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[INFO DUMP pt.2] Unfortunately this scenario is only hypothetical and will stay hypothetical. To be as blunt as possible, there is flaw in the logic. So far, no one I have seen on the forums or any of your uploads have critiqued the raw music. It has been often aimed on the presentation of the music and in this case, about the sheet music. Having music performed is a competitive goal. 100s-1000s of people submit works every year for performance opportunities, both in the educational and professional scene. Speaking from my own experience, all the opportunities I have applied for have asked for a Resume and portfolio. Even if you have "the best work" from an subjective standpoint, they will go with the more experienced person in the professional scene and in the educational realm, they are more likely to give more chances to newer composers. I have made over 20 original pieces that I personally say are perfect and several arrangements. Most of my pieces are for the orchestra, and in my notation engine... I have over 100 files worth of scores. Out of all my music, I've been given the chance to have only four of my pieces performed, three of which were by me. I cannot understate how hard it is to get music performed for large ensembles. Yes, I know a lot and can guide a lot of musicians, but I am just another dude who does not have a big portfolio. I have to start small and work my way up. If a producer asks if you have a portfolio, this indirectly will show if you have had music performed, NOT just if it was made. I can draw a stickman but I do not call myself Monet or Dali. Just because you made a song or two is great, yet, how much experience do you have hearing your music live? If you haven't... then how often are you participating in the music community? Have you worked with other conductors, professors, soloists and varying ensembles? To tie back into the forum, we only want to see others succeed. This is why I share such detailed analysis of varying scores. It may be the one encounter that opens a new door in their thinking, or help provide an expectation of scores in the community. This is why I comment now. None of it is personal, at least coming from me. If you wish to talk about score engraving, then I'd be willing. It's a different ballgame compared to the music creation.

I'm impressed both by your light touch playing this, and the lack of scratching out on your handwritten copy. If I wrote that way, it would be all chaotic scribbled out former ideas. The interplay between your first and second sections works very well! A very satisfying piece to listen to!

Hello! It is time. As you asked, I have delivered. Attached on this comment are my annotations on the arrangement thus far. Directly under, I have attached a sample PDF and sample Audio file to pair with my notes. The notes are found at the end of the current score and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask! Kvothe - Reger Humoresque (ANNOTATED).pdf Attached Files: Kvothe_Example.pdf Kvothe_ExampleAudio.mp3

Hi all, it's been a really long time, I decided I wanted to come back and check out what's going on! I also wanted to share two successes of mine in the past several months: Slipping, which was written in early-2025, written for Symphonic Orchestra, was performed by the California Youth Symphony in November 2025. I have attached the score and two recordings of it, one MIDI and one of the performance. The Dunning-Kruger Effect, written in mid-2025, written for String Orchestra, was performed by my school orchestra, which I conducted. I have attached the score and here's the video: https://youtu.be/CQBDUVbKEpQ?si=psCVro_MLM3NfmEV . Looking forward to seeing what's going on in this forum after so long! Slipping.mp3 Slipping FINAL MIDI.mp3 Slipping-score.pdf the dunning-kruger effect score.pdf

Hello Have you heard of this virtual instrument called CANTAI? Please note: I have no affiliation with these programmes, even though I use them. https://cantai.app/ It’s a virtual instrument for voices and choirs. It works with MuseScore (which is more advanced), Dorico (the official version was released a couple of days ago) and Sibelius. The novelty is that you write the score, add the parts (soprano, alto, tenor, bass, choir) and write the lyrics... And once everything is set up, the result is that it ‘sings’. I use it with Dorico. It still needs improving, because although it interprets dynamics and accents, and there are many voices available, there will be more. At the moment, in Dorico you can write in English and Latin. But Chinese and Spanish are already available in MuseScore (I think). I’ve written this little sample song to see how it works.

