Original Piano Piece (Video)

Hello everyone

Hello

My names Alex Oliver Cawley, i've just joined, I'm a pianist and composer based in London

I am in the process of recording some of my own piano pieces and I would welcome any comments/critiques.

First up is a piece entitled Zoetrope named after the early animation process. The piece is in C major and it's meant as a sort of an introduction. Please enjoy!

 

Hi Alex, I listened to your composition and I think it is well made. You're also an excellent piano player. This piece consists of broken chords and I wondered if it's just this one or a style thing, so I listened to several compositions on YouTube. That was a pleasant surprise. How long have you been at it, composing music? You look quite young, but that's perhaps because I myself am not that young any more

 

Many thanks for your comments. I'm pleased you enjoyed the piece and if I understand correctly you also listened to some of my other pieces? What are your thoughts?

My musical background is basically: Started at 13/14 learnt to play the piano from a a couple of books one of which was How to improvise blues piano, I think this is one of the main influences for the idea of writing music and so I wrote a few blues jams back in the day but they were pretty unremarkable.
A year later I was compelled to learn the guitar by my father so I did, learnt to play blues on that as well and played in a few bands again writing music but again nothing great just bits and pieces.
I then sort of gave up on music for a long time as I left school and got into work but when I was 22 I realised I wanted to get more serious with music so took lessons and then went to university a year or so later.
During my 3rd year I started getting into composing more and more, took composition lessons and got on well with several teacher and students who were also composers and performed a bunch of there work.
I've been out of university some three years now and I'm 30 now so I'm not that young but I'll take it as a compliment of course.
This is the first time I've really started working on my pieces and performing them as I mostly have dealt with established works and teaching/accompanying. I'm concentrating on piano music at the moment as I can play them and so don't have to pay people which is useful, but I'm going to try start working on more ensemble music next year.

 

Thank you for sharing your personal information with me. What my thoughts are?

Well, I studied music composition at a conservatory of music long, long time ago. I have some experience teaching music theory and composition and I must have seen dozens of scores written by beginning composers. Scores I wished I haven't seen, because some of them made me even feel depressed. Well, to most people it's just a hobby and you don't need to be good at it, I guess. In your case however, it would be a bloody shame if you won't become a full-blown composer. The talent is there, no doubt about it. You're not even a beginner. The guidance of a trained and experienced composer for some time, as a kind of "masterclass", won't do you any harm though. Most young composers enjoy this kind of attention.

By the way, 30 is young for a composer. I am more than twice your age, so I'm in my prime, although my children disagree About your pieces on YouTube, I can't find a weaker piece. Perhaps, if I'd make an effort, I might find a note, perhaps a chord, or a phrase that could be slightly improved, but the same goes for most classical and neoclassical music.

If you want to know anything specific about a certain piece or phrase, I would like to see a score, but you're surrounded by musicians, so you don't need my help.

 

Hello Alex! I want to admit that I'm not playing professionally on the piano, but as an amateur. But I really like to listen to this music, because it is very different from others in the variety of art techniques and the depth of the transmitted experiences. Alex, I was very impressed with your composition, you make good musical transitions, which makes it special! I'm a paper writer also, now I am writing a dissertation on the topic "The Five Cello Sonatas of Ludwig van Beethoven and the Striving Towards Instrumental Equality". Very interesting topic, since classical music is checked by centuries and time! I want to wish you a success in your work that you would continue to please us with your compositions!

 

Hi Daniel

Many thanks for your kind words, I'm very pleased to hear you enjoyed the composition. I will be uploading some more of my pieces on these forums so please look out for them.
Good luck with your dissertation!

All the best

Alex Oliver Cawley

 

I'll be interested to listen to them! Thank you

 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHLNSRnx4_g7CYOVuE9K-tA_aN7tUW2jK

Thats a play list of the five pieces I've recorded so far. Let me know what you think!

 

I listened to your compositions. So about the first one Zoetrope and the last one Windmills , I really like them and you also very well picked up the animations. The second one (The Puppet ) is good, it would have sounded better if it had been accompanied by a play since at moments it is a little harsh for listening... Special Bicycles and Lady of the Lake are are amazing. I was very impressed. I also listened to FUGLAFRÆÐI - Live Performance, it is great!

 

Hi Alex! You play great! I do it every day, but I'm not good at it. You are very talented.