Well, it partly means going to school anyway because the professor needs you to re-organize the music library, but it also means having all the time you want to do music stuff! I mean, I just did a whole lot of music stuff, but species counterpoint isn't really my thing, I mean, I do it for class and I try to make it worthwhile, but it's not as satisfying as composing on your own terms. :P
So anyways, this semester in English 1B, we read The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. This little book quickly became one of my favorite books, and what do I do when I like a book? I compose music for it! That's a grand tradition that started for The Brothers Karamazov, and I actually haven't finished my work for that book, so yeah. I work slowly.
Anyway, I think that a book like this could really inspire some great music. It's presented as a fairy story written for children, but the story is actually a fable for adults. That isn't to say that kids can't enjoy it, millions have, but the story has beautiful merit for adults.
So when I said suite, I probably should have specified that my composition is a piano suite. I'm not at the orchestration genius stage of composition, haha! Here is my hopeful roughdraft. Of course, compositions are like stories, they are alive in a sense and can change drastically from what you expect. This is what I hope my suite comes out like.
1. From Star to Star (Allegro Moderato, Swing)
I think this movement will be pretty short. I've marked it as swung, because after a semester in Jazz Band I really wanted to write something swung. It's in the key of A major, which is probably one of my favorite keys, haha. This movement is supposed to be that part of the book where the titular prince is hopping 'from star to star' after leaving his home planet. I only have the beginning sketched out.
2. The Prince and his Rose (???)
I don't really have a clue about how this movement will sound. I really want to write something for the Prince and the Rose though, because the Rose is one of the central figures of the story. I'd like it to be kind of sweet and devoted, but also a bit of the Rose's temperamental personality.
3. Tamed (Adagio Comodo)
The Fox only shows up for one chapter, but his presence is felt throughout the rest of the book, and the wisdom he gives to the prince changes the character's lives. This one is in the key of G major, and it's based on material I had already written ages ago, and I think it works very well here. I will expand on it, of course, and hopefully it will convey the character of the Fox well.
4. What Makes a Desert Beautiful? (Andante)
I've done the most work on this one (and by that, I mean I have about 30 seconds). This is from the part of the book that is the most intense, I suppose. I am a little concerned that the harmonies are a bit strange for such a sweet story. However, I think the mood at this particular part of the book is very mature, and as long as I keep the composition style fairly simple it should remain faithful to the story.
I hope to have a movement completed before Christmas vacation is over!
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