Thanks for listening luderart, glad you enjoyed it :) Hey Kvothe, thanks for listening! Regarding your point #1, yeah you're correct, it was more for playback. @Henry Ng Tsz Kiu was kind enough to record it, I could just write con pedale or something now 🙂

Dear all. I am glad to share with you the final movement of my Symphony No.1! This is the official conclusion of my whole set of Symphony No.1! I can't believe it is done after few years. Hope you all enjoy it! About the work As usual, the highly motivic and related to other movements. The third three notes "dat-dat dat!" serves the main motive (and new material) of this movement. As an answer, the motive from First movement (blue) is immediately recalled with little modiciation in rhythm. The second mvt. motive (green) also enter the party very soon. The work reaches the climax at m.244 from the build up of m.193 which goes into a very big bright chord. The last part of the work starts are m.274 and ended with a crash of different motives.

Thank you for your kind comments! You are not the first one who recall Bartok while listening my works - I guess it is because of the crude dissonance. I mainly write on computer as it gives me immediate playback which makes my writing more convenient. It is important the method of writing follows the speed my idea comes! haha. It also make the engraving easier. Here is the full set of my Symphony No.1: Symphony No.1 - First Movement - Orchestral and Large Ensemble - Young Composers Music Forum Symphony No.1 - Second Movement - Orchestral and Large Ensemble - Young Composers Music Forum Symphony No.1 - Finale - Orchestral and Large Ensemble - Young Composers Music Forum

Hello my dear friend, First of all, thank you for taking the time to listen to my sonata, and I’m truly happy that you enjoyed it. I thought it might be nice to share with you how I conceive these sonatas in my mind. The truth is that I have blended many different elements into binary form with the intention of creating something personal—my own voice through binary form. Structurally, it is indeed binary, as expected. What I do differently is to approach it with a more Classical sense of transitions and dramatic development. So in essence, my sonatas are fundamentally binary, but with a Classical morphology, featuring clear transitions and the sense of dramaturgy found in the Classical era. Harmonically, I would say it is a mixture of many influences—primarily Classical, with touches of early Romanticism. I absolutely love binary form. Domenico Scarlatti has been an incredible inspiration to me, and I decided that I, too, wanted to create a vast musical diary of binary sonatas—works that truly feel like my own personal musical journal. At the same time, this form encourages me to be bolder, more innovative, and more adventurous compared with other genres. Once again, thank you, my dear friend.

Hello @Vasilis Michael It is refreshing to see a binary sonata form. Binary was primarily used by baroque period composers before the proper form took off. In the A section, you would have your primary theme in tonic. Followed by contrasting B section in the Dominant. What makes binary stand out: the lack of transition between the two sections. Or maybe there is one(?) We can tell there are two major sections. One that repeats and one that follows after repeat of first section. Ergo. binary! I love how the main motive is used thorough out the entire piece. It moves so flawlessly. As usually, your writing is on par! I could not hear anything wrong. :)

Hello YC gang, Below I have attached the first ten measures of arrangement of Meger second Humorquse. The cast is woods in pairs and two horns. Here is what needs to you check for me: Score this as if this this was entry for YC contest. My goals; I want to successfully score for orchestra->check balance, texture, and timbre. Check for engraving errors I have missed. check for instrumation errors Harmony errors etc Reger Humor no. 2 untitled.mp3 Meger.pdf

Not normally, no. They are standard in our industry. The only time it would be broken is when you have a larger ensemble or other instrument combinations that are not standard. In this case, it’s not about orchestral order, it’s about highest-> lowest instrument for the layout.

