Composition Study 1 - Drones & Modes

The first study of this module was to create a composition using an evolving drone throughout, as well as two different diatonic modes as melodies to include in the piece.

The rules for this week's tasks were: 

1. The drone must be interesting, organic and evolving.
2. No drums, percussion, drum loops etc.
3. No general MIDI sounds.  

Research

Modes 

Music modes are used within music to add more variations to melodies as opposed to normal major and minor scales. The variation is created by changing the root note of the original scale to a different note, what note that becomes determines the name of the mode. 

The different types of modal scales are as follows: 

Ionian - Also known as the major scale; follows the pattern W-W-H-W-W-W-H.

Dorian - Constructed from the second note of a major scale; follows the pattern W-H-W-W-W-H-W.

Phrygian - Constructed from the third note of a major scale; follows the pattern H-W-W-W-H-W-W.

Lydian - Constructed from the fourth note of a major scale; follows the pattern W-W-W-H-W-W-H.

Mixolydian - Also known as "mixo," is constructed from the fifth note of a major scale and follows the pattern W-W-H-W-W-H-W.

Aeolian - Also known as the natural minor scale, is constructed from the sixth note of a major scale and follows the pattern W-H-W-W-H-W-W.

Locrian - Constructed from the seventh note of a major scale; follows the pattern H-W-W-H-W-W-W. (Estrella)

Drones

Drone music is sometimes associated with spiritual, ethnic music, or music used to help meditate. A number of different instruments are capable of producing drones, such as the Australian didgeridoo or Scottish bagpipes. However modern composers generally prefer the use of synthesizers to create interesting, organic drones. It is sometimes referred to as a style of minimalist, using long sustained notes, sometimes evolving drones to create interesting developments in compositions. An effective technique for generating evolving drones is to layer different drone sounds together. Here are some examples of drone music:

Ambient Drone Neoclassical Minimalist Music

Nadja - Sky Buria

Composition

Two different modes were chosen after experimenting and playing the scales on guitar. The first was the Dorian mode in the key of B and also the Lydian diminished mode, also in the key of B. The Dorian mode interval patterns are T-S-T-T-T-S-T with the key of B being chosen because it was a key I already had experience in writing with. 

The composition was composed using Cubase with different VST instruments as well as some parts which were written and recorded on the guitar. The composition has three contrasting sections where the drone evolves and has other parts layered on top of it. The composition starts with the Lydian mode and then leads into the Dorian mode, with a harmonized guitar lead part played on guitar towards the end of the piece. The drone does evolve within the piece, as this is the underpinning of the entire composition, however there are other elements within the drone and composition to make it sound more interesting. This screenshot shows some of the creative process and the number of layers that were added to the piece.

 Final Mix 

 

Conclusion

More time was spent developing the different array of sounds that are introduced into the composition, as well as leaving more time in between them for slower, subtler change, which is a characteristic of this type of music. I feel this version of the composition better represents the uniqueness of the genre. 

References

1. komponist. (2011). Modes of the Major Scale. Available: http://musictheoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/2007/01/modes-of-major-scale.html. Last accessed Sep 2014. 

2. Espie Estrella. (2014). What are modes?. Available: http://musiced.about.com/od/beginnerstheory/f/modes.htm. Last accessed Sep 2014.

3. Atmospheric Ambience. (2012). ambient drone neoclassical minimalist music. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhuEnSZ6NSE. Last accessed Sep 2014.

4. crawlingtar. (2011). Nadja - Sky Burial. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSuoUld6LZk. Last accessed Sep 2014.