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Hello! Here's a funeral march type piece. Form and harmony are very static and simple, in Fm with an A | A1 | A2 form. Hope you enjoy, and as always, any comments are welcome 🙂

87053bd8f2cb48d184ee054407d37bb8.mp3 Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated. Please note that some of the grace notes are written like they are due to a better playback performance. Any advice on what the genre is? When it was just the first piece it was a Bagatelle, but now I’m not sure

The two staffs is a neat thought, but try out a single staff. There's a few moments where the higher or lower bits are on the staff that isn't higher/lower (Mostly thinking about measure 25 but it happens a few other times that aren't as easily solvable) and it just feels off. It would also solve a lot of issues of notes that are on both staves, which I would have no idea what to do with if I were to have to play it. As for if it's playable, I am no expert. But I can say that a lot of it looks suspiciously like you just threw in the 6 notes you needed and didn't think too much about fingering. Which, to be fair, is also how I would do a sketch. If you can, you really want to find someone who plays guitar and run it by them. Eveen having them just take a quick look is incredibly helpful (I know from experience). I've linked a pdf or two from when I was assigned to write a guitar piece so that you can also hopefully use them. (They are attached and are very helpful as someone who has never touched a guitar) As a piece itself, I like it! I am frankly not a great critic on pitch collection or form, but overall it sounds nice!

I think we are discussing more on the authorship when a composer is REALLY the one who composes the work themselves. As long as the AI doesn't interfere with the composing process it should be allowed, so AI programs like Cantai or Note Performer are no problem at all. Henry

Here's the thing, though: "AI", by itself, is pretty much meaningless. For decades, people have been using "AI" to refer to the programming controlling NPCs in video games, for instance. Sometimes, "AI" is used in a sense that covers any machine learning or neural network application. More recently, "AI" has caught on in the context of Large Language Models like ChatGPT that take a prompt as input and then use some minimization function over their corpus of training data to predict what the most likely response to that prompt would be. The broader class of software including LLMs and similar models that output images, sounds, etc., are called "generative AI". And because "AI" is such a hot topic now, anyone whose software product uses anything resembling a neural network is going to be sure to advertise it as "AI". In my opinion, it would be better to use more precise language and, when we mean LLMs, say "LLMs". But I suppose that ship has sailed. In any event, clearly what is under discussion here is whether music composed by a generative, LLM-like software should be permissible here - and as I've said, I don't think it should be, since this is a composition forum and there's no sense in posting a piece of music you didn't compose. But by the same token, if you composed the music, then of course you should be permitted to post it, regardless of whether you used tools that are advertised as "AI" to produce the audio mock-up of the music you composed.

I’m kind of on the mix opinion here for me AI music seems very dishonest and rather very silly in its own part. It should have no place competing against real human work however, though I am completely foreign, even encouraging the use of some AI music software’s. (stuff like cantai.) that allows for the performance of a human work to be perfected. Thing number one: I definitely feel like that a performance using AI is not as bad again this is not regarding about the performance of music. This is a regarding about people’s compositions. Thing number two: it should be unfair to have AI as a wild thing in competitions. Sure they could be in an events. Events are perfect for AI as that nobody is competing against anybody, however, though I feel like top priority should be given to real people’s human works first AI could wait. Competition competitions and AI do not mix unless if you have a AI only competition My final thing to say though is, I am very mixed about having a AI only sub if we do have one sure I wouldn’t mind as much and it’s not a huge problem but again you’re not composing music at least there should be someplace for AI music here and to have at least a very strong filter that can be unable to get rid of it for those who do not want any part of it things to go against AI is definitely some anti-AI software to tell if someone is using it for ill intent. At least some knowledge of a piece of music can work as proof and even if it’s a short thing, then at most a score to accompany with it. Honestly for contests score in audio should be mandatory unless if stated otherwise. Thank you.

I got my piece to play for today 😁

Hello hello! I've technically known about this forum for a while, but it's time to finally post! I'm hopefully going to start being more active around here to keep myself accountable and continue working on my composition skills To start this out, I wanted to share a piece I've been working on! It's still a WIP, (Basically the only thing in this file that is actively unfinished is the ending and I want to rework the start), but other than that it's a pretty complete piece. I wrote it for a solo-violin assignment in my composition studio, and because I got really mad at a choral concert I went to because they sang a piece called "Shalom" that had nothing to do with the language of origin or culture of origin. Anyway that's a rant for another bit. Here's the little klezmer!

