Why it's fun being a music nerd

Tuesday night after band I accepted a challenge.
98% of you will probably think it's boring, especially if you never studied music. Or if you have a short attention span. Or if you're distracted because something really itches.

(Don't worry, though.... you can always go read other stuff I've written, like maybe this or this... or this).

Kyle#2 and I both like composing music.
I happened to mention to him that I had recently tried writing for strings (violin, viola, cello, bass) and wasn't happy with the result. I also mentioned being concerned that perhaps I use triplet figures too often in my compositions.

So he challenged me to write something, giving me very distinct musical rules.

And I reciprocated by challenging him to compose a different piece using MY rules.

Here are the rules he gave me:
Must use the string section (violin, viola, cello, bass)
Optional: Can also be scored for full orchestra (which includes the strings)
NO triplets allowed
Must be in the key of b-minor
Must be in 2/4 time
Must have a tempo of 60 bpm

And, here are the rules I gave him for the thing HE has to write:
Tempo: 140 bpm
Meter: 5/8
Key: A-flat major
Instrumentation: Trumpet, woodblock, cello, bari sax, cowbell
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The deadline is April 15th, 2009.
The piece has to have at least 32 measures, but no more than 60.
We haven't exactly decided who the judges are going to be, and the winner probably won't get anything other than a slightly larger ego.

I'll keep you all posted.
Either I'll emerge victorious or will be agonizingly defeated.
And, of course, there's always the possibility that Kyle will end up chickening out on me, in which case I'll win by default. :)

As for me, well, I finished the first draft of mine a few hours ago....
But don't tell him that. :)
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