Week 4: Complete // Apr 12th
Welcome to Week 4 of the Composition Challenge! 
Today's show will be the final didactic livestream of the series! Next week, we will reconvene to enjoy each other's music in the final watch party.
Click here to access the show!
In this livestream, I will not only walk you through all the steps of writing a short piece from beginning to end - I will also be composing in front of you, in real time!
Use this thread to submit the pieces you've been working on and any updates about your process.
See you in the stream!
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This time I decided to play with rhythmic motifs and melodic phrases characteristic for Habanera (maybe Milonga? Maybe Tango?). I wanted to compose something in a more traditional harmony, but I couldn't help myself from my favorite chromatisms.
Here is: "Gloomy Habanera".....
These have been really creative weeks! As I mentioned somewhere, a bag of ideas that I had not suspected had opened in my head.
Thanks to Ashley for running the livestreams, motivating me and to all participants for their support when I was sometimes mildly depressed and full of doubts.-
Marek Tabisz Great! I also like chromatisme a lot so don't prevent yourself of using it ;) I'm happy to read about all the ideas you have, that's so motivating to be in a creative state and you're doing great!
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Blaise Laflamme Thanks Blaise! It's nice to hear friend's praise! See you on Watch Party on Monday!
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Marek Tabisz Lovely Marek - I can picture the dancers in their Latin costumes and serious faces!
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Ron Thank you! I am glad that the piece evokes specific associations - so it's not so bad!
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Marek Tabisz Well done, Marek! I love the rhythms in this piece.
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Marek Tabisz Wonderful tune with a simple playable structure. Well done Marek
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Marek Tabisz Beautiful, Marek! Albeniz would say "Tango", I think.
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Igor Thank you! Yes, tango... But in week 3 I wrote something I call "Tango". I could not decide.
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Marek Tabisz congratulations, please record it!! this habanera must sound so so good in the guitar
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Emma Thank you! But unfortunately during next few days recording will be impossible.... bathroom refurbishment and lots of noise
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Marek Tabisz That was great Marek. Very fun - perhaps a suave mysterious man and his sultry companion oblivious to everyone else.
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Marek Tabisz Awesome Marek I felt some of that Piazolla Argentine tango there. Your score looks very impressive to, also the clarity of your different sections is great.
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Jaime Zaldua thank you Jaime!
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Marek Tabisz this is so cool! I love how you transformed this highly recognizable rhythm and wrote it in a completely different mood. And really, it has been an honor to be able to help you get writing again! :)
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Ashley (Ash) Lucero Thank you! It is an honor and a pleasure to work with someone as nice and knowledgeable as you, Ashley! Perhaps my adventure with writing my own music (and not rewriting someone else's
) won't end thanks to you - thank you again!
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I too want to start with a huge thank you to you Ashley for this challenge and for helping me achieve something I always wanted to do but never knew how or even where to start!
Thank you too to everyone in the forum for your inspiring compositions, insights and comments.
Although I haven't had much time this week I wanted to share my latest version of Dancing Firecrests - it's by no means finished - I need to make some mods to make it playable, add some dynamics and tidy up the score, but here's what I've done so far. I've totally re-written the A section and made a few tweaks to the B section.
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Ron That's great, Ron! Very playable and enjoyable. For some reason, it reminds a little of something by JK Mertz, especially in the B section.
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Ron Nice melody and clear harmony - simple, but very catchy! Good job!
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Eric Well spotted! The inspiration was Mertz's Elegie which I hadn't heard until recently and is now one of my favourites pieces
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Ron Well done, Ron! Very enjoyable piece. Like Eric said, I think there is some Mertz in your work, not the leats texture and melodic contour. Thank you!
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Ron beautiful! good melody and a beautiful waltz
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Emma Thank Emma
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Igor Thanks Igor - definitely Mertz inspired
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Ron nice work! This is great when you got inspired by new music you discover, it opens up a world of possibilities
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End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