This piece is for a concert later this year. Just started on it tonight, and it's the first time I've written for guitar. So I'm sure it's probably unplayable! N.B. I decided to use two staffs to make it more readable. Think it would look very cluttered on a single staff.

skip to 3:30 if you get bored of the vibraphone intro lol

Until I switched to Dorico from Finale over a year ago, I had never heard of Elaine Gould or her book. I do have a PDF of it and it’s certainly interesting, but as with any manual that purports to provide rules, I’m not going to agree with all of it or even most of it. Notation is a very personal thing, and when you consider the scores notated by folks like Feldman or Shapey and many others, there are many “rules” that get broken all the time, yet the music does manage to get performed, and generally performed very well.

Very nice piece, with the cross relations between E and E flat. And very nice performance by Henry, as usual. Well done to both of you!

Hello, I recently finished a piece, Introduction and Waltz, and am wondering if the score is MOLA ready. I'm submitting to a competition thats due on the 10th (parts are not required til a later date). Thanks a lot and feel free to also listen and give feedback!

LoL I am not familiar with idioms at all and thought you guys are talking about Fifty Shades of Grey! Henry

Updated the mp3 with Henry's performance. If anyone's interested, he didn't listen to the mp3 render first 😄 Henry = 🔥

Since this is a composition form, it is difficult to have to have live performances, I will ask this: What are your thoughts regarding Note Performer? @PeterthePapercomPoser @Aiwendil Here are mine: NP has it owns instruments that are used in playback in notation play back. Thus, this is similar to how VST library operates: each library is. They have they own instruments. It cannot replace DAW and those VST. When it comes to mock-ups, composers usually work with in daw. But they could use NP, too. The studio string orchestra that performed my piece was sent a midi mock up with score and parts. I.e. I am fine with a midi mock-up with score and parts (either from daw or using NP). But I am not fine with something like Suno. That is not mock up! I hope this helps

Right because by that reasoning .. if I were to use a VST plugin with AI assisted vibrato modeling or some such thing, it wouldn't be permissible to post.

(Verse 1) Welcome to the playground, where the rules are all a lie You say you want a show, but you can’t look me in the eye Fists behind your lipstick, whispers in the hall You want me to be quiet, but I’m breaking down the wall (Pre-Chorus) You dress me up in sugar, but I’m made of something rough You want a perfect puppet, but I’m calling out your bluff (Chorus) I don’t wanna play in your fight club, Don’t wanna bruise for your fake love You want a winner you can pick and choose But I’m not here for you to use I don’t wanna bleed in your fight club, Don’t wanna break for your fake hug You want a trophy you can push around But you’ll never knock me down (Verse 2) Broken crown and knuckles, you love a bloody scene Cheering for the chaos while you’re hiding in between You want a pretty fighter, but I bite back twice as hard I’m not your little secret, I’m your battle-scarred (Pre-Chorus) You paint me with your rumors, but I’m coloring outside You want me by your side, but only if I hide (Chorus) I don’t wanna play in your fight club, Don’t wanna bruise for your fake love You want a winner you can pick and choose But I’m not here for you to use I don’t wanna bleed in your fight club, Don’t wanna break for your fake hug You want a trophy you can push around But you’ll never knock me down (Bridge) You want a show, you want a scream But I’m the fire in your dream Not your game, not your pawn I’m the war you can’t move on (Chorus) I don’t wanna play in your fight club, Don’t wanna bruise for your fake love You want a winner you can pick and choose But I’m not here for you to use I don’t wanna bleed in your fight club, Don’t wanna break for your fake hug You want a trophy you can push around But you’ll never knock me down (Outro) So ring the bell, let the punches fly I’ll still be standing, don’t need to try I don’t wanna play in your fight club But I’ll survive your fight club.

😁

This looks quite useful and interesting! I have to admit, I don't pay special emphasis on musical engraving at all because I never consider an essential part of composing at all. Henry

I also must admit that I’ve never read or heard about those two books. However, score engraving is an interesting topic for me and I take a lot of care to produce satisfying scores for my compositions. Therefore, that „debate“ should be something for me, too. The only „literature“ I’ve actually read about the art of music score engraving is the „Lilypond Essay“ which I’ve linked here. Even if I run the risk of @Henry Ng Tsz Kiu is thinking that I am a Lilypond lobbyist or salesman (😆, I must think on the „rodeo“ between Henry and @SeekJohn14v6 ...), I am just a Lilypond user, and I’m glad with this notation software for two reasons. First, the approach of writing „source code“ and „compiling“ it into a score and a MIDI-file is the right one for me, since in my everyday work I'm familiar with writing tons of lines of source code rather than using a WYSIWYG-interface. The other, and possibly more important fact is, that the resulting engravings are much more satisfying and similar to old-fashioned hand engravings than the most of the other notation software solutions are currently able to produce. So I had a small look again at the above cited „Lilypond Essay“ and, interestingly, the two books you mentioned can be found prominently in the „(Short) Literature List“. I looked around, if I could find some PDFs, excerpts etc. on the internet – and indeed I found some, so that I can take a view on that books to be able to participate in the „debate“ soon. Thanks for the suggestion!

