vocal Rhapsody on devText (finished work) | theme from The Interloper series

hello

finally finished this piece, just gonna quote some info from the scoring progress thread (which you can find below)

Quote

this is a vocal work for soprano, oboe, tenor sax., celesta, piano, violin, viola, and cello.

the song is from an internet ARG/webseries, called Interloper, based around the Source game engine.

i took the song's original melody and just develop the ever living fck out of it.

ost (starts at 29:50, lyrics appear faintly at 30:09):

yknow, i enjoy composing on a small ensemble like this one or daunting steps. it's the right amount of options for color, but not too overwhelming like an orchestra

voicebank/singer: Kumi (https://cubialpha.wixsite.com/kumivoice)

analysis if you wanna read it:

--------------------------------------------------------

INTRODUCTION. (b. 1-121) > introduces the themes, containing three sections. we'll call the three intro sections 1', 2' and 3'. 1' (b. 1-44) and 3' (b. 97-121) sections are inherently the same. the 2' section (b. 45-96) is a variation/development of a motif from section 1' (the first three notes). i call it the "Look to the sky" motif, very important, appears everywhere. the oboe part of the 3rd section (b. 103) introduces the B section as a counterpoint.

b. 88 piano introduces the first part of the real main theme of the piece, and b.103 oboe counter point is the second part, which appears in the B section later. basically, the whole piece is a journey to combining these parts together, just like in the OST.  Furthermore, 1' and 3' are just rhythmically augmented versions of the first part (quarter notes instead of eights, added triplets), while 2' is created from the motif and exists as its own theme.

TRANSITION (b. 122-136), variation of 1'.

=======================================

A. (b. 137-204) > pretty much the combination of the intro's three sections. vocal entrance (b. 151). section 2' are thoroughly woven and augmented between the vocal melodies. sax part at b. 180 is the B section, again, as a counter point. the vocal part sings a lot of the motif's variation. the lyrics are repetitions of

Look to the sky
Don't contain me
I'm not here

TRANSITION (b. 205-219), same as the previous one, different instrumentation

B. (b. 221-278) > b.221 is a slight variation from section 2' (b.63). pizzicatos from b. 227 onward is the motif. oboe at b.229 restates the the main theme's first part while the left hand piano keeps the same rhythm from b.221 throughout. b.232 is the same counter point as previously, albeit variated. b.237 strings and celesta form an ostinato from the main motif, leading up to the vocal entrance.

on b. 238 onwards, the vocal sings the main theme with slight variation (repetition of "sky" and "me." the rest before "sky" was done to make it singable). viola scatters the motif everywhere while woodwinds variate the main theme's second part as counter point.

from b. 247, a new rhythm is introduced on piano left hand, sax, and viola, depicting troubling wave-like upward motions. finally, the vocal introduces the second part of the main theme alongside a new stanza.

In the dark
I am free
Out to sea
I'm just drifting here
floating

the instruments try to restate the newly sung part (b.262) but immediately get interrupted on b.266 by the return of 2'. the section builds up into:

TRANSITION (b. 280-292), another variation of 1', more epic.

A*. (b. 293-347) > instead of the strings, the piano grandly introduces the section. the rest play out just like the previous A with different instrumentation. variation of the accompaniment, most prominently with the active celesta section and the climax at b.329, which is taken from b.180 onward. The counterpoint from that section is now sung by the vocal with a new stanza, which is another piece of the second part of the main theme:

from the sky
x to y
distant light
just keeps calling me
from the sky

B*. (b. 348-398) > b.221-246 is now in a major mode and it is lighter. some figures are developed here as well (intro section 2' makes an appearance on b.376). this is a step forward toward piecing the main theme together.

however, this quickly gets interrupted on b.380, returning to the original texture. it has the same melody but with stanza from the previous climax (b.329). along with that, one final important line is added:

let me fly!

this line marks a climax, which is teased in the subsequent bars (viola b.375, sax b.376). the climax also comes with an ascending leitmotif (b.395, sax, which is just the Look to the sky motif in an upward arpeggiated line) that signifies the sung line, let me fly! 

this then transitions into the return of intro section 2'. however, instead of restating b.55 on b.409, the piece finally states the full main theme (b.408-428), as it is similar to the original song. this leads to the penultimate climax (b.441) of the entire piece. one that will then transition into the final section.

FINALE. (b. 450-521) > offbeat celesta ostinatos and strings harmonics begin the section. piano introduces the familiar theme as the preceding saxophone signals the vocal entrance. the vocal part combines the two stanza. let me fly! repeats in the vocal, finding a resolution as the whole ensemble rises until the climax on b. 486, finally resolving with a simple plagal progression. with the main motif ostinatos, the piece calms then moves to reiterate the intro section 1'. the dissonant on b.514 (taken from b.17) slides into a D maj 9 chord while the oboe resolves the main theme, ending the piece.

--------------------------------------------------------

i'll definitely make a youtube score reading video of this. hope you all enjoy !!