Kanonic Variations

This was composed as an experimental piece aimed to combine a "musical mode" originating in india called todi (which is basically a scale with a flat 2nd, sharp 4th, and a flat 6) with western counterpoint. Since the scale is really unstable and dissonance, it was impossible to write perfectly consonant counterpoint using the conventional rules. So I decided to make use of the dissonance to compose something which sounds meaningful and expressive to my ears. As always, constructive criticism and feedback is most appreciated! 🙂

An interesting piece for sure. Despite being set in a rather unusual mode, you manage to make it intelligible by keeping a clear shape. However, the eighth-note figure introduced in M. 25 is rhythmically jarring, at least to my ears. 

2 hours ago, GuitarThrowaway said:

An interesting piece for sure. Despite being set in a rather unusual mode, you manage to make it intelligible by keeping a clear shape. However, the eighth-note figure introduced in M. 25 is rhythmically jarring, at least to my ears. 

 

Thanks for the much appreciated feedback!

The trill and flat 2nd/4th did give some Indian vibe to the piece. Nice. Would be excited to listen it in the Indian tunings and instrument if it was possible, haha.

The Allegro section is a wild journey and brought contrast to the first slow section. 

A tiny note here: I would have notated the 4/4 time signature to 8/8 or 3+3+2/4.

On 4/18/2022 at 12:58 PM, HoYin Cheung said:

The trill and flat 2nd/4th did give some Indian vibe to the piece. Nice. Would be excited to listen it in the Indian tunings and instrument if it was possible, haha.

The Allegro section is a wild journey and brought contrast to the first slow section. 

A tiny note here: I would have notated the 4/4 time signature to 8/8 or 3+3+2/4.

 

Thanks for listening and the much appreciated feedback! Yes you're right about the time signature. I don't know if there is a way to notate compound time signatures in musescore that's why I divided the bars into 6/8 and 4/4 although you're right. 8/8 should have been more accurate

6 hours ago, ComposedBySam said:

Thanks for listening and the much appreciated feedback! Yes you're right about the time signature. I don't know if there is a way to notate compound time signatures in musescore that's why I divided the bars into 6/8 and 4/4 although you're right. 8/8 should have been more accurate

 

You can do just about anything you want with time signatures in Musescore at this point.  Here's the relevant page, and if you get stuck googling "musescore" and some key words to the problem will generally get you to someone who has asked the question before in the forums. 🙂.  https://musescore.org/en/handbook/3/time-signatures

6 hours ago, pateceramics said:

You can do just about anything you want with time signatures in Musescore at this point.  Here's the relevant page, and if you get stuck googling "musescore" and some key words to the problem will generally get you to someone who has asked the question before in the forums. 🙂.  https://musescore.org/en/handbook/3/time-signatures

 

Thanks a lot! I'll check it out then

Nicely done, and I totally support your decision not to go into contortions to preserve a strict canon all the way through. People may not be aware that most (all?) Indian classical music is about single melodic lines and doesn't use a harmonic "support" like we're used to hearing in Western music. So employing counterpoint to find the emergent harmony that comes naturally from your chosen raga is great experiment, and I'd say it succeeded!

On 4/21/2022 at 7:43 AM, Tom Statler said:

Nicely done, and I totally support your decision not to go into contortions to preserve a strict canon all the way through. People may not be aware that most (all?) Indian classical music is about single melodic lines and doesn't use a harmonic "support" like we're used to hearing in Western music. So employing counterpoint to find the emergent harmony that comes naturally from your chosen raga is great experiment, and I'd say it succeeded!

 

Thanks a lot! Now I feel more confident to develop more pieces in a similar style