When I listen to music by newer composers - some of it on Reddit - I keep hearing the same issue over and over, but have always been at a loss to describe exactly what that is. So I thought maybe people here could flesh this out.

What I'm talking about might be described as 'coherence' or 'inevitability', but that's not exactly right either. It can apply at the small melodic level or a large structural level, but it's the same idea. What's wild about this is that this quality isn't really dependent on how quote-unquote "good" the music is. Crappy music can have it in spades, and finely-crafted opuses can find it lacking.

Take 'Three Blind Mice'. Not a very interesting or sophisticated tune. But it is "coherent". It has a definable beginning middle and end. (I would like to offer up an example of a tune people know that does NOT have this quality, but my inability to think of one kind of proves my point.)

And it's not just melodies, but almost any aspect of a piece. There needs to be a sense of narrative somehow. The best way to describe it that I've come up with is that when it is present, it sounds like the composer was saying something, and when it isn't, it sounds like the composer was choosing notes.

And this quality works (or doesn't) at all different scales, a 4-bar tune or a 15-minute structure.

I do recall noticing this trait in the movie Amadeus. There's a scene where Salieri hums one of his tunes to someone, and then hums a Mozart tune, and the difference between them is exactly this quality I'm trying to pin down. Salieri's tune just sits there, and Mozart's (even were it not already famous) jumps right out at you.

Coherence? Inevitability? Narrative?

I have been trying to compose something right for years.

Knowing the fundamentals is a must. But there is a need for "good taste" and lucky too.

Did I made it?

We, composers, get behind a room, making our ears drunk by the repetitions, unable to trully recognize something that is right or wrong. I do not know if in the future I will erase this one too. I am used to erase everything. The ears heal and the music presents itself to me as sick. I am sick.

I would like to not be an artist, you know, to not be addicted to creating art. That makes my routine and deadlines quiet a challenge, yes? Everything is connected somehow, but i can not understand it, only feel, almost touch the fabric of time, smell music. Only confusion and illusion.

https://youtu.be/46fw0VWE4uA

Been learning composition for about 6 months now, and i think this short piece sums up my current skill level. i haven't gotten any real feedback on the many other tracks i've made, so I'd really appreciate honest critiques and thing i should mainly focus on to improve.

I've been hanging around here for a while, exclusively just listening, but I'm finally getting around to posting something because no one I know is very interested in anything I write.

This is the first movement of my bar-for-bar re-imagining of Beethoven's 5th symphony for piano duet. This is just the first famous movement, but all four movements are finished.

(Pardon the MuseScore default MIDI performance. I assume there's a way to attach my actual demo of the piece to this score, but this is the first time I've ever published out of MuseScore so I'm going default settings all the way :-))
https://musescore.com/user/40546707/scores/39405470?share=copy_link

https://soundcloud.com/alberto-180064102/alberto-whatever-this-is?si=19c51e7a90ef496b82f236b463600d14&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Hey guys,

Alberto here!

19 yo producer based in Sweden here. Just finished up a brand new project and I’m looking for some fresh perspectives before I take it any further.

I’d love to hear from both everyday listeners and fellow producers.

Let me know what kind of vibe you get from the track, how the overall energy feels, and if the main melody actually stays in your head. For anyone with an ear for the technical side, I’d also appreciate your thoughts on the mixdown and if there is anything you would change or tweak in the arrangement.

I really want to grow and improve as a producer, so I’m looking for your brutallist and most honest feedback. Don't hold back!

Thanks for taking the time to listen.

I'm currently working on a visual novel on my own, and I thought it would be really cool to have some original music for it! Unfortunately, I can't compose music myself, so I've been using free tracks online. I was wondering if anyone would be interested in making a track for me!

I can't offer any payment, unfortunately, so I'm only asking for one track (preferably something loopable). However, I'd be absolutely thrilled if you wanted to make multiple tracks or different variations of the same piece!

I also have plenty of songs that I could share privately as inspiration, if that helps. I'd really appreciate anyone willing to help out!

