October 2024 Challenge: Haunted House – We Have Our Winner!
Hello, fellow composers! 🎃
We are thrilled by the turnout for this month’s Haunted House challenge. Every composition transported us into a world of suspense, mystery, and chilling melodies. Each entry showcased unique approaches to musical storytelling, proving that creativity thrives in the spooky season! 👻
As always, these challenges are here to inspire regular composition, so remember that it’s all about growth, experimentation, and having fun. We hope you enjoyed the process!
✨ Highlights
Before we dive into the top scores, let’s take a moment to appreciate a few hauntingly beautiful pieces that, while not in the top 10, brought thrilling ideas and impressive technique:
This composition immediately captured attention with its mysterious, unconventional melodies, perfectly evoking the quiet eeriness of a dimly lit manor. Crafted in a haunting minor key with surprising tonal shifts, it masterfully builds suspense. The progression is deeply satisfying, unfolding in captivating, unexpected ways. And that clever use of the “miau” sound—genius! The surprise shifts between measures 32 and 53 bring an edgy, unique flair, with the brass adding a powerful, resonant depth. An outstanding debut from these composers on the monthly challenges; we can’t wait to hear more from you!
This piece brilliantly builds suspense through well-placed dissonances and dynamic contrasts, immediately transporting listeners into a chilling, cinematic scene. The opening evokes the mystery of Stranger Things, pulling you into a haunting vibe that, paired with the synthesizers, creates an immersive journey. The tension is expertly managed, with surprises around every corner—keeping you guessing from start to finish. It feels like stepping into a horror video game, full of unexpected twists that highlight the composer’s originality. And the backstory is a must-read! Truly impressive work from a talented creator.
This score masterfully evokes a ghostly atmosphere with its meticulously crafted melodies and chilling harmonies. The entry of percussion and brass signals the perfect moment for the suspense to deepen—an expertly handled touch! The composers skillfully use “rest” moments to ease the tension briefly, only to pull you back into an unsettling suspense!
This bold composition plunges us into the chaos of a ghostly world, with heavy dissonance and dramatic contrasts that make Hell House unforgettable. Intense dynamic shifts captivate the listener, creating a thrilling and immersive experience. And the story behind this score—don’t miss it! The evolving string sections add deep emotion, heightening the tension and mystery in every measure.
With eerie chromatic runs and sudden modulations, this piece conjures the image of a vast, empty mansion brimming with secrets. The arrangement of instruments throughout adds a captivating dynamic, building layers of tension perfectly aligned with the haunting storyline. Its chilling atmosphere holds the listener in suspense from start to finish.
🏆 Top 10 Scores
🥇 House of the Dead by Willy
This piece masterfully captures the haunted house atmosphere with a palpable sense of dread from the start. The ascending melody initially hints at optimism, only to quickly pull the listener into a tense, unsettling mood—a brilliant play on contrast and expectation. The xylophone tremolos paired with the music box create a spine-chilling effect, like spiders crawling over you. Each instrument is chosen and combined impeccably, adding layers of tension with skillful use of accidentals. This chilling score leaves you feeling as if you’ve truly stepped into a haunted house you might wish you hadn’t entered!
🥳 Willy, congrats on the amazing piece and for being this month's winner!
² Jazzmophobia by Jay
Jazzmophobia brings an incredible mix of spooky and cool with its syncopated jazz rhythms and haunting harmonies. The use of diminished and augmented chords creates an eerie, yet irresistibly engaging vibe. This jazzy masterpiece somehow makes an upbeat tune feel delightfully haunting! The storyline is pure charm—perfectly suited for a short film with each character vividly represented in the music. And that unexpected ending in the story? Simply beautiful.
³ Oh, She's Wicked by Bezakos
Bezakos, we're thrilled to see you back in the challenges! This piece weaves a beautiful mystery, with the delicate chime of bells setting an enchanting yet eerie tone. The dissonances are expertly handled, adding just the right edge. Dynamic shifts and unexpected modulations bring the wicked character to life, while harmonic minor scales and deep textures lend depth to this hauntingly captivating composition.
⁴ The Covert Basement by Kam & Jamesmusic
What an incredible collaboration! The violin arpeggios beautifully capture the characters’ frantic movements, pulling us right into their journey through the haunted house. The music shifts perfectly to match each emotion they experience—curiosity, mystery, calm, fear, and even the urge to escape. It evolves so smoothly that you hardly notice how you’re taken from one feeling to the next. The pacing, with those eerie pauses and minor key undertones, builds an atmosphere that feels like a dark, hidden basement, keeping us on edge the whole way through.
⁵ A Witches Dance by AMC
This piece feels like an elegant, macabre dance in a haunted forest, a dark twist on a more classic composition. The interplay between winds and strings creates a captivating dialogue, while the minor chord progressions and rhythmic variations add a sinister beauty. Its melodic development is stunning—everything falls perfectly into place, making it an absolute pleasure to listen to.
⁶ The Estate on Chromatic Street by fsharp
The tempo changes in this piece are spot-on, guiding us through a melody that hovers between sweetness and darkness. The airy quality of the choral parts adds a layer of tension, almost like the quickened breath of someone gripped by fear. The chromatic runs and smooth tonal shifts make the piece feel like wandering through a haunted mansion, exploring each eerie corner with suspense building at every step.
⁷ the haunting of specter's hollow by rando cellist
This piece takes a cinematic approach to ghostly themes, filled with chilling diminished chords and creepy melodies that pull you into its atmosphere. The story and music work beautifully together, telling of an evil spirit waiting for its next victim, drawing you in with a mix of seduction and fear. The glissando in measure 12 feels like the moment the house calls you in, and there’s no turning back. The repeating piano melody feels hypnotic, as if the house is pulling you closer, and the silences are placed perfectly to keep the suspense high. This is a captivating and haunting work—congratulations!
The composer even mentioned they plan to perform it live with friends—how amazing would it be to see that on video?
⁸ Sorcière de la Nuit by walter
This piece beautifully captures the emotional complexity of the character haunting this enchanted house. Hearing it performed live would be incredible—I think it might even bring me to tears! The music conjures the mystique of a sorceress with its melodic twists and minor scales, creating a dark, magical atmosphere filled with mystery and allure. Each note feels like it adds to the spellbinding, almost otherworldly charm of this haunting theme.
⁹ Casper the Introverted Poltergeist by Zana Christmas
The choice of choir alongside the phased synth bass was brilliant, adding a perfectly creepy vibe! It’s clear the instrumentation was chosen with care, with the synths adding a touch of that Mad Max dystopian feel. The percussion is used powerfully, adding depth, while the main melody hints at a ghost who isn’t malevolent but rather seeks to protect its peace and solitude.
¹⁰ Haunted House by ClassicalCompose
The descending melody in this piece is beautifully crafted, creating a sense of falling that adds a haunting touch. It holds onto an air of mystery and uncertainty, like carefully walking through a dark, scary place. The pizzicatos add fantastic texture, layering the suspense and enhancing the eerie atmosphere perfectly.
❗If yours isn't in the group of finalists, please don't be disappointed – we really loved listening to every submission and we're looking forward to seeing what you come up with for future challenges 💪🏻 Remember, we have one of these each month. And don't forget about the bonus points, they can make all the difference!
Thank you to everyone who participated, and don’t forget—the November challenge is just around the corner. Until then, keep creating and haunting us with your incredible music! 🎶🖤