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So the big news today is that Netflix will acquire Warner Bros. and will now own all sorts of IP including Lord of The Rings, Harry Potter, Mortal Kombat, Batman and so much more. Immediately, they wasted no time at all announcing "shortened theatrical release windows". In essence, they are aiming to kill movie theaters entirely. https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/us-netflix-warner-bros-acquisition-9.7004170 This is going to put a tremendous amount of people out of work and lower wages across the industry just so that Netflix can increase subscriptions (and no doubt jack up the price further). Why is this bad for you, as a composer? Well, the TV and Film industries remain the most lucrative path for composers between not only composer fees, but longtail royalty payments. Even mid-tier indie films have the potential to pull in millions of dollars in revenue against tiny budgets at theaters. For example, at a film festival I recently attended, some of the films that had been short films in prior years went on to become multi-million dollar projects. Simply put: Streaming means smaller budgets and as an individual film is no longer a product unto itself, especially not if you can only stream it on one service and not "rent" it like on Amazon Prime, the "profitability" of that film is essentially zero dollars now. Because everything is consolidated under one subscriber base. Even with hundreds of millions of subscribers, there is no way that this fixed income can be redistributed to fund anything resembling quality content in any sufficient amount. That means lower pay, lower budgets, and even less room for risks and originality than what Hollywood is already starved of. Regardless of what you think of him, now would be the time for the orange man to do something about these growing monopolies, but what he'll probably just do is more tariffs. Personally, I think this move is going to be a big, possibly final nail in the coffin of the American movie industry. The earning potential for everyone down to production assistants is going to plummet in the American movie industry, and I think you'll see all these people turning towards European and Asian markets. There will be even more creative brain-drain on North America than there already is. Curious to know what you think about this?

Thanks Henry! That upwards leap in b.58 is definitely a cry of anguish for me. Glad you liked it! I was actually considering dropping the whole first movement: so great minds think alike! I agree it's the weakest of the three, perhaps because it's too pastiche, and also feels like it's treading water in the middle section. Since Vivaldi was a major inspiration, I was trying to evoke his violin concertI in my style of composition. For example the repeated notes in the third movement coda are typical of his music, and help to inject extra impetus and energy.

Hi @Alex Weidmann! About this I have a crazy suggestion. Maybe you can just cut out the whole first movement and leave the last 2 movements as a pair, because for me those 2 are better movements, while in baroque style they have modern touches. 1st movement also has its modern touches but is more traditional. Or just keep some passages of 1st movement as introduction, then enters the 2nd and 3rd movement in full. I do feel the emotional weight in 2nd movement and I like moments in b.58 when the soloist really sings. I also like the driving rhythm in both 1st and 3rd movements. Thx for sharing! Henry

Hi @therealAJGS! It does hurt my ears with its loud dynamics lol! Nice sound effects tho and cool music. Like the minor major seventh chord. Henry

Ooh looks like I’m too late here @Cafebabe……. Henry

Hi @Tunndy, The melody does has some Chopinistic influence and I think you should definitely extend the piece! Some of the C natural and F naturals should be B# and E# instead. I have imitated Chopin style long ago and post a piece here lol so you may check that one out: Thx for sharing! Henry

Hi @Wieland Handke! It’s nice to see all those D major passages run into my favourite C sharp minor haha. Nice counterpoint, just beware that some C natural should be B sharp instead. Henry

Hi Peter! With the strong slurs and the microtone it makes me imagine Celery chasing a ghostly love lol! It’s effective but sounds more like the love in the film Ghost even tho there’s “Oh My Love My Darling” there lol. Thx for sharing! Henry

Hello @Mason M! I just listen to the 1st movement. Do you aim at a more classical style or not? I like the light mood here, some interactions between instruments like in b.78 section. The use of the short short long long rhythmic motive is also apparent. Do you try to write in Sonata form or not? Also for me, passages like in b.66 to 68 sound less in style with the parallel 5ths. Thx for sharing! Henry

Hi @Vasilis Michael! Just on the fourth movement it’s funny and full of great modulations, and the mood is light just like many Classical sonatas. On the whole sonata, I think it’s more like an early Romantic sonata with all those more advanced modulations. But whatever style, I like this one. Maybe the next step would be to start finding newer voices! Thx for sharing! Henry

“Greetings, dear friend. I’m very glad you liked my sonata. In general, I’m extremely satisfied with this particular work. I worked on it and believed in it, and in the end something more came out than what I had expected. Thank you once again. When you find some time, listen to the last movement as well.”

I wrote this while listening to Jerry Bergonzi's Quartet play. One of the songs was, "Dark Matter," and I sampled a lick to an atonal fugue. Dark Matter.mid

Why hello @Vasilis Michael I rather speechless here! This sonata is truly showcases the classical style. MVT 1: Sonta I did not expect the PT to return after the transition and musical pause (MC). That is a lovely twist on traditional form. I also enjoyed how you connected the repeat of PT to ST then to closing section. Everything flows so nicely. The 16th notes run reminds me of Mozart! Even your themes, do. They are so simple and effective. MVT2: Ronodo This reminds, in a way, either one of Beethoven rondos or Mozart's. I just do not know which one. I enjoy simple chorale, homophonic texture and how they slowly evolve thorough out the movement. MVT3: Minuet and trio This well written minuet with a trio. Great work.

A piece for strings. It's rather short, but I like how it turned out. I'll attach the midi (as a lazy substitute for a score ^_^)strings.mid

Harvard's Ferris Choral Fellows, directed by Carson Cooman, Harvard's Composer in Residence, were kind enough to use this piece in a Morning Prayer service at Memorial Church. They sang the a cappella SATB version of this piece, so I thought I would share the recording here. Enjoy!

I am in 🙂

ill join.

Then you can take some of your time to review my works! They all have scores haha. Henry

I still have not seen score for this @BipolarComposer. Please note: with out the score, I can not give my feedback. Thank you for sharing your work.

i’m hoping to participate, itll be a long shot finishing everything up and recording it in time but yeah

This is an epic piece!! 1090 measures!! maybe change it into a 12/8 so the conductor can go in two because at this speed each measure would be in one, this is epic tho!! I like the dynamic contrast even across the fast sections, the flute and clarinet runs are my favorite part!

Hey Vince, I really like the music and enjoy playing it. I have to say, playing it helps relieve some of my pain during these few days when the fire engulfs at least 156 residents in HK. I love the variety you added in the music despite keeping it simple, for example the dynamics plus harmonic change like in b.20, 29 and 31, and keeping the counterpoint oblique. In my recording during the long phrase in b.11-19 I did add some dynamic changes of my own which is not included in the score haha. Thx for sharing. Henry

I remember you make the same advertisement before?? Is it the same program or not?

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it! Also, added some wonderful playing by Henry 😄

HI there. First, you want to work moving different types of movements (contrary, parallel, direct, and oblique) to create the best counterpoint. Second, in species counterpoint, you want to avoid direct movement of perfect consonances. But direct movement of imperfect are fine...just use them sparingly. Thirdly, I sense there is melodic high point in the counterpoint. Melodies have shape! Even ode to joy has one. Take several steps back: do counter point in two voices. Work through each species. You would be surprised. P.s. The first part of composition course focuses on counterpoint. 🙂