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Uno de estos días... One of these days. A simple piano piece, with its twists .... That's the one of my dogs (calle Happy) is.

Here's one I like to imagine that Gilbert O'Sullivan might have tossed in his trash bin. It's an O'Sullivan type of choppy piano style. I love that uniquely original piano style/technique of his! The flute-y thing as usual with me is the lead melody for in case I ever add a vocal. People might not think it sounds sad but to me it is. I actually hopped to my upright piano right after watching the Disney/Pixar movie "Inside Out" and the chords and melody were almost there just waiting for me. It's not often that tunes come to me so effortlessly but this one did. Great movie BTW! I related to the blue "Sadness" character. It's a story with a universal message that sadness serves a purpose. It was done in the Sonar 8.5 piano roll. Enjoy! -Rick

Hi everyone 🙂 A month ago or something like that I posted a draft of my first string quartet. It is now finished (at least the first movement). I'd like to know your thought about it: style? themes? harmony?

Hello BipolarComposer, a very beautiful piece with a very meditative mood. I like to play computer games and feel very much reminded of the ambience of Skyrim (music by Jeremy Soule). I have listened to it 5 times. I love this kind of music. Great work! Greetings Nico

Hi @BipolarComposer, I love the dorian mode in it and the celesta and harp do create a dreamy atmosphere, while the winds are luring oneself to sleep! The timbre is great at depicting the sleep mood! The disappearence of the instruments and the calando at end are great as wellThanks for sharing! Henry

Nice piece. Enjoyed listening!

Hello @Schorninator, Welcome to the forum! What a great first post this is! I enjoy it very much! The harmonic language throughout is very refreshing. You make use of the pentatonic and modal harmony very well as they create a wide horizon for the movement! Your orchestration is very mature for me as well! The overall sound is very beautiful for me especially you add so many details in it! For me this movement is like a compilation of many beautiful scenes and pictures. They are very beautiful in themselves but they sometimes lack connections and coherence. The overall drama of the piece is thus weakened. It's quite hard for me to follow the structure of the movement actually. Would you explain or disclose the structure of the movement to us? Your engraving and details are great! The score is very clear with its dynamic markings and phrasing. Beware of the a2, tutti and divisi markings though when they are needed! Looks like you do have a lot of practice! It will be great to have composition lessons but it's not a must, since it will depend on how you interact well with the instructor and everyone has their own distinctive learning process and method. Listening to the Masters' works and reading music books by yourself can be as good as having someone instructing you! Plus there are so many videos right now. You can check this post on the great Youtube channels on music: https://www.youngcomposers.com/t43959/youtube-channels Please feel free to lurk around the forum and listen to other talented members' posts too! I'm sure you will learn much by this! Thanks for sharing your great work here Nico! Henry

Have you ever heard of the term "sonata form"?

It's not as much of a big deal - that is, if you already know what to do with theme development, harmony and counterpoint, voice leading and orchestration. Tip: listen to a lot of symphonies before thinking about writing one, just as you wouldn't attempt to write a novel before reading a lot of them. And I mean a lot. Beethoven and Mahler are obvious choices, but go well beyond them. Haydn, Mozart, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Shostakovich, Lutoslawski... pick symphonies from different eras and different musical trends. And draw your own conclusions ;) .

Probably true. But I'm just curious.

Agreed. Start with "The Study of Orchestration" by Samuel Adler. If you can't afford it or steal it, check the numerous FREE nooks and crannies on the internet dealing with melody, harmony, rhythm, and, oh yes, orchestration. Write lots of pieces with a solo instrument. Then with two. Then three, etc. Work your way up to the orchestra. If you don't do it this way, by all means write for the orchestra and experiment. See what works and what doesn't work to your ears. Once you create some glorious monumental Mahlerian work, feel free to post it here. Members here can tell you all the things that aren't working, which no offense, will be most of it. You'll get the same advice of my comment and most everyone else's above mine, and you'll have wasted time. Just sayin'. I feel like a topic like this crops up every 2 weeks or so. :/

if you have to ask, you're not ready to write one