Wieland Handke

Hallo @PeterthePapercomPoser, I have created a PNG which could be used as basis for a badge. Some considerations: The original photo can be found at Wikimedia Commons under https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20-07-06-Prora-RalfR-DJI_0120.jpg. Please check whether it can be used concerning the license conditions. I have nothing against a „Collossus of Prora“ badge, but I would remind that this building did not have the best reputation because of its „problematic“ history. Originally erected by the Nazis as a huge holiday resort for their „Kraft durch Freude“ (Strength Through Joy) project. After World War II it was used a long time as military barracks, first by the Soviet Army, than by the East German Volksarmee. Since the mid-1990s, it stood empty for a long time and was exposed to decay and vandalism. Now it is (at least partly) renovated and houses a hotel, apartments etc. A more detailed overview can be found at Wikipedia under https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prora.

Oh, I didn't expect to receive an answer to my "badge" which was in the first sense ment to be a joke. Since I would welcome to award a badge to the "longest piece", it is a good idea to follow @TristanTheTristan idea about a "Colossos of Prora". Concerning the icon, it was really just a "joke" of me using a WikiMedia Commons Picture and mashing it together to a "badge icon". I'll look tomorrow, whether I have some better personal photos from that location or whether I can gather more background about "Prora" before creating such a badge for the YC forum.

Upps, the "Colossus of Prora". Did you mean something like that?

The first impression I had when listening to the Fughetta was – huh what a long fugue subject which already covers a kind of development on its own, for example with the sequences in mm. 3-7. Because of its chromaticism, it reminds me a little of the “royal theme” from Bach's famous Ricercar a 6 from the “Musical Offering.” I can well imagine how you had this melody in your mind and developed it into this subject, for example while you were out walking, and that you had to write it down immediately upon your return so as not to forget it. There is nothing wrong with such a long subject. However, creating a fugue from it will be challenging, as the exposition will fill almost an entire page! Therefore, I think it was the right choice to refrain from adding further complete subject entries and to leave the piece as “just” a fughetta, so that there is enough space to play contrapuntally with the material. And this has been achieved excellently, both rhythmically, where the staccatos are contrasted with the appoggiaturas, and harmonically, through the treatment of the chromatic sequences. This once again highlights the potential of contrapuntal composition technique, even if the piece does not necessarily imitate a Baroque style, but is, for me, more contemporary due to the dissonances that I like. (By the way, the key of E minor still remains in the title of your current score.) Wieland

Dear Cafebabe! Since you really are a „Young Composer“ – I have double checked you profile – and today is your birthday (a special one, at that), first of all, congratulations. Now, to your Oratorio. Without going into detail today, I can only express, that I’ve really enjoyed it! With an overture called “Sinfonia” and an aria for tenor as the second piece, which have this mood and style, I was immediately reminded of Handel's Messiah – perhaps you have already heard it 🙂. Writing an Oratorio is a great challenge, and – if you are not Handel accomplishing it within three weeks – this can be a long lasting, not to say a life-time project. However, don’t think this is a problem. Having such a large, challenging project in mind should be considered as a framework where you can put time after time more pieces into, which has the great advantage that compositions, otherwise produced occasionally, have a place where they are not forgotten or lost. And for that purpose, having a framework which fits different kinds of pieces, the project cannot be ambitious enough. As mentioned in some other comments, the movements can be extended to reach their full potential. But that’s the fun. I’m curious how you’ll proceed in that project over the next years! Wieland

