Composers Block
I first encountered composers block this morning when I composed my canon. I started composing it last night, got 3 variations, went to bed, and composed 3 more variations this morning. I used the Wind Quartet template so I have hesitated to put 32nd notes in because I know fast changes in fingering is hard. I guess a few here and there won't hurt but I'm not sure I would want to write a whole measure of 16ths and 32nds.
And yes, I know dynamics will improve it so that in the 6th variation, the flute does not get drowned out by the oboe and clarinet but at the same time does not drown the other instruments. But I was thinking of writing 9 more variations, 7 of which are for all melody instruments(so those in the treble clef), 1 for just the flute and oboe, and another for just the flute and then ending with a Bb major chord. Problem is, I don't know how to write those 9 variations. I tried looking at Pachelbel's manuscript for his Canon in D(which is surprisingly neat. It is often hard for me to read a Vivaldi or Mozart manuscript but I could easily read Pachelbel's manuscript.) to get some ideas. I tried listening to the Canon in D and listening to my canon to get some ideas. I tried going away from it for hours to just let it sit on the back burner while I focus on something else and then listening to it again but that didn't seem to help either. I don't play a woodwind though I have tried to learn the flute before(harder for beginners but easier to get to advanced than with a single or double reed). I do improvise on the piano. Even if the notes I am writing are for an orchestral work, I will often play the piano just to get some ideas for what to put in a piece that I am composing.
But I seem to be really stuck as to what to add to my Canon in Bb. I want 33 measures, because every new melodic idea is 2 measures and I want to add a measure for the ending chord.
Also, I noticed a transition going on with the 6th chord in every group of 2 measures. That chord was at first Bb major but then with the 4th variation it became D minor. I guess that is kind of inevitable when you write a canon that the harmony changes in some places.
Here is my canon so far: