Diptych for Piano Quartet (Submission)

Dear readers,

This is my submission for the Halloween (Fall 2025) competition. I realize it’s quite a last-minute entry, but after discovering the event a few days ago, I decided to give it a try for fun. I’m genuinely excited that we can all share and experience each other’s music. It’s wonderful to meet you all and hear your work.

About this submission: Diptych for piano quartet - I haven’t settled on a title yet, so it will remain Diptych for now - a two-part musical piece, hinged yet paired to form a unified whole. It leans toward the contemporary classical genre, shaped by elements of both expressionism and impressionism. If I had more time (and I hope there will be more competitions like this), I might have written something more whimsical or festival-inspired for the occasion. Still, to me, contemporary harmonies and expressions possess their own kind of "terrifying" beauty that is celebrated on Halloween. My inspirations for this piece include artworks such as Francis Bacon’s Painting 1946 and Francisco Goya’s Saturn Devouring His Son.

Kind regards,
Cosmia

Entry: Diptych for Piano Quartet (Submission)

Average Score:9.3 very good

Review:

Execution of Given Challenge: 10 

The entry is written for piano quartet and with in the time frame 3-7.  Therefore, this piece would not be DQ, if this was official competition.  

Taste:  10 

This piece set up to plate and swung and hit. Although the bases were loaded, it scored.  It certainty created established the Halloween mood we all experience around this time. Something is always lurking. It is there. Slowly lurking in the background. 

Score presentation: 7

When it comes 8va marking, you might use loco markings afterwards.  Just a thought.   The harmonics and knockings notation is clearly marked (more knocking later).  Each string technique is also visible for the player.  I imagine this was a live performance.   However, most scores usually have rehearsal markings. Or have every bar measure. That way, during rehearsals it is easier for them.  "let start at measure x or rehersal.." 

Instrumentation (ect): 10 

There were advance strings techniques that young musicians would not know, but if this was given to a group who knew those, they would be able to play them.  Thus, it just depends on who you are writing for.  The instrumentation and orchestration of the piece was executed well. The strings balanced well with the piano and with each other. No one overpowered each. 

Haromy and textures:  10

The knocking at the end definitely was nice surprise. It definitely caught me by surprise.  The natural harmonics in the violin add coloristic effect at the second movement. The clusters was nice, too. 

Form: 8

It is hard to  describe what the form in this entry.  It does not fit any traditional forms.   The overall structure seems to build on single idea that slows evolves (?). 

Motives: 10

The melodic and motivic material is  well designed

Overall this piece is creative and orginal 10