Hi to all, Here's my first attempt to orchestrate this nocturne. I actually started this last year, and never really finished it properly. I know there's a load of things wrong with it! Not least all the missing slurs and clumsy handovers, etc... The cadenza-like figure on Pages 8 and 9 is particularly awkward to orchestrate: so any suggestions would be very welcome! Maybe I should divide up the runs into shorter figures, and spread them out across different instruments? Perhaps dovetailing these together with overlapping notes, or single handover notes? That way the cadenza could work its way around the orchestra to give a nice 3D effect? Anyway, just thinking outloud! Hope you enjoy. Nocturne No.1 in Eb minor (Faure orchestration) #41.mp3 Nocturne No.1 in Eb minor (Faure orchestration) #41.pdf

I don’t know why it’s called ‘Cantai’. But I don’t think it has anything to do with artificial intelligence; rather, it means ‘to sing’ or one of its verb forms in various Latin-based languages. What’s more, it uses recordings of real professional singers (soloists and choirs). I’m familiar with that software you mention. And I used to have it, but depending on what you want to do or what your needs are, it’s better or worse for different people. What I like about Cantai is that you write the notes and the text in the same editing programme (MuseScore, Sibelius, Dorico). And that’s it. It uses expression maps for dynamics and so on. You don’t have to work outside the editing programme (in a DAW, or in XML, etc.). Which is fine, if that’s what you want to do

I'm really enjoying this movement and shall have to check out the rest! One thing your orchestral style reminds me of is the style of parts of Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra, where folksy tunes and whimsical syncopation disguise rather dissonant harmony! Just wondering; do you write directly into the computer, or on paper? Honestly, I can't tell, which is a good thing...I will write directly into the computer for a piano piece, but wouldn't do so for a symphony, if I ever wanted to write another. Heck, it kinda reminds me of the Shostakovich First, teenage masterpiece, in its playful quirkiness. I'll be looking into more of your stuff.

I want to join the competition, but I'm not sure if I'll make it.

I declare my intent to join into this competition

To fix this, I'd suggest setting your page margins and score size to fit Letter sized pages, only. As when you export PDF, it will try to fit the score on a standard printer sized page. You can also attempt to shrink the size of the score by going to Format > Page Settings... > Staff Space: (Lower this value to decrease the size of the staff, which will allow for more room on the page to fit it while shrinking the overall size, or, increase it to enlarge the staff, allowing for less to fit on the page.)

Hi Bioplar, The choice of instrument for this composition, certainty, was correct. Harp, Bassoon, and Oboe do create the tonal colors for a pastoral piece. You could have choose any wood wind instrument, for they soft, warm colors. When I hear the harp, I envision mermaid playing on rock. (that is just me) The woods, I think, create dreamy aura in this piece. I enjoy interplay oboe and bassoon with the harp. Overall...nice job

Those are very different things. If I buy a hydraulic press and use it to flatten a stainless steel pipe, obviously I'm morally responsible for flattening the pipe. If that pipe belonged to someone else, I can hardly evade responsibility by saying, "Hey, it wasn't me! It was the hydraulic press!" On the other hand, it's equally obvious that I can't lay claim to flattening the pipe as a feat of strength. If I cry, "Behold my strength!" as I hold the flattened piece of steel aloft, I am quite rightly met with, "Uh... you didn't do that. The hydraulic press did."

My dear friend, thank you very much for your kind words. I composed this sonata in just a few hours over the course of two days. It was a moment of inspiration, and everything came very naturally. I’m truly very happy that you enjoyed it.

Hi, today I come with a waltz haha. In this piece I wanted that 1-2-3 “waltz” sound in my own style. I composed this in a short period of time so I couldn't develop a variation of theme A. However, I like how it sounds. Someone who listens to the piece said it has a “distorted Beethoven sound” that is interesting haha; what do you think? I hope you enjoy c: Vals No.1.mp3 Vals No1.pdf

This is such nice music! Thanks for sharing 💜 This is such nice music! Thanks for sharing 💜

