‌Listening to the music you create on Flat has inspired me. I want to share with our community some reviews about wonderful songs that I have found on the platform. This is an opportunity to get to know Flat's composers, and to get their amazing songs across.

For this first review, let’s talk about The Sorrow Remains by Yoni.

I remember Pierre, our CEO, telling me, in my first days at Flat, that I would discover wonderful composers on the platform. He was right!

I've been listening to some great songs that I have found. To my surprise, when I approached the team to show them the scores, they already knew them. We feel proud to have this great community of composers creating art and such beautiful music.

We listen to the music you write.

I went to the Discover section. I randomly chose Yoni's composition. Honestly, I skipped the description and just clicked on play. I was pleasantly surprised by an unexpected change in the middle of the song. That triggered my curiosity. I went to read the description and what a description it was. It was short story about the overwhelming and beautiful condition of being alive.

''I just find myself sitting at the piano whenever I have a‌‌ feeling or an idea that needs to be expressed in a way where words fail. I‌‌ sit. I play. When something takes hold of me, I stick with it for a bit,‌‌and then record myself playing it. Then I move it to Flat, and let the‌‌ music take me where it will''

After reading the description, I listened again. I closed my eyes, and the story was being projected like a movie in my imagination. I could feel the pain of the character. Then, I decided to look carefully into the written music.
The song starts in Eb minor key with a Largo tempo. Considering what we discussed in the article ''How to project emotions trough music: Choosing the key'' , this gives you a clue about the feeling behind the composition.

Yoni himself told us that:

''The song started with a somber feeling, musically speaking''

The song starts with the piano alone with a constant and reflexive melody that recalls the character's inevitable destiny. In some measures, the final notes of the melody are different, eliciting a feeling of dispossession.

Also, some alterations show up, subtle gleams. For instance, D# is included by the composer, which generates tension and evokes the need for a change.

The first instrument layer is the contrabass, which accentuates the depth of the song. Then, the other strings and percussion join. The rhythm is constant, creating expectations. You know that something is going to happen, and it does. Yoni majestically changes the key of the song from Eb minor to Eb major.

I loved that change!

In section D, there is a thirty-notes fall sequence, bringing dynamism to the song, and recalling the inevitable fall of the character. The song is back in the minor key.

I want to point out that the key changes are made with harmonic elegance by Yoni. For instance, he uses Bb as a connector to go from Eb minor to Eb major. Bb is the V degree of both scales, which makes the modulation subtle and eloquent.

''I felt a change was needed, so I sat down at the piano. I never know what will come, I just start with a feeling, start playing, and see what evolves...I let the music – and the feelings it brings out in me – lead''

The constant melody returns. But this time, and until the end of the song, the piano is no longer alone. This evokes a change of perception and acceptance.

''The sorrow remains, but his next footsteps are not taken without hope. And so he continues on his long walk of life, towards destinations unknown, but no longer unwelcome''

I honestly loved the sound of this song. This is partly due to Corentin, our Audio Engineer, and his amazing work on the new piano.

I reached out to Yoni to get to know him a little and find out what inspires him as a composer.He is a kind person, and an intuitive and experienced composer. He has eclectic influences, which gives him a rich musical lexicon while composing.

About The Sorrow Remains, Yoni said that he had been learning the 1st‌‌ movement of Beethoven’s *Moonlight Sonata*, and that emotional‌‌ baggage triggered his song

I am always curious about creative processes. In this case, I wondered if the short story was inspired by the song or the other way around. It happened simultaneously for Yoni.

''Honestly, the song was nearly finished when I wrote that, though the idea
was already in my head. I was at my children’s karate lesson, when I
realized that I had no WiFi available to compose. So, instead, I wrote the
accompanying story on my phone''

Pretty interesting, isn't it?

I urge you to listen to The Sorrow Remains if you haven't done it yet.

Thanks Yoni for your amazing creations and for being part of Flat's community.

Sincerely,