Homage to a Longing Memory

I originally wrote the first version of this piece for a Cello Quartet, during a very dark, and sadly extremely depressive time period of my life. I decided to rewrite it into a symphony-style work a few months ago, expanding its one minute original version into a fully developed piece that captured and added a new perspective it hadn't had before. Currently, this symphony version is 7 minutes long from start to finish. I am curious to hear the world's thoughts, especially in regards to transitions, structure, and the arc of the piece.
For some very simple context for my goals with structure, it is meant to not be "easy" flowing and clear. It's interpretive and dynamic, each section usually adding a little bit more context to the last time that variation was played. It's meant to symbolize the return of event-specific previous positive and negative emotions, how they shift over time, and that usually no matter what, thoughts of a previous time inevitably come back to remind you of it. However I worry that I emphasize the dynamic type of relationship too much that it could be negative and have an unclear arc perhaps...?
Note: I am submitting this to a composition contest in a few weeks, so my goal is to have it fully understandable and clear by then.

FILES UPDATED ON 10/17/2026
Homage to a Longing Memory.pdf

Edited Sunday at 05:14 AM2 days by Aiden Still

21 hours ago, Aiden Still said:

I originally wrote the first version of this piece for a Cello Quartet, during a very dark, and sadly extremely depressive time period of my life. I decided to rewrite it into a symphony-style work a few months ago, expanding its one minute original version into a fully developed piece that captured and added a new perspective it hadn't had before. Currently, this symphony version is 7 minutes long from start to finish. I am curious to hear the world's thoughts, especially in regards to transitions, structure, and the arc of the piece.
For some very simple context for my goals with structure, it is meant to not be "easy" flowing and clear. It's interpretive and dynamic, each section usually adding a little bit more context to the last time that variation was played. It's meant to symbolize the return of event-specific previous positive and negative emotions, how they shift over time, and that usually no matter what, thoughts of a previous time inevitably come back to remind you of it. However I worry that I emphasize the dynamic type of relationship too much that it could be negative and have an unclear arc perhaps...?
Note: I am submitting this to a composition contest in a few weeks, so my goal is to have it fully understandable and clear by then.


Edit: The quote weirdly didn't come out on the PDF, but it says, "'So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.' — F. Scott Fitzgerald"

Hi, I am interested in looking over this work in depth to give annotated feedback. On my first analysis of the score, there are numerous engraving errors like dynamic info on rests, crashing slurs over note runs, and the overall Harp playability. This said, I cannot get to a good review until Sunday. When is the deadline for this competition? I hope to give some before the deadline.

4 hours ago, MK_Piano said:

Hi, I am interested in looking over this work in depth to give annotated feedback. On my first analysis of the score, there are numerous engraving errors like dynamic info on rests, crashing slurs over note runs, and the overall Harp playability. This said, I cannot get to a good review until Sunday. When is the deadline for this competition? I hope to give some before the deadline.

The deadline is 10/30, so two weeks from now really. I am currently working the such optimizations you included above, as well as others (weird tempo/mood marks, slurs, consistent rhythms, etc.). I will post an updated PDF of such basic optimizations before the weekend. Your time and effort is greatly appreciated.

In case you read this again, this files have been updated above

Edited Sunday at 03:54 AM2 days by Aiden Still

On 10/15/2026 at 4:16 AM, Aiden Still said:

The deadline is 10/30, so two weeks from now really. I am currently working the such optimizations you included above, as well as others (weird tempo/mood marks, slurs, consistent rhythms, etc.). I will post an updated PDF of such basic optimizations before the weekend. Your time and effort is greatly appreciated.

In case you read this again, this files have been updated above

Hi again, I wanted to provide an update. I have begun my annotations, but due to my schedule, it will be a few more days before I can confidently relay. I should have them by the end of the week if all goes well.

21 minutes ago, MK_Piano said:

Hi again, I wanted to provide an update. I have begun my annotations, but due to my schedule, it will be a few more days before I can confidently relay. I should have them by the end of the week if all goes well.

No worries, I appreciate the update!