Composition Process Diary

Brainstorming

● What is the mood/s I am trying to create?

● What style of music will I be composing my piece/s in?
● How will I utilise the Concepts of Music in order to achieve this?
Complete the table below.

Reference Tracks

Listen to some reference tracks that are composed in the style you would like
to compose in and that have the same mood that you are aiming to create in
your composition. Consider in the table below how the Concepts of Music
have been effectively utilised in these reference tracks to create style and
mood:

Reference track 1
Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id0kbyKCG8c&themeRefresh=1
Style of music - Vi
Mood - Dreamy, Fantastical, Ethereal

Concept of Music How have the Concepts of Music

been effectively utilised in this piece
of music to create style and mood?

Pitch The theme uses very repetitive

melodies to create a dreamy and
trance like sound in the key of D
minor. The staccato melody that
ascends and descends both
 diatonically and chromatically is used
to showcase the uncertain harmonies
whether its major or minor. The
harmonies are also outlined by the
string sections playing long. It also
has small counter melodies that play
to contrast the main staccato and
add a touch of uniqueness to
different areas of the piece.

Duration It is a 4/4 piece that mainly consists

of semiquavers the entire theme and
is set at a moderate tempo. However
the short rhythms of the harp are
contrasted by long semibreves of the
string section that create a dreamy
but elusive and ethereal feel to the
piece.

Dynamics & Expressive Techniques It remains quite loud throughout the

piece with little movement but each
instrument exists in a seperate
dynamic range.

Tone Colour The theme uses a variety of typically

none used together instruments such
as a harp, string section or
instrument eg. Violin/cello/viola, a
bass sympathiser. However these
instruments are used in a very bright
tone colour while maintaining a small
sense of groundness.

Structure The piece uses a main motif within

the staccato as the top of each small
run links together with each other to
create a strong motif that is often
repeated throughout the song. The
structure of the piece lacks an B
section rather descends harmonically
into a more dissonant and
uncomfortable feel until resolving
back to the beginning and repeating.
This can be seen as an A, A
structure where both the A sections
are the conflict and resolution and
 looping.

Texture The piece uses counter melody

within just the harp as the instrument
contradicts itself creating a counter
melody later in the A section.
However the harp is very clearly
accompanied by the strings and bass
synth. The piece is very airy and
mystical in sound as the instruments
chosen don't really convey a more
human feel but not so bad as to
seem threatening but rather ethereal
and natural.

My Composition

Now consider in the table below how you will utilise the Concepts of Music in
order to create style and mood:

Concept of Music How I will utilise this Concept of

Music in order to create style and the
desired mood

Pitch The piece is set in D major before

modulating to A major and then
returning for the ending. My piece
uses sus2 chords in order to make
the harmony of the piece uncertain
adding to a dreamy and ethereal feel.
The main melody on flute is
accompanied by a staccato
ascending melody that repeats itself
to reveal the I, ii, iii, dsus2 chord
progression. It repeats itself and
uses dissonance in order to make
the modulation to A major and back
as smooth as possible.

Duration The main flute melody consists of

long stretched out notes and triplets
that contrast the main staccato and
rhythmic backbone of the straight
 16th notes. This contrast creates a
commonly used 3:4 polyrhythm
within the piece. The main driving
16th notes are accompanied by
marimba playing crotchets to
emphasise the down beat.

Dynamics & Expressive Techniques The flute is set at a higher dynamic

level with uses of trills in order to
create more interesting sounds within
the melody. At times the flute
decrescendos to create space for
new parts of the piece and at the
ending the other instruments swell
crescendoing then descrendoes to
signal the end.

Tone Colour It is very plucky but smooth in

countour for the flute but shaky in
countour for the other instruments
except marimba.

Structure It exists in a A, B then ending

structure.

Texture It is very etheareal to create a

dreamy landscape in the listeners
mind. It is very thin with many layers
that contradict each other. It has a
polyphonic ish feel as the two main
melodys contrast each other with the
staccato and the flute. Some
instruments exist as countermelodies
while others like marimba exist as
accompaniest.

Composition Process Diary

Date What am I working on Teacher Feedback

today?

6/9/23 Discovered main

staccato melody

7/9/23 Repeated various types

of the staccato and
 created main flute
melody

8/9/23 Marimba added as

accompaniest

10/9/23 Added lower harp bass

line

11/9/23 Changed harmonies to

be more clear (use of
sus2 and various minor
chords)

12/9/23 Ending created

13/9/23 Modulation to A major

added

15/9/23 Finishing touches