musescore:
• Andante for Oboe & Str...
• Dawn Chorus for Oboe &...
• Two Little Bits of Str...
Some of my choral pieces in Musescore:
• Ave Verum Corpus - Ori...
• Elegy - Original compo...
• Vocalise - Original Co...
Original compositions by Jeff Ward, written in Musescore 4 with Muse Sounds, sometimes remixed in Logic Pro X, choral works supplemented by EastWest Hollywood Choir WordBuilder for phonetic lyrics, and/or very rarely Hollywood Strings. See video description above for further details.
© Copyright Jeff Ward 2023

[@R.K_Dimaculangan]

Absolutely sublime, sounds like a full on movie soundtrack! I can tell that you have a great amount of experience and skill, I'm glad I have come across this channel.

[@JeffWardMusic]

Thank you very much R.K!

[@robertmgeerts]

Thanks Jeff - enjoyed it very much!

[@JeffWardMusic]

Many thanks Robert!

[@zjschrage]

That was spectacular Jeff, Im glad I came across your channel

[@JeffWardMusic]

Thank you very much Zackary! Happy New Year!

[@RossProbertComposition]

A very enjoyable piece, and props on the brass writing, not always the easiest thing to do. I agree with the transitions, sometimes however, an abrupt or incomplete transition is a good artistic choice. Well done on this piece!

[@JeffWardMusic]

Thank you Ross, much appreciated!

[@larstschiedel2054]

Great composition! I really enjoyed it!

[@JeffWardMusic]

Thank you very much Lars!

[@FullmoonMusicProductions]

what a lovely work, as beautiful as all of the previous, sir you're an inspiration to me, Happy holidays! love that 5:06, I would love to hear a Waltz

[@JeffWardMusic]

Thank you! Happy Holidays to you too!

[@sileonclassical]

i love the simplicity and easy reading its just very wel written :)

[@JeffWardMusic]

Thank you very much! I can't do complicated🤣

[@SpargurYarnCrafts]

As a woodwind player, I think your woodwind volume is great. A lot of times composers will write these gorgeous lines for the woodwinds and then they get covered up by the strings or brass. What's the point in having those notes if you can't even hear the timbre of the instrument playing them? This was a gorgeous piece and I'd be happy to play it if I ever got the opportunity.

[@JeffWardMusic]

Thank you very much...made my evening! I'm a former oboist and I couldn't agree with you more, all that blowing for no discernible benefit. I still think I've done better balances with my No. 2 and No. 6 poems (I'd love to hear what you think of them if you get the time). O to get a room full of real musicians...now that would be an opportunity!

[@Imakemusicandstuff333]

I enjoyed this composition very much! But because I am nitpicky I would suggest focusing more on the transitions between sections and develop them further, for instance when you changed the tempo and meter suddenly to 3/4 from 4/4 and vice versa. Also you can always add more percussion, like a concert bass drum, Tam-Tam or whatever you can think of for more epic hits, Ravel, Carl Orff, Mahler and Leonard Bernstein where very good at it. But all in all a great composition!

[@JeffWardMusic]

Thanks, I'm very glad you enjoyed it! No, you're not being nitpicky at all! You always leave helpful observations that resonate with what I'm thinking. I find development and transition harder than melody and harmony, and this piece is definitely a little "this bit, then the next bit" in a sort of sequence (although I do quite like the meter changes butt-joined, especially going from 3/4 to 2/2 as it's the jolt I wanted). And you're right, as you've said before, I really do need to explore the percussion collection more. Gotta keep learning! Thanks again, all the best Jeff.