Saturday, June 30, 2012

June Gloom #9

This is a final version of the piece I've been working on lately. As with several recent works, this one takes six notes at a time out of a 10-note scale based on the undertone series. Here is a small chart that shows the pitches and ratios used and the order of the changes. The accidentals are in the Sagittal font.
The six notes chosen are two triads. The first one in the first row is a just B flat major, played at the same time as a just C minor. This is a very consonant combinations, almost too sweet. The instruments play a melody and chords based on those two triads. The rhythm is 9/8 then 4.5/8, which is what makes the tempo sort of bouncy. After playing in the first key (Bb major, C minor), it moves to the next one in the series, a just G minor combined with sort of an A flat neutral with a messed up 5th. It gets worse from there. Eventually it comes back to the beginning, and then repeats the cycle two more times. It's the same basic melody and harmony in each chord, but the notes change with each change of key. Sometimes it sounds sweet, other times more challenging to the ear. Here is the full ten note scale, as I approximate it in 72-EDO:
The instruments are trumpet, trombone, french horn, cello, and tuba playing the melody, and bassoon, clarinet, oboe, and flute on the harmony, with a rhythm section composed of balloon and tube drums.

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Source code:

Thursday, June 28, 2012

June Gloom - more variety

This is a work in progress. Today I modified the amplitude, octaves, tempos, and added a cello and tuba to the mix.

The point of my recent music is choosing from several six note combinations from a ten note undertone scale. Some are very easy on the ears, and some are challenging. See if you can tell which is which.

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Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Saturday, June 23, 2012

More June Gloom

This is a work in progress. Adding a few more options for the melody. Now he can either trill, slide up, slide down, or play stacatto. More to come. And a few more keys.

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Friday, June 22, 2012

June Gloom

This is a work in progress. Just the woodwinds for now. The title is what Seattle is like this time of year.


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Friday, June 08, 2012

This is a work in progress. I'm working on some ways to have each instrument play the melody slightly differently. They all have the general concept, but each is different in different ways. This is the first attempt. It's very rough, but a good start beats no start, every day.
Play it here