Moment Musical No.1 in A Minor for Piano

Hello everyone!

This weekend I experimented with a really simple atonal technique and I turned the experiment into this piece for piano.
The technique is "mirror writing". I applied it in the simplest way possible. The process was the following:
1. I decided on using four voices and mirror them around the middle C axis.
2. For each melody note, I added the mirrored bass below it (for example, a top note A is accompanied by the bass Eb, both a major sixth above/below middle C).
3. After that, I chose both internal notes (considering that those need to also be mirrored against each other).

Except for two measures, the whole main theme was created through that technique.
Afterwards I composed a tonal middle section and turned the piece into the form ABA'B'A''.

This time I tried avoiding excessive exact repetition (with techniques such as changing octaves, creating different melodic contours and accompaniment, or mixing final restatement of main theme with the coda) in order to add some variety to the whole.
That is because I tend to just copy and paste most of my sections and I want to get rid of that habit.
In addition, the first measure copies the beginning of Schubert's Impromptu No.1 in C minor.

As always, every feedback, comment or suggestion is more than welcome and hope you enjoy it! Thank you!

Edited 18 hours ago18 hr by JorgeDavid

I like it, it seems to work! Some "rich" chords, but contrasting sections give the ear a break. The first theme briefly restated, end. Beautiful! And tasteful, not a wasted note. When I first glanced at the score, my inner ear didn't want to accept the A natural/E natural against Eb, Ab, but you make it work.

Edited April 12Apr 12 by Churchcantor

9 hours ago, Churchcantor said:

I like it, it seems to work! Some "rich" chords, but contrasting sections give the ear a break. The first theme briefly restated, end. Beautiful! And tasteful, not a wasted note. When I first glanced at the score, my inner ear didn't want to accept the A natural/E natural against Eb, Ab, but you make it work.

Thank you so much, @Churchcantor , I am really glad you enjoyed it!
I had my doubts at first with those sections with the A-E against Eb-Ab, so it is nice to hear that it works!

Thanks for listening and commenting!

Cool piece! I love how your atonal technique makes these "glassy" sounding chords, thin and angular, and the juxtaposition with a more traditional tonal sound is neat.

I really think you could absolutely take this idea farther. For example, you have the sections completely separated -- I wonder what would happen if the atonal sections had moments of consonance, and/or vice versa? This atonality is quite gentle and agreeable, and consequently, I think it would be relatively easy to mix the two.

Thank you for sharing!

I have commented on the piece already, but one can just tell from the layout of the first page of the piece that it is well-constructed! Even a glance, without even needing to read the score and hear it in my head...

Ever write in A Major, my favorite key?

Edited 10 hours ago10 hr by Churchcantor

On 6/11/2026 at 12:59 PM, SergeOfArniVillage said:

Cool piece! I love how your atonal technique makes these "glassy" sounding chords, thin and angular, and the juxtaposition with a more traditional tonal sound is neat.

I really think you could absolutely take this idea farther. For example, you have the sections completely separated -- I wonder what would happen if the atonal sections had moments of consonance, and/or vice versa? This atonality is quite gentle and agreeable, and consequently, I think it would be relatively easy to mix the two.

Thank you for sharing!

Thak you so much @SergeOfArniVillage , I am really glad you liked it!

I also considered mixing both sections but, to be honest, the main reason I started with the tonal section was because I lacked skills and ideas to keep the atonal section going. So before mixing atonal and tonal ideas I think I will need to learn much more about atonality (what makes it work and different techniques).

Thanks for commenting!

9 hours ago, Churchcantor said:

I have commented on the piece already, but one can just tell from the layout of the first page of the piece that it is well-constructed! Even a glance, without even needing to read the score and hear it in my head...

Ever write in A Major, my favorite key?

Thank you! I am glad you found the notation and layout satisfying as well. I had some troubles to notate the atonal accidentals in the atonal section and in the went for what looked more beautiful and easier to read when playing.

I only composed one piece in Amaj a couple of years ago. From then on, somehow I have only been able to compose mostly pieces in minor 😅

Thanks again, @Churchcantor !

8 minutes ago, JorgeDavid said:

Thank you! I am glad you found the notation and layout satisfying as well. I had some troubles to notate the atonal accidentals in the atonal section and in the went for what looked more beautiful and easier to read when playing.

I only composed one piece in Amaj a couple of years ago. From then on, somehow I have only been able to compose mostly pieces in minor 😅

Thanks again, @Churchcantor !

Oh, you will reach the point where you don't even need to think of analysis anymore. Use the accidentals that are easiest; even if the music is complicated, make it as easy to read as possible.