On the surface, "17325 (Waltz for NDC)" was composed as part of my fourth midterm exam, which was to make a romantic-style waltz, two and a half minutes long, structured to meet the academic criteria. That’s the absolute lens. But beneath the formalism lies something more personal.
The title itself, "Waltz for NDC", is not arbitrary. It’s a quiet dedication, a musical gesture toward others whose presence once shaped my emotional landscape. If you’ve heard "cycling remains", you’ll know that piece carries the raw aftermath of a ruptured bond. This waltz, however, is the echo that follows. It doesn’t grieve aloud; it dances with memory.
I chose the waltz form deliberately. There’s something cyclical about it; the way it turns, returns, and never quite escapes its own rhythm. That mirrors how I felt: emotionally circling back to moments that no longer exist, yet still haunt the edges of my creative process.
So yes, while 17325 fulfills its academic purpose, it also serves as a tribute. A final dance. A way of saying goodbye without words.
On the surface, "17325 (Waltz for NDC)" was composed as part of my fourth midterm exam, which was to make a romantic-style waltz, two and a half minutes long, structured to meet the academic criteria. That’s the absolute lens. But beneath the formalism lies something more personal.
The title itself, "Waltz for NDC", is not arbitrary. It’s a quiet dedication, a musical gesture toward others whose presence once shaped my emotional landscape. If you’ve heard "cycling remains", you’ll know that piece carries the raw aftermath of a ruptured bond. This waltz, however, is the echo that follows. It doesn’t grieve aloud; it dances with memory.
I chose the waltz form deliberately. There’s something cyclical about it; the way it turns, returns, and never quite escapes its own rhythm. That mirrors how I felt: emotionally circling back to moments that no longer exist, yet still haunt the edges of my creative process.
So yes, while 17325 fulfills its academic purpose, it also serves as a tribute. A final dance. A way of saying goodbye without words.
Watch the official visualizer here: https://youtu.be/qSDowXEPzj0