"Archeangel," is a Fractal Fugue developed from my website: www.atonalfugue.net The matrix is: [0,2,9,3,7,11,4,8,10,1,5,6] It's based on, Webern's Symphony, which has no transformations according to my theory of matrix modulation. It moves at 30 BPM, and follows Mason's rules of composition, albeit serialism, at that tempo. Attached is a complete analysis of the numbers. You can tell, according to the galactic harmonics, how much thought was put into that matrix. I Joke. However, looking at the analysis, there are some interesting inferences: 64. GALACTIC FREQUENCY ANALYSIS ▸ COSMIC ACOUSTIC SIGNATURES Milky Way Frequency Drift....... 0.9305 Andromeda Collision Sonic Reflection 0.5836 Dark Matter Interaction Tone.... 0.2100 Supernova Remnant Frequency Mapping 0.3495 Pulsar Waveform Analysis........ 0.9389 Black Hole Sonata............... 1.0000 Neutron Star Collision Harmonics 0.2377 Galactic Echo Sonification...... 0.6505 This is what I'm jamming on now. It's said that we are composing the very thing that the universe's materials encompass. It's only fair to analyze it as such, too. I mean, we don't have to agree - there is room for independence in what I have to offer in the website. So, what do the numbers mean? Numbers, are often static. When paired with music, the numbers become realized through motion. In this case, as each number permeates through a representation of music, the numbers become more viable. That's expensive to convey, and data intensive; I guess it just means that the numbers are a symphonic glade of information that is easier to ingest than learning about it. I hope it sounds good, in any case. Based on the acoustic signatures, I can conclude that there is a weak correlation to Dark Matter, but there is a strong correlation to Pulsar Waveform Analysis. I do like the idea of Galactic Echo Sonification, in my music too. I hope you have fun with the website, empowering your music, too. Archeangel.mp3 Archeangel.mid WebernSymphony_Analysis_AtonalFugue.pdf

"Ambience," is a saxophone feature. The score is attached if you want to attempt the song. Ambience.mp3 Ambience_AltoSaxophone_Harper.pdf

Yeah, but look at it like this. I copyright the music before entering it into AI. The AI creates a variation based on my music, therefore it is still mine. IDK, I try to make the AI music as identical to what I compose, too.

Hi Tristan, This sounds very nice! I would suggest finding a different composition software to use, however. The spacing of the notes on the page is a bit all over the place, which makes this challenging to sight read. Musescore is a good free option that sorts that out for you automatically. I haven't used Vocaroo, but I understand it has some AI features for editing recordings?

The woodwind section of the symphony orchestra can be categorized into three primary timbral color groups: Cold, Warm, and Hot. This classification helps composers understand how different woodwind instruments function within orchestral texture, balance, and emotional character. By organizing instruments according to their inherent timbral qualities, composers can make more intentional decisions when writing melodies, harmonies, and layered textures. Additionally, this categorization provides practical guidance on instrumental mixing, allowing composers to predict how different woodwinds will blend, contrast, or dominate within an orchestral context—and what kind of sonic result will ultimately be achieved. 1. Cold Timbres: Piccolo, Flute, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet 2. Hot Timbres: Oboe, English Horn 3. Warm Timbres Bassoon, Contrabassoon NB: Due to the dominance of higher and less perceptible harmonics in the extreme upper registers, the timbre of woodwind instruments becomes less distinct. In these ranges, different instruments may sound surprisingly similar in tone color. For example, when the flute and oboe play the same pitch—such as F6—it becomes difficult to clearly identify whether the sound is cold or hot, or even to distinguish which instrument is playing. For this reason, the following graphics and timbral classifications are based on the most effective, practical, and musically “sweet” registers of each instrument, where their characteristic tone color is most clearly perceived and reliably distinguishable in orchestral writing More Information and Free Orchestration Resources: Free Download