I also must admit that I’ve never read or heard about those two books. However, score engraving is an interesting topic for me and I take a lot of care to produce satisfying scores for my compositions. Therefore, that „debate“ should be something for me, too. The only „literature“ I’ve actually read about the art of music score engraving is the „Lilypond Essay“ which I’ve linked here. Even if I run the risk of @Henry Ng Tsz Kiu is thinking that I am a Lilypond lobbyist or salesman (😆, I must think on the „rodeo“ between Henry and @SeekJohn14v6 ...), I am just a Lilypond user, and I’m glad with this notation software for two reasons. First, the approach of writing „source code“ and „compiling“ it into a score and a MIDI-file is the right one for me, since in my everyday work I'm familiar with writing tons of lines of source code rather than using a WYSIWYG-interface. The other, and possibly more important fact is, that the resulting engravings are much more satisfying and similar to old-fashioned hand engravings than the most of the other notation software solutions are currently able to produce. So I had a small look again at the above cited „Lilypond Essay“ and, interestingly, the two books you mentioned can be found prominently in the „(Short) Literature List“. I looked around, if I could find some PDFs, excerpts etc. on the internet – and indeed I found some, so that I can take a view on that books to be able to participate in the „debate“ soon. Thanks for the suggestion!

Congratulations for this enjoyable and galant short sonata! It is nice to see such an easy and playable piece which comprises compositional skills to let it sound in the mood of the late Baroque era. Allegro An easy to play but clearly structured sonata form movement! I especially liked the phrases with the syncopated, perhaps staccato eighth notes in the second theme in bars 17-18 and 21-22. To make this second theme even more colorful and to avoid the tendency of repetition, I would try to vary bars 13, 15, 19 and 23 slightly, for example by introducing more counter-movement between the voices, at least in some of the repetitions. Might be that the finale could be made a little more elaborated, for example by creating two variants for the last few bars, so that in the repetition there could be some more ornamentation when reaching the final chord. Some aspects regarding the playability and “aesthetics” of the score. Measure 31 should be moved to the first page to avoid turning the page, which is only necessary for one measure here, and I would try to balance the distribution of measures between the staves so that the last staff does not appear so stretched out. Andante Serious, with slow rhythm, but also with a dancing character, perhaps an Allemande. I would avoid the octaves between bass and treble in bar 4, third beat and bar 5, first beat. Perhaps the bass could be in mm. 4-5 as | D E A Bb | F C# D F |. The same in bar 13, first beat (G instead D). Minuet The minuet is another superb example how an easy piece can be expressive and full of character. I love the articulation and ornamentation which unmistakably emphasize the dance-like character of the minuet. By the way, I think I have recognized some more or different ornamentations in the recording than in the score, for example in the repetition of bars 7 and 15 of the minuet and the repetition of bars 4 and 6 of the trio. Is it a live recording or, if not, did you have to realize all that ornamentations in your notation software „by hand“ to achieve that realistic effect and the distinction between the different occurrences of the section due to the repetitions? I ask this because I do the same thing when writing a score, having a „print“ score and a „midi“ score achieved through „if-else“s in the same Lilypond source code. (Yes, I have seen in your profile that you are one of the few composers who also use Lilypond ...) Rondo At the end the fun, the fast rondo. Here, I would assume that this is not a live recording, which would bring to the piece the intended lightness and elegance with more soulful phrasing - that the composition undoubtedly contains. When reading the score, I was initially somewhat confused because I could not see the upbeat note that introduces each next phrase. Therefore, I would divide the two eighth notes at the end of measures 4, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37, and 61 into separated ones that are not connected by a beam.

Thank you for sharing this wonderful Prelude-and-Fugue piece. Since I also compose preludes and fugues, I am very excited and interested in reviewing such a pair. And indeed, I really enjoyed it and have now a few thoughts or comments which are not to be considered as „criticism“, but rather intended as an advice or idea how this beautiful piece could be improved further and finally made „great“: When listening to the prelude for the first time, I clearly recognized the Baroque style of a French overture with its double dots and 32nd runs, but there were something stylistic that differed from a typical Baroque and counterpuntual piece. Now, after listening multiple times and with the help of the other comments, I figured out that this is due to the repetition of measures 1-14 in bars 15-27, which means that up to this point there is no real modulation away from the tonic G minor. There is nothing wrong with it, but I would agree with the suggestions of @muchen_ and @Willibald to possibly change something concerning the modulation and recurrection of the material, also with respect that usually the prelude is not longer than its fugue. The fugue subject is very memorable and expressive, I especially love the „wedge-like“ ending in mm. 68, which, in my opinion, implies that the theme should not end with the first eighth note in bar 68, but should extend over the entire four bars. In the comes in bar 72, you have already quoted the “wedge,” even though this bar is a variation of the original, while in the third entry in bar 76, the “wedge” is completely lost, which I regret. In measures 80-85, 87-95, and 96-103, you have created three (or even four) sections with sequences based on different contrapuntal material—for example, quotations or parts of the theme—which would be perfect as interludes or episodes between further development (or exposition) sections of the fugue theme. And that is exactly what I would like to see: at least two further developments of the excellent fugue subject. I also could imagine a coda with a pedal point and perhaps a recurrection of the 32nd notes texture from the prelude as ending climax! With this in mind – to shorten the prelude and to extend or „complete“ the fugue – your piece could become a marvellous pair – Prelude and Fugue in G minor!