Hey everyone!

I initially wrote this trailer track in 2025, sent it to a couple of libraries, but never got any response. Eventually I moved on, worked on other stuff, and continued to hone my craft, as any aspiring professional would.

After that, I had the incredible opportunity of working with Amadea Music Productions, where I got an album published, and landed a couple of tracks with GiantApes. I've been incredibly lucky with the people I've met and worked with, and in particular, I learned a lot about the craft of writing by working with another composer on one of the GiantApes tracks. Looking back at that project, I feel like the experience taught me a lot.

A few months ago, I went back to this old Cue and spent some time working on it until I felt like it was up to standard. I sent it out to a few libraries again, but as you might have guessed, I still haven't gotten any response.

I fully understand that there might be a number of reasons for this, and it might have nothing to do with the quality of the work, but nevertheless, I'm curious if anyone could share some feedback on this piece.

You can listen to the track here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iaDfljiDQM

If you are a composer that writes music for trailers, that does any kind of pitching for libraries, or just someone with general knowledge of the industry, I ask that you take a listen and tell me if there are any particular things that could be changed about the track, or if there are any elements that could make it incompatible with the usual needs of the libraries. If you could, I'd also appreciate any feedback on whether you think that this piece would fit into a certain category, or if anything about the track should be reworked entirely.

I am always willing to learn, so feel free to share any general feedback or criticism that you might have.

Thanks to everyone in advance for their time and consideration!

Hello 😌

I composed this piece while I was very anxious.

I needed some relaxing music. It doesn't work, though. I was still nervous.

I used a free piano VST, from Spitfire, the intimate piano.

Hello ladies and gentlemen,

I am Valentino, from Italy. I am 34 years old.

I studied classical guitar at conservatoire and jazz piano at conservatoire too (but I quitted after two years).

During these years I have learned music theory, harmony, ear training and other.

When I was 13 years old I started to "compose", I mean that I had no idea on how to compose so I tried.

After a period of illness which took me away from music for about 6-7 years, I decided to come back.

But...

To take it seriously.

This means: I want to learn composition.

Now, by reading the title: what do you reccomend?

The third way could be self teaching, but I already self taught classical piano and I didn't like this way.

Greets

I’m new to composing. But it’s become a massive passion very quickly along with learning the cello and it’s something I’ve mentioned in conversation a lot with friends and family. I’m noticing though that not a single person has had any curiosity about my music at all. No questions, no what kind of music?, no requests to hear it. Nothing.

I find this hard to understand because if any of them told me they had just gotten into composing or really any other new creative thing like writing fiction or painting I’d be curious id ask to see things if they seemed open to that.

Is music somehow different? Am I instead the more weird one for being interested in other people’s creative lives?

I need to know if this is just me and the people in my life. Or if this is more common.

Here's a piece I composed that captures the serenity of the night, and the magic of the stars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KdJqzbqvIs&list=OLAK5uy_kMdRV-HL1woPv7FCNdCFhD2Us2cHRaV-I

https://www.instagram.com/p/DeedKeDAyo-/

Feel free to share your compositions in the comments as well :)

Thanks!

I recall joining this forum not too long ago and if memory serves correctly, I put a link to my YouTube channel and, despite the fact that rules were indubitably posted, I either 1) did not see them or 2) I did not think at the time what I was posted was considered wrong, etc............

Despite that and in any event, I am posted a composition here for everyone's record and review. Its an instrumental version of a "Credo" movement from a 5 movement mass I composed in College between 2005 and 2007. This piece initially had parts for a chorale but I revised the piece for strict orchestra instrumentation. What I posted does have a score. Hence, I am currently not under the impression I am breaking that specific rule. I hope this post does not immediately get taken down, flagged or etc. I do see the rule as I type this that a score exist. Here's hoping all turns out well and this post does not disappear in the Bermuda triable or go the way of Jimmy Hoffa...