Based on ruminations ("the action or process of thinking deeply about something") on "contingent ephmeral art" and the absurdity of the mundane. Liner note (also on last page): Ruminations for String Quartet in G, Jan 2026..mp3 All thoughts welcome! Every little piece of attention feeds my ego-

Hello there Pyry, I appreciate your comment and I like that you are giving your opinion in such a peaceful way, unfortunately the score for this composition as for some others is lost and as it is finished I didn't have a reason to make it again and it is not an easy thing to do actually, I had kind of the same opinion from one friend that I had who plays the piano and composes also, and I will agree with you at some point as I did with him and with myself, I hate my music more than anyone but I also like my music more than anyone and I'm listening to it like a drug addict and I always want more from me so I know exactly what are you talking about and thank you for mentioning it with honesty. Best wishes from Greece, Demertzis

Hi @ComposedBySam! Really like your poem, piece and singing! I like the occasional short imitations between parts like in b.9 or b.17 which strengthen the chasing theme. I really like the "dismantle this church that bows before strife" lyrics when you really dismantle by getting up an octave and ends on a high register, and then a half cadence which is resolve sacarstically to A minor. Wonderful job here. And also the "sacrificed in vain" lyrics when the voice ends in confusion with diminished 7th chords and the voice breaks off! The F minor modulation in b.47 is wonderful when it's matched with "grave" in the poem! A wonderful lied in my opinion. I think you should definitely make more lieder out of your poem, instead of having a strophic setting, because your through composed technique is wonderful and well matched with your lyrics! Thx for sharing! Henry

Daybliss.mid Daybliss.mid

I like the C nat 😛 Lovely music Mikayla, thanks for sharing!

So here is a piece for trombone quartet that i just finished writing. It is a compilation of some moments in the epic poem The Epic of Gilgamesh and it is my submission for a competition. I would like some opinion and, if there is some error, either in notation or in other aspect, i would appreciate the notice very much. Hope you like the piece.

@MJFOBOE Thanks for the thoughtful feedback. I do realize the ending lacked something, but I've racked my brain to come up with something good and couldn't get it to where I really liked it, so I just went with something instead of overthinking it. I am open to changing it if I come up with something better later! Do you mind saying why it feels like Bartok? I'm curious because I'm not familiar with his work.

@Henry Ng Tsz Kiu Thank you! I forgot to write asking if I had this in the correct key because I was unsure of it and confused with all the flats haha

Happy New Year to all! For my first post of 2026, here's my orchestration of Medelssohn's Barcarolle from Songs Without Words. It's more or less done; though I may add more dynamics to match the original piano work, and need to add more slurs. Current dynamics are intended for midi playback: so I will be adjusting those for real life performance. Haven't decided where to mark a2 and solo in the winds: so any tips on that would be really helpful.

A charming "twinkle" of a piece which brought a smile to my face. May only comment is ... I felt the ending had a bit less flair within the context of the composition. I really like the different feels in the work from "jazzy" to "Bartok". Mark

Hi guys! Hope you're all doing well. So, I wrote a poem two months back, and whilst I did, I also made a melody out of it just because lol. So, I thought it had the potential to become an art song, so I composed it. By the way, this song just contains the first stanza of my poem. Do you think I should make more songs for each stanza to do like a song cycle or something? Anyways, I sang this myself because I find vocal soundfonts to be... nauseating. Anyways, I am no singer, so try not to roast me too much for my voice lol. Do tell me how you like it, or if you have any suggestions.

Hello to the whole community.😃 I am a composer of classical vein. Sometimes I’m told that my style is a bit outdated, but no matter, it’s my musical vein. I would be grateful to exchange with composers like me, a little 'out of the present time'. Thank you very much. 😀

Last year, I came across Sara Teasdale's poetry and a lot of what she wrote about on love, beauty, fear, even death resonated with me. What really peaked my interest was her poetry book of love songs where she expresses her ideas and beliefs about what it means to be loved and to love. "Child, Child" is a heartfelt ballad set in the key of D-major with many legato phrases. The opening theme is the driving point that follows the piece through the beginning, middle and end and changes meaning through each repetition. I use it to tell this story of romance sweeping us off our feet in ways that feel enchanting, and breaking us down when we least expect it. Yet, through it, we still find the courage to love and start anew time and time again. Love--be it heaven or hell--is to hold dear and to cherish. After a pretty rough time last year emotionally, Teasdale's poetry gave words to my feelings and inspired me to write. I hope this piece resonates with you as well. Please enjoy <3. Also Happy New Year!!! Text: Child, child, love while you can The voice and the eyes and the soul of a man; Never fear though it break your heart -- Out of the wound new joy will start; Only love proudly and gladly and well, Though love be heaven or love be hell. Child, child, love while you may, For life is short as a happy day; Never fear the thing you feel -- Only by love is life made real; Love, for the deadly sins are seven, Only through love will you enter heaven.

