Symphony No. 1 (2024)

Symphony No. 1 (2024)
Movements:
I. Desolato
II. Scherzo
III. Bach at the Hallgrímskirkja
IV. Quinta Essentia
V. Adagio
MIDI Realization created by Jackson Gearing.
Photographs captured in Skagaströnd and Reykjavík, Iceland in February 2024.
Brief Program Notes:
I have always been enamored by the greats. To live on the shoulders of giants, and to always be living in the shadows of those same giants. This work is my dedication to the masters of the symphony. It is a form for which I am privileged to have the time and knowledge to write, and which has taught me equally as much as I have put into it. To constantly reform the self, and continuing to exhaustion; mental, ideological, or otherwise: this is where mastery takes place. Not to say that I am a master - I am far from it. What I display in the following pages is my first full embrace with this sacred canvas: the symphony. Within these forty-five minutes, across a span of five movements, encompassing roughly eight months of composition, revision, and edition, I can comfortably affirm that I have written music worthy of being called a symphony. Over these eight months, I have questioned, challenged, sacrificed, and exhausted myself. And at the end of it all, I am determined to set this work forth to the world, to realize itself, with the hopes of sharing my discoveries of sound, style, and form with those similarly rapt by this medium.
Instrumentation:
flute I doubling piccolo
flute II
oboe
clarinet I in b-flat
clarinet II in b-flat
bassoon I
bassoon II doubling contrabassoon
horn I in F
horn II in F
horn III in F
horn IV in F
trumpet I in C
trumpet II in C
trombone I
trombone II
bass trombone
tuba
violins I
violins II
violas
celli
doubles basses (with c-extension)
percussion I:
timpani (32”+29”+23”)
bass drum
crotales (bowed+struck)
triangle
tam-tam
percussion II:
snare drum
bass drum
marimba
sandpaper blocks
suspended cymbal
percussion 3:
timpano (32”)
tam-tam
high and low toms
piano
vibraphone
wind gong
chimes
bass drum
percussion 4:
suspended cymbal
xylophone
splash cymbal
wind gong
ride cymbal (bowed)
wood block
crash cymbal
vibraphone
for more works, visit jacksongearing....

[@FranzKaernBiederstedt]

Well, that's quite an audacious move to open the first movement with nothing but the notes of a single minor triad until the first note out of this restriction is allowed (a Phrygian second) at 8:50. I'm still having trouble to consider whether I find the first movement somewhat brilliant or banal. I kept some interest along the whole movement, which, I guess, means, that there is some unique quality to the music. The last minutes of the first movement really have something and wrap the entire thing up... The Scherzo starts very interesting and intriguing and begins to show that you might not be a hoax pretending to write a symphony but really a serious composer. The transition from the second to the third movement is quite remarkable. I like this simple "groove" of two eighths notes and a quarter note rest with the brush sound (?). There's a far way from the opening minor triad to the harsh dissonances of the last movement, but somehow I can perceive the development from point A to point B as quite logical. Honestly, I'm very glad that this is not the x-th symphony by a young composer trying to copy Mahler, but that you're really daring to follow your own path, and with that taking some risks of failing (as a whole I wouldn't say that you're failing in the end, my overall impression is that you have considered very well and thoroughly which means you choose to use and how. But there are some points that are exactly on the edge of being still remarkably interesting or banal, dilettantic or weird; perhaps some may consider them as crossing that very line). I have to say, though, that your midi sounds are not really helping for the overall impression. Nowadays there are so good AND affordable ways for letting your rendition sound more natural, like the Muse Score sound library or Note Performer by Wallender instruments, which you can apply with the major notation softwares like Sibelius or Dorico. I would highly recommend that you get yourself one of these possibilities, that could help you very much coming across as an appealing composer.

[@crimeancomposer]

Wow that very cool comments with analyses. Can you also comment my own work for symphony orchestra 😅

[@jacksongearingmusic]

Wow! I am flattered! Thank you for your insightful comments and your recommendations! I appreciate your time and your kindnesses. This made my day!

[@marghharepharety5136]

good job，who is this master？

[@jacksongearingmusic]

Thank you for taking the time to listen! I glad you enjoyed it! I'm a composition student currently enrolled at the UMKC Conservatory. Feel free to check out my other works and my bio at my website: jacksongearingcomp.wixsite.com/website