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This is my "Nine Sententiae for String Trio Op. 277". It is my 2nd composition inspired by the YC Summer 2016 Competition on the theme of Shakespeare and is my entry for that competition. It is a set of nine sententiae for string trio inspired by and intended to demonstrate the truth of the Shakespeare dictum from Hamlet (Polonius), "Brevity is the soul of wit." 'Sententia' is a form I have originated and define(d) it thus: 'Sententia' (plural: 'sententiae') is the Latin for the word 'sentence'. The Oxford dictionary defines 'sententia' as "A pithy or memorable saying, a maxim, an aphorism, an epigram; a thought, a reflection." For me a 'sententia' is a musical utterance of a thought that is complete in itself, like a sentence. It is also an utterance that finds no need for any elaboration or development. Hence my sententiae are short pieces that come in sets and are often related to each other in some way. I have also provided the extended context of the Shakespeare Hamlet quotation in the PDF of this description. I hope that these sententiae that are in fact themselves examples of a form based on brevity have succeeded in demonstrating that famous Shakespeare quotation. I fully believe it, as demonstrated by my development of the form of the "sententia", and was inspired by this Shakespeare quotation to compose nine of my best sententiae. As is usual with my sententiae, they are brief. But in tribute to this great Shakespeare quotation occasioning them, I have taken extra care to ensure that they are pregnant with meaning and witty in their brevity! I am aware that composing to "demonstrate" such a quotation exposes me to being judged by it, by the principle that it proclaims. But I hope that I have succeeded to meet the challenge in these nine sententiae! I think that this Shakespeare dictum is unique in that it itself demonstrates what it proclaims, the truth it declares. It is witty in its brevity! It sets out a profound truth about wit, wisdom, insight, cleverness, intellect, intelligence, and/or humour (to use some of the synonyms/connotations of 'wit') in the briefest possible way!