Hi long time for no posting! I decided to post an old work of mine.This Nocturne in C-sharp minor is a juvenile work of me as a 16 year old. I didn't think much at the time of composing, but I did write in the style of Chopin Nocturne then. And then a sudden thought caused me to have a 1st try in fugue in 2:35! I revised the work recently to improve on some voice leadings and transitions except passages after the fugato, but retained as much the original intention as I can as a 16 year old then. The work, even though as immature as it is, does reflect some of my feelings then. Here is the Youtube video and the score of the piece: (Final Draft) Nocturne in C sharp minor.pdf This work can be regarded as in a rondo structure: 0:00 1st part(A), typical Chopin Nocturne texture. Don't know why I modulated the music to F major but the music did so himself... 0:58 2nd part(B) Main melody in F major, but with a new b motive in b.31-32 1:35 3rd part (A') The main melody in the original key can't wait to enter... Gets more agitated and cools down. 2:35 4th part (B'). A fugato using motive b as subject and main melody as episode, modulates once more to F major 3:57 Last part and coda (A''): The A section returns with some registeral change, then gets more agitated. 4:29 is the climax of the piece which is my favourite too, I like the agitation in it. 4:47 starts the coda and finally the mood cools down and ends in tonic major. I played the recording myself. I do make one major slip in 3:22 but the recording is otherwise good enough for me. Feel free to leave comment below! Henry

Hi @Henry Ng Tsz Kiu! Below you will find in depth review of this haunting piece! First, let me say what your piece reminds of. It reminds me of Chopin's Nocturnes and Rachmaninov musical moments and preludes. Both, in their on right, wrote lush, emotional themes over triplet 8th pattern. In fact, Rachmaninov used that pattern in his 5th prelude. Nonetheless, we can still bass patterns in our own works! I love how you establish the harmony using that pattern over theme. The pattern slowly changes as the theme moves. The chromaticism creates sense of mystery and wonder, by the way. The transition into the B section is exactly what we need to hear: a break down of the thematic material before a new section! (why does this remind of Franz Listz) After we hear the B section, we return to A, briefly, to remind us of the haunting theme we heard at the start. Then it finishes all together. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this.

I would be tempted to just add a caesura marking between the repeated section and the continuing bars of #5... Since this is a work for solo instrument that doesn't need coordination between players, there is no reason you can't trust the musicality of the soloist to add an appropriate amount of rest. It's always nice to see something written for solo instrument, as so many of them are a bit neglected by composers. Very enjoyable and I think a live performance would bring out the phrasing nicely.

Exceptionally Professional.....Well Done. That Dunning-Kruger Effect, is SOOO True

@Alex Weidmann No worries. Yeah, that makes sense. :) Some programs are annoying to work with score set up. Trust me, I know. (haha...finale). But..hey..I enjoyed it!

Dear friends, Please find attached my second attempt to write for theorbo. I wasn't very happy with my first effort; but I think this one has more promise. Not quite sure about my ending though. Does it fit? Any suggestions for titles would be helpful too, because I can't quite think of one at the moment. Theorbo piece #41 (midi).mp3 Theorbo piece #41 (midi).pdf

Hello I have to say that, overall, it sounds very good. Without being a super-expert in orchestration, I think I’d take a closer look at a few things. For example, there are some very large leaps that could be handled differently, such as the bass clarinet and oboes in bars 9–10, or the tuba in bars 107–109. There are other examples too. I’m not familiar with the original version, but perhaps it’s a bit too literal. There are very low registers for some instruments, such as that piccolo arpeggio in bar 87. And with an impossible pppppp dynamic, which is also incongruous: as it ascends, it doesn’t make sense for the volume to decrease.

Yes, I do understand. I think it depends a lot on what your goals are, how you work, and why. For someone who arranges or produces music, who works with a DAW, a ‘wordbuilder’-type concept will be best because the result is surely more realistic (at least for now, given that Cantai has only been on the market for less than a week, according to Dorico). It also allows you to work with lots of different software. But that’s not my role when it comes to music. What I like is writing music and getting it to sound, more or less, acceptable. I do it purely as a hobby; it’s not my profession. And although I’ve used Finale and MuseScore, I’m much more familiar with Dorico. That’s why this integration is brilliant for me.

You Don't have to live in the past...................Your Free to Embrace the Future. Since joining this site in late February this year, we've had over 1.000 emails requesting Quotes for compositions from Vimeo.com , via Youngcomposers.com Does anybody know if this site is hosted in the U.S.A ?

