This July, we asked you to dream with us.
Inspired by Zhuangzi’s ancient parable, The Butterfly’s Dream, this challenge invited you to dissolve the boundary between illusion and reality. You responded not just with music, but with meditations—on identity, memory, transformation, and the moment we wake unsure of what’s real. And what a tapestry you wove!
To every composer who entered: thank you. You made this challenge a garden of echoes, a mirror of minds. Whether you placed or not, your voice brought this philosophical riddle to life—and for that, we are deeply moved. 💙🦋
✨ Highlights
These five pieces stood out for their emotional depth, imagination, and unique take on the theme—even if they didn’t land in the Top 10. Don’t miss these shimmering gems:
Dreamdancer by The Frog of the bow
Delicate, poised, and reflective, this piece dances along the edge of illusion. Its graceful phrasing and rhythmic nuance suggest fleeting motion—never quite landing, always vanishing. A quietly compelling take on the theme.
Beautiful Nightmare July 25 by Richard S Rowe
With a striking blend of music box and choir synth, this bold piece creates a dreamworld equal parts nostalgic and eerie. There’s real drama here, and a cinematic sense of space.
Floating yet Falling by Vibrant
A beautiful contradiction rendered in music. This work lingers in its ambiguity, blurring emotion and form. Its textures are gossamer-thin, yet its message carries weight. A patient, poetic piece.
A Matter of Perception by Quincy & The White House Production
Daring and deeply original. By blending rock with classical timbres—and even in-score dialogue—this piece challenges the very line between narrative and sound. Philosophical in intent and rich in imagination.
Breaking Facade by 𝙷𝚢𝚖𝚗 𝚂𝚙𝚘𝚝☻
Emotionally intelligent and harmonically layered, this entry takes an introspective approach to identity and illusion. Its reflective pacing and subtle arc pull the listener inward. With even more dreamlike abstraction, this could become something truly haunting.
🏆 Top 10 Compositions
🥇 1st Place — The Bamboo Shrine by TheChristianMusician
This piece presents a delicate interplay of modal harmony—largely pentatonic with occasional color tones—that immediately situates the listener in a dream‑like, otherworldly space. The melodic writing favors stepwise motion and narrow intervals, creating an intimate, almost whispered quality, while occasional leaps in the upper register act as moments of awakening within the dream. Orchestration is handled with sensitivity: the flutes and high strings shimmer above a grounded, sustained harmonic bed, while sparse percussion (temple blocks, soft cymbal rolls) adds ritualistic punctuation without breaking the ethereal atmosphere.
🎉 Congrats on winning this challenge!
- In Between Realities by Plxxiated
A refined and thematically strong work that engages directly with the challenge’s philosophical core. Its harmonic pacing, carefully chosen instrumentation, and thematic duality present a convincing portrayal of dream and reality intertwining. The use of motivic recall and modal shifts is effective, though a smoother transitional bridge between the two main states would strengthen the symbolic transformation.
- Flight by E_Natural228
The contrast between grounded, rhythmically clear beginnings and the airy, texture-driven middle section is handled with poise, and the return to grounded material feels both inevitable and reflective. The orchestration choices—particularly the interplay of piano resonance with sustained string harmonics—add layers of color without overcrowding the texture. Motivic recurrence provides cohesion, while rhythmic shifts keep the listener slightly off balance, effectively mirroring the theme’s philosophical ambiguity.
- Wings of the Unseen by IkerMusicSounds, Infinite Keys & Realistic
A refined, philosophically aware, and technically accomplished work that captures the duality of dream and reality with grace and precision. The use of instrumentation as symbolic characters—piano as the anchor, strings as shifting identity, and flute as fleeting transformation—deepens the narrative impact. Its modal harmonic palette, patient pacing, and restrained orchestration create an atmosphere that feels both intimate and infinite. This is music that doesn’t just tell the story of Zhuangzi’s dream—it inhabits it.
- The Struggle Inside by JM
A compelling portrayal of philosophical tension through careful textural layering and recurring motifs. The grounded opening contrasts beautifully with the airy, floating middle, where harmonic openness and thinner textures evoke the butterfly’s perspective. The return to reality feels intentional but could benefit from a more gradual transformation or a twist that leaves the listener questioning the nature of the journey.
- A Monarch Vision by JohnnyBGood
A compelling and poetic composition that effectively embodies the essence of the challenge. The instrumentation choices—especially the fusion of classical and synthetic textures—add originality and intrigue. Arpeggios and fluttering motifs evoke the butterfly metaphor with clarity, while the embedded philosophical narrative elevates the work beyond surface-level aesthetics. It’s a strong entry, intellectually and emotionally resonant, and well worth its place among the top contenders.
- Maybe a Dream by Ethan Law & Moisés Llerena Montoya
A quiet but thoughtful meditation on duality, rendered in restrained musical language. The piece leans into unresolved harmony, modal simplicity, and sustained pacing to portray a hazy boundary between dream and waking life.
- The Butterfly’s Effect by L.W.L. Laboratories
A graceful, introspective piece that captures the ethereal nature of dream states with thoughtful instrumentation and evocative pacing. The composer plays with duality in tone and harmony, creating a space where the listener floats through uncertainty and beauty.
- Yin & Yang by Frey
A thoughtful interpretation of the Butterfly’s Dream challenge, effectively translating philosophical duality into music. Its contrasts are well-executed, with a clear structure and intelligent voice leading.
10. Drifting Frames by VINCENT ACQUAVIVA
A compelling exploration of tonal color and philosophical ambiguity. The instrumentation stands out as imaginative and bold, and the overall pacing creates a hypnotic, floating effect that aligns well with the challenge theme. Still, the score could benefit from a more defined narrative arc and expressive contrast to elevate the sense of duality and transformation. A strong conceptual entry with a unique compositional voice.
🌙 Until the Next Dream
Thank you for your vulnerability, your courage, and your creativity. Whether you transformed into a butterfly, or simply hovered in the unknown, you helped create something extraordinary.
We can’t wait to hear what you dream next. See you in the next challenge.