Valentine's Day Event - 2024

I love you! 我愛你! Te Amo! These are the phrases for "I love you" in different languages. But what will be your musical language of expressing your love to your darlings and loved ones?

Young Composers will start hosting more events. Therefore, we are going to kickoff 2024 with our first event, for Valentine's Day!

The rules for our events will be quite relaxed, and non competitive in nature. Well, to a degree they will be competitive. You will get a chance to be included in a YouTube video (if you opt in). I usually put a theme to my videos, and the theme will be this: What characteristics make for a romantic composition?

What do you want to tell to your love ones? A romantic love letter? An apostle of love? There will be no time limit for this event, as love knows no bounds! Want to have your pieces featured with your love message delivered? Join us and post your pieces under this thread on or before Feb. 1, 2024! Only 1 entry will be accepted for each member, and you can also post your pieces separately in the forum!

Be sure you have joined my YouTube channel in order to participate! Here are some other specialized videos from this community that you may enjoy watching.

• What makes a good music composition? An analysis of Henry's Sonata (30 hours watched)
• What REALLY makes good melody? 5 composers from YC help demonstrate this! (38 hours watched)
• Create a story with music: 21 Composers show us how! This was our big competition, and thus, a big video. (26 hours watched)

These videos give you an idea of my style, and how we are starting to integrate this community with the video format. But this format can only work if you all participate.

Our 2024 Valentine's Day event video

 What makes music romantic?

I'd love to join in but unfortunately I have to create a google account to do anything on Youtube. But I can't agree to its terms and conditions. I'll have to send my music to my beloved with an email! 

Actually, I'll wire up a circuit so it plays when she arises on awakening on St Valentine's morn. 

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lol! You don't have to be a YouTube subscriber btw if that isn't your thing. I can still feature you in a video (if you want), and you can still join without wanting to be featured!

I'll join 

But, what if we had the deadline a bit earlier? That way you could post the video for your YT on Valentine's?

Either way, sounds fun

You make a good point Vince. Let's make the deadline February 1st so that I have time to get the video out for Valentine's Day.

Can I submit a romantically sad piece?

@Jqh73o Yes, different moods are welcomed.

I find this topic fascinating.
For me, the paradigm is romanticism. It is true that previously there was a lot of "love" music, but in baroque and classicism the mechanisms were different, although many would evolve to romanticism.

For example, I think it expresses that idea:

That there is a stable accompaniment pattern (arpeggios).
That the melody is clear, at least in a first exposure. And that the intervals with respect to the left hand are consonant.
Ascending melody (longing) and descending melody (relaxation).
Polyrhythmic contrast, usually 2 against 3 or 4 against 3, see measure 6.
Syncopasions in melody (measures 10, 11...) over the constant rhythm.
Some plagal cadences, even using IV minor (measures 14 to 16).
Subtle harmonic changes, e.g. beginning of the exposition with Gm instead of Bb in measure 17.
Counter melodies in "echo", measures 17, 18...
Union of voices and dissociation, measure 19.
Modulations to unrelated keys as in measure 25 to G#m.
Progressive complication as in these measures 25 onwards.
Subtle harmonic changes, use of diminished and semi-diminished, progressions by thirds (see final).
Final resolution towards the calm.

A different matter is what someone (me in this case) wants to express. Anyway, without going too deeply into intimacy..., there are an infinite number of possibilities to express in "love". But I can say that, these days I am invaded by a set of feelings not only towards someone, but what this is provoking in me in general. For example, having been accustomed to a chosen life of solitude that now I "almost" can't stand. 
It is complicated to express anything in music and I think that what you can do is to leave in the notes certain emotions or diffuse or general sensations.

Anyway, I wanted to contribute this, also because no one has encouraged....

Greetings.

Im in a little late on this competition, but I will be entering!

21 minutes ago, Brandon S said:

Im in a little late on this competition, but I will be entering!

It's not a competition but a non-competitive event! 

1 minute ago, Henry Ng Tsz Kiu said:

It's not a competition but a non-competitive event! 

 

Oops, thats what I get for reading too quickly. Either way im in!

❤️💋

I forgot to reply weeks ago, but I'll also be joining! Just need to get the full score done in time....

A piece I have been working on for a while, thought it would be fitting to attach it here since Its finally done. Its about losing a loved one in the military. I highly encourage all who are interested to read the poem "In Flanders Fields". I read this poem and knew I had to do something musical with it, and that is what you will see below. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZOfPoubahg

Last day

rushed to finish and record!

Here is my submission!

Looks like we have 4 submissions. Does anyone else think they will be submitting for this challenge? If so, please let me know, as I will hold off on scripting this video until Monday or Tuesday. I may change the theme of the video depending on the number and types of submissions we get.

@Brandon S do you have the pdf? If so, can you send it to me? The resolution of the score in your video won't allow me to zoom in with clarity.

2 hours ago, chopin said:

@Brandon S do you have the pdf? If so, can you send it to me? The resolution of the score in your video won't allow me to zoom in with clarity.

 

For sure, I can try and get it to you tomorrow.

I'm closing this challenge, as I have scripted the video. I will be recording it tomorrow, and then the editing begins! Thank you to the 5 composers who are going to be starring in this next video. All of your music was a pleasure to listen to and dissect for this challenge.

@chopin 

A very rough score, my apologies. I am an interning music education major and I work on the weekends so virtually no free time to edit the score, but it doesnt look too bad. Just quite a few obvious engraving errors I dont have the time to fix currently. 

Thank you! I'm ok with flaws, my videos are always full of them.

I guess I am too late to enter the competition now?

If I am I understand. Will you be doing a similar event next year?

Louis

@Louisf, way late for the video since it has already been recorded. We will be doing other challenges though throughout the year for sure. In fact, we have another challenge which I haven't started yet: Brahms Lullaby Challenge.

If you want to create something for the Valentine's Day challenge though, you may still do so. If I can fit it into the video somehow as background music, I may do so, but your piece won't be a part of the analysis / study.

3 hours ago, chopin said:

@Louisf, way late for the video since it has already been recorded. We will be doing other challenges though throughout the year for sure. In fact, we have another challenge which I haven't started yet: Brahms Lullaby Challenge.

If you want to create something for the Valentine's Day challenge though, you may still do so. If I can fit it into the video somehow as background music, I may do so, but your piece won't be a part of the analysis / study.

 

Not to worry. I have attached the piece I would of submitted but don't feel you have to include it. The Brahms Lullaby Challenge look interesting and I will definitely consider entering it!

Kind regards,

Louis