This piece is called "Fortitude" for the fact I've developed an amount of it through my years on this planet (or should I call it an 'insane asylum' flying through space). I've been away from YC for a long time - several life changes, medical, and financial issues. The '173' refers to the version of it. It's not really meant to be in the title. I continue to use a large palette of sounds. I use several Virtual Instruments, plus some sounds from sample libraries, and even more exciting 'physical modeling'. The footprint for these sounds is minuscule. Using a Mac Studio 2024 and Logic Pro 11.2.2.

Hi! This is the third movement of a song cycle that I wrote from January to April of last year (2025). Each of the five movements is a setting of a different poem by Sara Teasdale, and together create a suite of nocturnes. This is my personal favorite of the set, if there is some interest I may upload some of the others, as there are strong connections between each of the movements. This song is in a three part form, where the second and third parts develop material initially heard in the first. In this piece, the primary material being developed is the piano ostinato heard right at the beginning. Please let me know what you think!

Haha this would really suit for an April's Fool entry lol.

Hi @Mikayla, I feel like the key of this piece is rather in G flat major so you should mark the score with a six flat key signature and turn all the B naturals to C flats! For b.31 I'm not sure whether you would want a C flat for the C natural. The accompaniment there can definitely add more varieties. Thx for sharing. Henry

Hi @Alex Weidmann! When as a kid (and now as an old man) I always love this Mendelssohn piece! I like your combination of vibraphone and harp, and later also the glockenspiel (maybe I love a xylophone more) combination for the accompaniment. Flute is definitely a great choice for the main solo instrument throughout! Maybe for me, I will definitely have the melody played by the violins and/or the cellos for another timbre. But still, a lovely arrangement! Henry

Never use or heard of these 2 books so no debate lol!

It’s fine that trombones read in treble clef, but for the most part have them read tenor clef. This is because of tradition and what they are more used to reading triple cliff should really be necessary if you’re going to a very high range.

MOLA guidelines, for some reason, say do not list the timpani part. I do not understand the reasoning behind this.

Hi again @Gabriel Carlisle! Good to see you again! Regarding your score, I have some nit-picks: In the very beginning, French Horns do not read in Tenor Clef (also, are you British? Asking because your score is in concert pitch, and if you had the Horns in F it would alleviate some of the problems that are causing you to use Tenor and Treble Ottava Bassa clef which Horn players don't usually read) In meas. 69 - 70 the F#'s should be Gb's, and same in meas. 77 - 78 F#'s. As far as the music is concerned - brilliant piece! Very affecting modal mixture appropriate for Romantic era music. The melodies are lovely and dance-like as well. Very fitting of a composer hoping to get his foot in the door in ballet music! Many parts are quite jubilant and celebratory - great victorious moods full of tension and release. The ending was a bit drawn out for my taste, but I am biased towards succinct endings that get to the point quickly which is perhaps not a norm common to Romantic era music. Thanks for sharing and good luck in your endeavors!

@Aiwendil Exactly. Those who favor AI do not want it monitor and regulated. But there was incident in holiday contest where someone used suno. Imagine Suno was used in real life. Then what?

“I’m beginning to write a small oratorio, Everywhere there’s notes! Take a look at the fifths and tenths, some intervals are immense, At half past three my laptop screen’s aglow!”

Thank you very much !!! Happy new year with plenty of health https://www.youtube.com/@patrickarmand4058

In the light of Suno usage on this forum, I found this video: Suno warning

R# Major

I meant no harm at all and to be honest I never really thought about it. I added an "NA" field to those of you who don't wish to leave a gender.

Says the guy who lists Holst as one of his favourite composers. Anyway.... You're missing a few others: Wagner Schoenberg J.S. Bach Balakirev, Cui, Rimsky-Korsakov, Borodin, and Mussorgsky (the last three certainly can lay claim to being geniuses of some sort) Elgar Telemann Martinu Raff Sorabji probably a few more Now it's probably more accurate to say that any of the people mentioned were largely self-taught, because at some point most had some kind of instruction. I seem to remember you being fond of Yanni. He's also self-taught. (Mind you, he is not what I think of when I think of the word "composer.")