Mozart - Menuet 4 from KV 599

[Jos Wylin]

Hi,

This time, I chose a small menuet by Mozart. The chamber orchestra consists of first and second violins, cellos and basses (chamber strings), 2 flutes, oboe, 2 bassoons, 2 horns (all VSL). For the first time, I didn't make a score (in Notion), but recorded directly into Logic Pro X. (I didn't have a midi version.) That means this is some sort of experiment to learn how to handle Logic as a sequencer and DAW. I have to confess that it was rather tough for me, not being used to work that way. I'm more a score man...

Anyway, here's the result of my first attempt in Logic only:

Mozart - Menuet 4

Enjoy the listen,

Max

[Philippe BAYLAC]

Hi Max,

Very beautiful performance, well balanced (maybe you could increase a little the bassoon's volume). Fresh and galant music as like it !

Just two things :

- take a little quicker tempo : it's a menuet, you are supposed to dance on it. Put yourself in the dancer's shoes, you will find the best tempo [:P]

- There is a curious resonance on the violins. Maybe a small equalization problem.

Again, very good job. Bravo ! [Y]

Very best.

Philippe

[Jos Wylin]

Thank you Philippe for your  comments and always appreciated advice.

This menuet was not really conceived as a dancing tune. It was more like an orchestral performance. The instrumentation isn't correct either (should be 2 violins, 2 flutes, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 1 oboe and cello. I made it a litter 'bigger'. That's also the reason that I interpreted the tempo more like a performance. But you're right, it can be a little speeded up to give a more dancing character. But then, I should diminish the contrast and pauses between the trio and the rest. Dancers can't pause in between coherent parts.

What bothers me most is the resonance issue: I can't hear it. Could you be more specific (in minutes, seconds) where it occurs? Could it have to do with the choice of the venue? Is it an interference with the flutes? (That often happens when they are in fifths.) The bassoon can be brought forward easily.

Thanks again for your constructive criticism!

Max

[Jos Wylin]

The first version has been reviewed now. Tempo is a bit higher the acoustic room has changed, the bassoon reveived some more presence... It's so wonderful to work with the endliess possibilities of the sublime samples.

I wonder whether it was possible to perform the score in a balanced way as it was written by Mozart (only 2 violins against 2 flutes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons and 2 horns). Of course, this was only dance music, made to be played in noisy ballrooms and pubs, but despite all this, the musical quality is surprisingly good. Striking however is the absence of any alt instruments (violas). Mozart himself explained why: "Too much harmony distracts from the the dancing." Most of these numerous dancing tunes were written in between other big masterpieces for pure amusement. It took him very little time to produce them. 

Max