June - July, 2026 | First Draft Composing | LAM Milestone
@07/04/2026 3:58 PM (EDT)
Below is an update on all the music I have so far. I’m going to take the weekend of July 4–5 to work on another project, then return on the 6th to start filling in the rest of the music—finishing the major songs and completing sections that are currently spoken word with instrumental underscore. I’ll keep writing update blogs and sending music as it comes.
I’m also moving to Dallas the week of the 15th, so my goal is to get most of the music into a more finished state by July 15, before I have to drive down to Texas.
Prelude - Instrumental - 3’
Need to write between July 6–15. Instrumental only—already have half a demo, and just need to transcribe and elongate it. This is the beginning scene, which is going to be pretty chill: just instrumental in the background, setting the scene of a summer day with snow—eerie and cold—while the photographer is working in the studio, but without any singing.
Photographer’s 1st Song - Snow In June - 5’
Mostly composed and mostly completed; I need to fill in the second half of the climax, keep writing the ending piano solo, and then it’s done.
Photographer’s 1st Spoken Monologue - Discover Photos, Introduce Gene Tong - 4’
Need to write between July 6–15. Instrumental only, with the Photographer’s spoken words over the music. The underscore should stay in the background and not get in the way of the dialogue—cinematic, subtle, and supportive.
Gene Tong’s Song - Let Me Go! - 6’
Vocals are complete, and the instrumental parts are mostly complete. I still need to finish the ending: piano, viola, and voice return to the opening of this song, then the viola solo should complement the baritone recitative all the way through.
Photographer’s 2nd Spoken Dialogue - Transition from Gene Tong to Ah Wing - 4’
Need to write the instrumental parts between July 6–15. Finalize the dialogue/monologue text (same idea as the last monologue).
I’m not sure whether I want a cinematic through-line between the monologues separated by the major characters’ songs. It could be helpful to create some organization at those breakpoints—almost like short interludes. But it may be cool to have each interlude to be distinct so the pacing doesn’t stay the same, and so there’s a sense of progression toward the end. May look at Cage’s Prepared Piano Sonata (there are quite a few interludes) to see how those are structured.
Ah Wing’s Song - Prosperity Was My Dream - 6’
About 90% complete—both the vocals and the instrumental. I still need to write the climactic section of the instrumental, which will likely be the most intense part and use proportional or graphic notation.
Photographer’s 3rd Spoken Dialogue - Start of Funeral March, Introduce Tong Fighter - 3’
Need to write the instrumental parts between July 6–15.
Tong Fighter’s Monologue - I Deserve To Be Forgotten - 6’
Vocals are finished, and the viola part is about halfway done. I still need to keep writing and compose a piano part. T
he inspiration is very much from Schoenberg’s late writing in general, but specifically I’ve been looking at pierrot lunaire. Similar vibe, but I don’t want to use strict 12 tone technique. So still working that out.
Photographer’s 4th Spoken Dialogue - Send Away Tong Fighter, Proceed To Funeral - 3’
Need to write the instrumental parts between July 6–15.
Photographer’s Closing Song - To Forgive Is To Remember - 5’
Need to write the instrumental parts between July 6–15.