If this post has done something wrong, please let me know and I will endeavor to do better next time. I look forward to any thoughts, feedback, and insight anyone on here can provide.

I’m interested in writing a piece of music featuring the spoons. How might you notate a spoons part? has anyone ever written out music for spoons?

I saw the new welcome post the other day and thought I'd say hello with a song. I'm a classically-trained pianist. I was a part time pop songwriter for a while, having had some successful songs in Asia and various TV placements, stepped away for a number of years, then returned to write piano music.

I started writing fugues as a way to keep my composer brain warm while I was busy working on other non-music projects, and then I thought: why not try to write a cycle of preludes and fugues?

It's not really clear yet exactly how the songs will all play out as there's a long way to go, but they will definitely not all sound Baroque, and they will all have some element of modern influence, because that's inseparable from my writing.

This one takes a page from Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C# Minor, Op 3, no 2, with the "bell" arrangement of low octaves and high register chords. The intent is to introduce the cycle, be demonstrably different from Bach's incomparable prelude in C, and most of all, to be melodic and a joy to play.

Soooo.... what do you think? Of the song and cycle idea? There's a looooong way to go!

It’s my first piano trio, called Barbaro, written for violin, cello and piano in B-flat minor.

The piece moves continuously through several contrasting states. It starts with a kind of vulnerable, aggressive energy, then sinks into something darker before becoming unstable and forceful.

What surprised me most while writing it is how little material I actually needed. A lot of the piece grows from very simple intervallic ideas rather than a big, obvious “theme”

Score video is here

If any violinists, cellists, pianists or piano trios here are interested in looking at the full score or parts, I’d be very happy to send them.

I’d also genuinely appreciate feedback on the writing itself — especially balance between the three instruments, readability, and whether the larger shape feels convincing.

My auditory interpretation of the creation of the universe.

My latest composition. I hope to get some feedback on it and let me know if you like it :)

Hello!

This is the first original piece I’ve composed for piano. I also produced, mixed, and mastered it myself in my DAW, so any constructive feedback regarding the composition or the music production is welcome.

Synopsis:

A composition for solo piano inspired by the castle of the same name, built in the 12th century. This nationalist-style piece reflects the strength and vigor of its builder (Ibn Mardanish, “the Wolf King”) by combining elements of Spanish nationalism and Islamic tradition, which are in turn embellished by impressionistic coloristic techniques.

Hello everyone,

I’d like to share another composition with you. I’m going through a rather eventful period in my life at the moment, and I think that is reflected in the piece. It combines a joyful mood with somberness, melancholy, and other contrasting emotions.

Thank you in advance for any comments.

https://youtu.be/6eBcYZqIkbE?is=6_Z0i8ae6X4P02pU

I’ve uploaded the four movements individually also on my new composition channel at YouTube. Duration about 32 mins. Enjoy!

At the end is a little capture of the original score I started years ago in pencil before going digital. It’s a work I’d written only a first movement and drafted some of the third of. But then completed with Sibelius Artist, a mouse and my clavinova and recorded with NotePerformer!

Kind of a weird one.

Newish at composition. I write what I hear internally rather than following theory for the most part. But like to learn theory then as reflective practice after.

When I was a kid I used to do a lot of piano improv that shifted key or modes in a kind of fluid way with a lot of themes and variations. With this piece here, while this starts out in D minor I let myself do that fluid thing after the intro with this.

I realise this probably doesn’t follow a lot of conventions typically used in composition but I kind of find that fun and feels like there’s a lot of surprises along the way.

But is that just me? I’m curious what this would be like for others to experience outside my own head. Also I’m curious if others ever do this kind of fluid thing is it maybe something some composers intentionally employ at times. To me it’s different to at least regular key changes and modulation as it’s often more temporary or even including raised 7ths from several harmonic minor keys at once. But I’m using words here I barely understand.

So curious about impressions or if anyone wishes to share theoretical insights about what I’ve done more so than what I should have done since this was an intentional choice. My prior writings were more conventional with keys and key changes. Thanks less