Composition: 4/5 Listenability: 4/5
As a general note I really want to say that the texture, arrangement and composition is nicely done. Specially the narrower choice of instruments lends itself nicely for an Octett or Nonett and reminds me at parts to some works of Kai Rosenkranz (who did the music for the Gothic games), specially with your work on the woodwinds. However, it feels at times like it could either use some more additional textures or arrangement to fill out the instrumentation, since it at times feel a bit patchy and leaves very empty spaces withing the composition to consider it exceptional.
Melody Clarity: 3/5 Melody impact: 4/5
I think there are multiple contenders on who could play the main melody. For me it feels like it would be more the main motive played on the bassoon. While it impact felt very good and had a nice moment of creating a feeling of wonder. It kind of feels like it needs to be woven in a bit more like having different sections repeating parts of it so it can be established more as the main motive/melody to feel less subdued within the whole song. Same could be said by the melody at 1:20 and repeating at 2:21. I think they need more support with doubling sections to really jump out and catch the listener, since the feel a bit passing by and are not that noticeable as the main melodic element of the song (like having oboe and viola play it in the first run and oboe, clarinet and bassoon).
Correlation of theme: 3/5
This is a bit hard for me, since I’m a bit torn on that matter. Personally, the picture and creation of a weapon would feel way more raw and more energetic. With the gentler orchestral band approach, it feels more like describing the work of an artisan working meticulously. But then it would feel like there are missing some elements to fully convey that feeling to me since it creates more of a feeling of mysticism that could stand for a mystical weapon that can be found rather than being created at the moment of this music. (keep in mind this is a very personal and subjective note)