Cadenza Composing Suggestions

[djwpe]

As the commissioner of the piece in question, I’m not terribly keen on the idea of adding a cadenza to an already long and difficult piece. But I passed the idea on to Anthony Barfield. I’ll follow up with his response if any.

Don

[Snorlax]

Speaking of modern non-warhorse compositions...If someone adds a cadenza to a piece of music and the cadenza turns out to be poor, the composer's reputation may be damaged if people hear the bad cadenza and decide not to buy/perform a piece based upon that. Rare as that might be, I'd hate to see a composer or a composer's estate lose even one sale because of someone else's lack of taste and discretion.
I haven't played "warhorse" solos in 40 years or so, but when I did, I took liberties but always made reference to previous thematic material--to me, that should be the essence of a cadenza.

[Nate.heron]

As the commissioner of the piece in question, I’m not terribly keen on the idea of adding a cadenza to an already long and difficult piece. But I passed the idea on to Anthony Barfield. I’ll follow up with his response if any.

Don

Thank you for the help. One thing to note is that my band is only able to perform the first movement of the piece already because of time restraints (and frankly musicians ability.)

[Magikarp]

Thank you for the help. One thing to note is that my band is only able to perform the first movement of the piece already because of time restraints (and frankly musicians ability.)

I'd be playing a different piece then. Picking something too hard, is doing no justice to the composer, the soloist, the ensemble, or the presumably paying audience.

Play something easier, play it with breathtaking ease and panache, and blow them away. Nobody wants to hear a struggle.

[djwpe]

Thank you for the help. One thing to note is that my band is only able to perform the first movement of the piece already because of time restraints (and frankly musicians ability.)

Anthony, Demondrae, and I touched base on this today. We all agree it’s a bad idea, and suggest that you don’t add the cadenza.

On another note, I don’t think the first movement stands alone well. The second and third do, and in fact, the second movement was written to be accessible so that I could perform it as a stand-alone piece (thanks, Anthony).

I also hope you’ve purchased the score and parts from Anthony for this performance?

Don

[Nate.heron]

I'm sorry.

My group has been rehearsing the first movement for a couple of months now and that is what we will be performing. My director and I both agreed that the first movement sounded well enough to perform it on its own. We decided against the third movement because of the technical ability of the ensemble and against the second because as a mediocre high school band they don't have the key signature under their fingers.

I would like to reiterate that this is a high school ensemble and I am only 17 years old. This is not a grand performance with paying attendees, it's just a regular school concert.

With that said, yes I have purchased the piece from Mr. Barfield and I will not be including a cadenza in the performance.

[aroberts781]

This has been a pretty interesting discussion to follow. I think it is great that people shared their ideas on cadenzas, and it is a really unique thing about this forum that this community was able to engage through Don with both the composer and Demondrae about their thoughts on the matter.

To Nate, best of luck with your performance! If I could give my high school self advice on a solo performance it would be practice it a lot, focus practice on the parts that you don't play well. Practice entering/exiting the stage, taking a bow, acknowledging the band afterwards, etc... as those are important flourishes that can enhance a solo performance from an audience perspective. And then play the piece as well as you can and present yourself and the group confidently!