Peppercorn Symphony #6 in C Major

[WPeppercorn]

Here is the 4th movement to this symphony. Some bad news is that my cancer came back rather aggressively and has migrated into my bones. The medications I now have to take have really caused problems with focus, creativity and stamina. Seems all I want to do is sleep. I really do want to finish this piece... two more movements to go but they seem lately to be almost insurmountable. It's been quite a while since I have visited the forum...there is some wonderful music posted by several of you whom I follow.

4. PRESTO Symphony #6 in C Major

Special Editions 1 and 2.

Symphony #6 in C Major: opening movement...

1. Allegro con brio

Thank you Max for your "strings" comment on the Trumpet Concerto.... it really helped me on this piece. There will eventually be 4 movements to this work. I am still using the Special Editions 1 and 2. Thank you.

[William]

That sounds great  Wayne-  congratulations on another fine composition!  It is a real pleasure to hear your music.

[Jos Wylin]

Hi Wayne,

Indeed another marvel in the purest classical style. The thematic material is so beautiful (and almost danceable) and the orchestral sound is very well balanced and neatly polished. The prominent flute plays a very important role in this. Well done!

I can't wait to hear the rest of the symphony. I hope for the same 'brio'.

Max

[WPeppercorn]

Here is the 4th movement to this symphony. Some bad news is that my cancer came back rather aggressively and has migrated into my bones. The medications I now have to take have really caused problems with focus, creativity and stamina. Seems all I want to do is sleep. I really do want to finish this piece... two more movements to go but they seem lately to be almost insurmountable. It's been quite a while since I have visited the forum...there is some wonderful music posted by several of you whom I follow.

4. PRESTO Symphony #6 in C Major

Special Editions 1 and 2.

With the outrageous cost of these cancer treatments/drugs, I have about given up on upgrading my VSL library. Oh well. I think the special editions have served me well.

[Acclarion]

Wayne, The thrill of seeing another movement of your symphony posted was quickly overshadowed by the news of your illness. I am deeply saddened to hear this, but inspired by your will to continue to persevere and complete your symphony. Your music has been a welcome and greatly appreciated contribution to those of us lucky enough to hear it, and I will pray for you to continue gracing us with many more symphonies to come. Dave P.S. You have done great work with the special editions, and im sure many with the more advanced full libraries would never even know the difference.

[William]

I was also really disturbed to hear about this situation Wayne has.  I am a huge admirer of his music which is in expertly done, pure classical style - a rarity these days.   I hope he finishes this latest symphony and look forward also to more music from this fine composer.  

[fahl5]

Dear Wayne,

I just want to wish you what ever is necessary to overcome your cancerproblems.

May the love to make music give you all the power you currently need.

best wishes

Steffen

[MMKA]

Dear Wayne,

Beautiful music, but not so good news that the cancer came back. I wish you all the best and hope and pray that the medications do their work adequately. All the best for you and your family.

[agitato]

Hi Wayne

thanks for the beautiful symphony....it sounds like Haydn came back to life and wrote a fresh symphony! Loved the opening movement especially...so playful.

Also very sad to hear about your cancer. We will all wish that your treatments go well.

Anand

[Philippe BAYLAC]

Hi Wayne,

again, a very inventive and enjoyable piece of music. You did a great job with these editions. Congratulations !

Wish you the best.

Philippe.

[Paul McGraw]

Hi Wayne,

I am so very sorry to hear about your health problems. Your newest symphony is a true gem, and I have really enjoyed listening to it.  Many of your works are extremely well executed examples of the classical aesthetic. This latest symphony is no exception.

I realize this is a depressing question, so please forgive me, but have you taken steps to preserve your music for the future? May I suggest uploading your scores and recordings to IMSLP? 

Good luck with your battle against cancer. May God bless your efforts and grant you peace.

Paul T. McGraw

[Jos Wylin]

Hi Wayne,

A few days ago, I saw your latest post (Presto). Unfortunately I was on holiday and couldn't listen to it. The news about the cancer regression was at that time much more important. I wish I could find the right words to give you the courage and spirit to fight agressively back. Let's all hope and pray that a kind persion like you, who gave so much beauty to the world, may be able to continue the fantastic work. Your classic soul and heart for music has conquered the entire world of music lovers.

With this in mind, it is the more admirable that you were able to finish this wonderful symphony with such a brilliance and lightness. It proves your readiness to keep up the good spirits and optimism to keep fighting, fighting back with your best arm: music. Please believe in it and be courageous to undergo the treatments. And if not possible to create more wonderful music at the moment, have a good rest, take care of yourself and listen to whatever music is dear to you. It will definitely help you through this difficult and trying period.

I hope with everybody here on this wonderful forum that we can welcome you soon with some new work!

Max

[WPeppercorn]

Max, Paul, Philippe, Anand, MMKA, Sreffen, William, Dave

I want to extend my deepest thanks to all of you for the encouragement posted here for me to tackle my disease. I can't express enough appreciation for what your words mean to me. The docs have said that at this point I will never be able to rid my body of the cancer. However, the treatment/medications are designed to slow the growth or stop the spreading any further and at the moment, we are making good progress. I actually had a great week... no bad headaches or sickness (quite a few daily hot flashes and soreness in the injection sites but that's not so bad).

So with your advice about keeping music in my life, I decided to try and finish my current project (I already had a lot of ideas sketched out on note paper). It was really what I needed to get my mind off the whole sickness thing....music is a wonderful therapy! Here is the 3rd movement...

3. SCHERZO

If you are interested, the entire 4 movements are now posted on my YOUTUBE sight. Thank you so much again guys for your encouragement to "hang in there"... you're awesome!

[Jos Wylin]

Well done Wayne. Keep up the spirits! A little delight again for which we're grateful.

Thanks again,

Max

[William]

This Scherzo is excellent, as is all I have heard fom Wayne!  I really like how he has continued to work in a pure Classical style.  

I have often thought that the modernist concept has been wrongly applied.  Though it is true I love a lot of extreme modernism - for example Edgar Varese's "Ameriques" which will basically fry your eardrums to a crisp with extreme dissonance and yet somehow I love everything Varese ever did  - nevertheless I have noticed how there are styles of the past which are by no means exhausted - quite the contrary, one could write a new piece in Medieval plainchant style and it could easily be totally modern with a simple change of instrumentation.  And yet the attitude among many academic musicians is - if it is not totally the most modernist style it is worthless.  This is poppycock, as even Schoenberg (still the master of atonality) stated "there are many more pieces in the key of C Major to be written..."

Peppercorn shows that one can write seriously in a pure Classical style even today.  That is an amazing accomplishment.  I am a great admirer of him and his music.  

[jasensmith]

@WPeppercorn said:

. I am still using the Special Editions 1 and 2.

It still boggles my mind that you are able to cut these Classical gems of yours with just the Special Editions😶

Great work Wayne!  These pieces are an inspriation to me because now I'd like to see how far I could get writing in the Classical style.  

And I'm so sorry to hear about your illness.  I don't know if you are a religious person or not but I will surely pray for you and hope you are given the strength to overcome this because the world needs to hear more of your music.

Somebody had mentioned preservation before and that got me thinking that maybe Herb is peeking in on this thread and he has heard your music and would consider it for Special Edition demos.  If not, you might want to think about sending a few of your selections to him.  I'm sure he would be just as impressed as the rest of us are.

Looking forward to hearing more.