Month: May 2016

When I approach structures that are not tonal or modal in convention, I usually pick something simple to work from.  The last improvisation used a set and the theoretical model of the harmonic series.  This improvisation is a simple movement from one pitch center to another: C# to Eb.  But it is far more complex with the organ in terms of orchestration. The addition of mutation stops convolutes the pitch material; something I tried to manipulate as the improvisation went along.  There is also some rhythmic-“Rite-of-Spring” type of pulsing.  A terrible admittance: if you listen closely, you can hear the spring action of the organ ever-so-slightly in the background.

 

The next series of posts will be a set of improvisations I have titled “Evening Improvisations.”  After the previous improvisation post, I realized that I would like to flex other musical muscles that I do not typically use during liturgies.  I doubt that my church and congregation would appreciate this sort of thing during a liturgy.  That being said, this first of the series is simply based on a couple of pitches which upon reflection resemble something like a 0,1,3,4 set (sets are often unintentional until I realize that I’m using it) and the theoretical harmonic series of a D.  Loosely, of course, as it is an improvisation and my ear plays a big part in the overall progression.

Postscript: I forgot to add that though D as a central pitch from which the material was initially born, it’s really F# that takes central focus.