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One of the music composition groups I am in just started another composition competition a couple days ago. It's one where I am given 3 options for what to express in my music and I have to specify which one I chose when I am finished. Those 3 options are: Futuristic, Cyberpunk, High-tech Ruined, Lifeless, Wasteland Balanced, Lively, Cozy Because I love dramatic music, I decided to go for the second option. And because of the keywords I was given, I decided that a String Quartet is probably better than an Orchestra. Usually I would go for the Orchestra because it's easier for me, but since Option 2 is all about death, I figured a more intimate ensemble like a Quartet was more appropriate. And what I have composed so far for String Quartet reminds me quite a bit of my attempt at composing a Requiem almost exactly 2 years ago. The 3/2 time signature, slow tempo, F minor key, building up from the bass, even the fact that my Requiem attempt was in 4 parts are all similarities. Of course, the melodies themselves and the instrumentation are different, but still, these similarities plus the fact that I will probably end up going from this gentle melancholy to a recalling of life(Major key for more than just a few chords) and definitely have areas of harshness and pain(Dissonance, lots of it) is making me think of possibly calling this piece a Requiem for String Quartet. There's just 1 problem, the complete lack of vocals. You can't have a Requiem without vocals singing the Latin text of a Requiem mass as far as I know. On the other hand, Elegies often are completely instrumental pieces, lamenting over death. That certainly fits with the first bars of my piece, as I even go so far as to use an extended Lament Bass Progression(going down to scale degrees 3 and 4 in the bass instead of stopping the descent at scale degree 5). But does it really fit with the entire arc of the piece? The Elegies I've heard have been more reserved and less dramatic, whereas a Requiem tends to be more dramatic like my piece is going to turn out being. So what should I call my piece? Should I call it an Elegy because it lacks any vocals, even though that might lead people into thinking it's a more reserved and lamenting piece than it is? Or should I call it a Requiem because of the emotional arc and drama, even though a Requiem is more or less defined by having voices sing the text of a Requiem mass? I'm asking this while listening to Mozart's Requiem. Here's what I have composed so far of the piece, the lamenting start to a more dramatic piece: F minor Piece for String Quartet.mp3