Hello @Alex Weidmann. This is beautiful orchestration of Faure's Prelude. I love the tonal colors and textures you have created. However, I have a few minor suggestions. I would recommend have full score on page 1in score order. Then following pages, you can condense it. woods and brass usually share staves. That way, you can write a2 or which wood part or which brass part. The Pitch percussion is barely noticeable. Same goes for the harp. 3 and 4 have to do with orchestral balance issues.

𝕰.𝕬.𝕾. | 𝕰𝖑𝖊𝖈𝖙𝖗𝖔𝖓𝖎𝖈 𝕬𝖒𝖇𝖎𝖊𝖓𝖙 𝕾𝖕𝖆𝖈𝖊 𝟏+𝟐 French Ambient Electro.mp3 ELECTRONIC AMBIENT SPACE.mp3

Just looking for general feedback on a less adventurous work before I dive into a more involved work. I feel like advice on the use of harmony and motifs would improve most of my work, and I could develop those skills by learning to improve some of my existing work. Waltz in Eb.mp3

It's been quite a while since I posted anything on here, but then again I haven't written much other than many failed attempts at writing songs. Recently I decided to just shed the lyrics and concentrate on the music, so here goes...

I've added the score.

Thank you for your thoughtful and complimentary review. Just to clarify, the intended harmonic structure (of the A section or main theme) is mostly a quick journey through the cycle of 5ths (loosely speaking): Em7 - A7 - Dm7 - G7 - Cm - Em7/B - Ab13 - A7 - Dm7 - G7 - C with a few random or nearly random dissonances thrown in. To me it clearly ends on the tonic (ignoring the random dissonances thrown in for laughs) though it's true it starts on 3m. Thanks again.

Hi @barko! A quite unique little waltz that seems like it does nothing cliche. I've listened to it a few times now and it's very individual and interesting! It definitely has a specific tonality, but since it either doesn't start or end on the tonic chord it's hard to determine just from listening what it might be (which I think is a good thing and generates much harmonic and melodic interest!) I also love the unusual combination of instruments that gives this quite a wacky flavor. Tuba +Organ + Saxophone + Pitched Percussion works really well. Thanks for sharing! Peter

Over the past half a year or so, I have been working constantly on these pieces, it taking the highest priority out of all the projects I had been working on. Throughout these pieces, I explored and pushed the boundaries of my own style, experimenting with conventional and unconventional harmony, and attempting to embody some of the composers I most idolize. This is the first time I've ever undertaken a multi-movement project and truly experienced what it's like, and it has been such a satisfying and rewarding 6 months. I've written, rewritten, and rewritten again many of these pieces, but it's all worth it. Presenting, Obscurity.

Have listened to the whole suite now. I found the 2nd movement both playful and disturbing, the 3rd was dramatic and scary, and I especially liked the soft woodwind passage near the end. The 4th had some very interesting harmonic progressions and use of dissonance, and the 5th brought the suite to a frenetic and virtuosic conclusion! A very enjoyable work overall. Hopefully you'll get some reviews from those here who are better at analysing harmony and structure.

thank you, do tell me what you think of the other movements if you get a chance to take a look at them!

thank you very much! the formatting of the parts did worry me initially, but i think that's an easy fix, since it's just changing the dimensions of the page.

Incredible work. Bravo. This suite displays a mastery of harmony, orchestration, motivic development, and form. I’m very impressed by musesounds here aswell. I initially thought it was a live performance. The textures and orchestral writing are surprisingly full sounding despite the lack of brass, especially in the first movement with only light winds, strings, and a triangle. I do have one immediately noticeable problem in regards with the score, namely in the final movement, there are so few measure per page and the music is so fast, the conductor would have a heck of a time trying to make those page turns. Other than that, it is in my eyes a flawless creation, atleast upon first inspection. Maybe after a few more listens I could have more beneficial feedback.

Your first movement has a very profound sense of melancholy, combined with a mystical quality. This seems like an unusual combination; though not necessarily a bad one. Perhaps your work is living up to its title, and the meaning is obscure! I definitely feel compelled to hear the other movements: so will write more once I've gone through them.