A Wizard’s Misfire: Musical Storytelling and Fun
Session Title
Performances
Faculty Mentor
Tomoko Deguchi, Ph.D.
College
College of Visual and Performing Arts
Department
Music
Abstract
I created this composition for Theory IV to demonstrate my mastery of scales commonly used in 20th century music. It is inspired by the jovial sounds of a Renaissance Faire. Five players traverse the journey of this piece: flute, clarinet, marimba, piano, and tambourine, a quintet representing a jolly band of bards. The three sections of this piece can be expressed as ABA’. The A section is a lively medieval jive in ¾ and C Dorian. The Dorian mode possesses a distinctly folk-like feel, exemplified in the timeless melodies of “Scarborough Fair,” “Greensleeves,” and “Drunken Sailor.” I emphasized Dorian’s characteristic scale step #6 (pitch A) in the melody of the A and A’ sections, accompanied by the corresponding IV chord. Unfortunately, a wayward sleep spell from a wizarding duel hits the band, beginning the B section with a ritardando and thinning texture. Score directions tell the tambourine player to tragically drop the tambourine and start snoring. To symbolize the magical spell fully taking effect, the pianist plays an ascending C° chord (matching the tonal center of C in section A). The B section is slow, with sparse instrumentation, soft articulation, and different musical motifs that use a different scale: the Augmented (0,1) scale - establishing an otherworldly and dreamlike feel. As the spell wears off, the music accelerates and the tambourine player “awakens,” re-adding texture into the piece. The celebratory A’ section is a louder and more ornamented return to the original tempo, symbolizing a rejuvenation of the band.
Course Assignment
MUST 212 – Deguchi
Previously Presented/Performed?
Winthrop University Showcase of
Type of Presentation
Performance of my creative work
Start Date
15-4-2023 12:00 PM
A Wizard’s Misfire: Musical Storytelling and Fun
I created this composition for Theory IV to demonstrate my mastery of scales commonly used in 20th century music. It is inspired by the jovial sounds of a Renaissance Faire. Five players traverse the journey of this piece: flute, clarinet, marimba, piano, and tambourine, a quintet representing a jolly band of bards. The three sections of this piece can be expressed as ABA’. The A section is a lively medieval jive in ¾ and C Dorian. The Dorian mode possesses a distinctly folk-like feel, exemplified in the timeless melodies of “Scarborough Fair,” “Greensleeves,” and “Drunken Sailor.” I emphasized Dorian’s characteristic scale step #6 (pitch A) in the melody of the A and A’ sections, accompanied by the corresponding IV chord. Unfortunately, a wayward sleep spell from a wizarding duel hits the band, beginning the B section with a ritardando and thinning texture. Score directions tell the tambourine player to tragically drop the tambourine and start snoring. To symbolize the magical spell fully taking effect, the pianist plays an ascending C° chord (matching the tonal center of C in section A). The B section is slow, with sparse instrumentation, soft articulation, and different musical motifs that use a different scale: the Augmented (0,1) scale - establishing an otherworldly and dreamlike feel. As the spell wears off, the music accelerates and the tambourine player “awakens,” re-adding texture into the piece. The celebratory A’ section is a louder and more ornamented return to the original tempo, symbolizing a rejuvenation of the band.