Thank you, @J. Lee Graham and @Kvothe for your comments which are very inspiring and stimulating for me! Since you don’t find my 10/8 D lydian fugue exposition to weird, I’ll go forward with it and will share my progressions here as soon as possible.

1. How do you feel about including AI generated music on YCF? In my opinion, AI generated music is misplaced in the general submission threads and competitions/events on this forum, since the purpose of the forum is to exchange about the composition process, results, difficulties etc. (and not about which music one likes or not). However, to ban it completely would mean to neglect a tendency which is now existing and will further increase in the future. Thus, a special, separated sub-forum could be a compromise, but I have to admit that @muchen_ 's objection and demand for quarantine cannot be dismissed out of hand. 3. If we decide to regulate AI music, how should we detect it? I am (strongly) opposed to the use of online AI detection tools, as they can lead to “false positives” and, in my opinion, their use contradicts the goal of publishing and reviewing only high-quality, human created compositions in this forum. Therefore, the judgement can only be done in the same way as requested for the submissions. With this background, the distinction between genuine compositions and compositions generated (wholly or partly) by AI can only be achieved by making the composition process used by individual members more transparent. One idea could be to create a special section in the forum where each member can post their own topic explaining in detail how they normally work, including the notation software they use, the type of recording (either live recording or with which DAW software), etc. I think anyone who intends to regularly publish works in the forum would appreciate it if others could take a look behind the scenes, so that we could learn a lot from each other. A regular submission of a piece could then include a link to this explanatory post and should, of course, include a PDF score, an MP3 audio, possibly an intermediary MIDI file, a brief description of the musical form, key, time signature, instrumentation, etc., as well as a little background information about the inspiration and idea behind the piece. I think, that if we could encourage members to post their contributions in this way, the overall quality of the forum would improve and, more importantly for the submitters, it would be easier for reviewers to familiarize themselves with the pieces, which would certainly lead to more and profound reviews. (I say that also with the background that some members tend to „flood“ the forum with a dozen of uncommented posts at once – which might be fine but not necessarily leads to many or instant reviews. Sometimes, less is more.) I don't know if such a procedure could be introduced as a “rule,” perhaps more as a “recommendation.” However, if the “experienced” members were to post in this way, they could serve as example for the others.

Thank you, again, @chopin@Luis Hernández, @Henry Ng Tsz Kiu and @PeterthePapercomPoser for your warmhearty comments! Yes, this one expresses the joy played by the shepherds on their instruments – even it might sound sometimes a bit weird – and therefore should be related to Christmas Day. The Empty Church, in contrast, reflects the „Silent Night“ before and I love them both although it was not my intention to create two pieces from the material, initially. Interestingly, nobody did mention or even dislike the usage of my „surprise instrument“ – the bagpipes. When starting the instrumentation, the bagpipe came around a bit very offending and – yes, I must admit that I have a bit cheated by sometimes reducing their dynamics, while a bagpipe in reality is not able to do so. After now being a bit focused on that instrument’s sound, capabilities and notation, I was quite surprised when listening to Haendel’s „Pifa“ from the Messiah these days, that I’m feeling that the bagpipes are cited there throughout. After some research to confirm this, I found a very interesting recording of the "Pifa" featuring only bagpipes, and the name "Pifa" itself refers to the bagpipe players – thus realizing that my use of bagpipes in a Christmas pastoral piece, while not original, is all the more "authentic."

Yes, the Theorbo is a “larger lute” which (at least here in Germany) is increasingly being used in baroque orchestras alongside the harpsichord and a small organ as a Basso Continuo instrument. I think I first discovered it about five years ago and am always delighted when it is used, for example in Handel's Messiah. It lends such warmth or even a “Mediterranean feeling” to the accompaniment that it surpasses the somewhat “boring” harpsichord and organ, which are unable to play dynamics, while they are needed for rhythmic and percussive accents (the harpsichord) and harmonic filling and foundation (the organ). That in mind, I decided - after nearly completing the instrumentation of my Prelude IX in E major as submission for the 2025 Christmas event - to create a Basso Continuo part, too, to emphasize the Baroque orchestra character. I must admit that it was a larger effort than initially expected (and my figured bass „numbers“ might be error-prone), however I really enjoyed the result so that I came around to present it as an „own piece“ here since I think it is worthwhile to hear it without the other instruments, which otherwise so strongly dominate the Basso Continuo that it's usually only perceived subconsciously. Thank you, @chopin, @Luis Hernández, @Henry Ng Tsz Kiu, @Kvothe and @PeterthePapercomPoser for confirming my belief that the atmosphere of this trio is calming and it could be indeed played on its own in a church, for example during evening prayers. Oh, I must say that I neither had "Where Sheep May Safely Graze" nor „Sleepers Awake“ in mind (while being wonderful) when composing the prelude, my inspiration was the „Sinfonia“ from the Christmas Oratorio. But, yes, if there are feelings of quotations from Bach, that is intentional (and fortunately, Bach won't be making any copyright claims...).

Sorry, that I just had to press the „laughing“ button when reading your announcement of mashing up "O, Christmas Tree" with "Hark! The Herald Angel's Sing!", this must be wild! Now after listening to it I had to smile again on how confusing it comes to the listener having two carols at the same time being on the one hand well blended together but also producing some frictions so that listener is kept focused when he wants to follow and concentrate on either the one or the other carol. All in all that mashups were very inspiring to me and perhaps I’ll try to figuring out something similar for the piano and call it „double fugue“, haha!

Congratulations for showing well, what can be achieved with a full symphonic orchestra! Sometimes I joke that a symphony orchestra is a conductor's very special toy, similar to nowadays DAW software where one is able to mix dozens of tracks and special effects (yes, I attended a concert last year where video game music was performed by such a full symphonic orchestra and it was a fun for me to see what sounds could be produced with the natural instruments – even it is not my genre). But sometimes these enormous possibilities can also become a problem when there are dozens of bars with virtuoso cadenzas and effects, but the audience can no longer follow which musical idea or theme is being played. That’s why it is important to have a clear structure or even a „simple piece“ already accomplished as the base before the orchestration. Since this is the case in your piece, it is – in my opinion – easy to follow and so enjoyable with the colorful instrumentation, such as the harp and even woodwind runnings in bars 21-24 and the Glockenspiel/triangle in bars 27-34. The objection that you have remained in the same key is, in my opinion, not a problem for this short piece, which is only a miniature and not a large concerto or symphony. Having listened so many mashups of Christmas carols the last few days, I feel to hear citations of „O Christmas tree“ and „dashing thru the snow“ in your piece as well, emphasizing the Christmas mood. Thank you for this enjoyable wintery piece and a happy New Year.

What a charming, if somewhat sad song! Maybe its a fortune that you posted your submission „so late“, since its melancholic mood perfectly fits the imagination of the last piece performed on a party or the piano player is playing his ultimate song while the last guests are leaving the restaurant. I suspect that it is a live-recording. If so, congratulations to that beautiful performance and a happy New Year.