A music composition portfolio

Abstract

The music composition portfolio consists of three works presented into three chapters. The chapters are going to be divided as follows. The first chapter includes a choral-orchestral work that adds up to a total duration of approximately 13’30 minutes. The piece is written for full orchestra, that is, the usual woodwind, brass, and string families, the harp and timpani, and for the percussion section I used the bass drum, tam-tam, tambourine, tenor drum, cymbals and gong; and a four-voice choir with soloists from every voice section. It is based on different modes suggesting Semitic cultures and religions. The text from where the lyrics sung by the voices is taken, is Psalm 150, the very last one found in the Book of Psalms, and which is common to both Christians and Jews. The composition gets its title from the Psalm itself, because not only the text is taken from this Psalm, but also the structural idea of the composition was inspired by it. The second chapter consists of a composition meant for a small chamber ensemble. It is entitled “Trio”, and in fact written for a violin, a clarinet and a xylophone. The total duration of this piece is around 10’30 minutes. Like the choral-orchestral piece, the basis of this composition is the use of different modes. In this piece I used pentatonic, hexatonic, and heptatonic modes, which altogether sum up the twelve semitones found in an octave. These modes give the piece an oriental feeling and a sense of ambiguity. At the same time, I think that the achievement of ambiguity in this work is what makes it interesting. The common feature between “Hallelujah” and “Trio” is the use of the modes. Although in two very distinct ways, both show my interest in exploring different modes, and the relationship there can be between them when used together in the same piece. Chapter three is the piece entitled “Sliem?”. The word sliem itself means peace, and in this composition I tried to present calmness and serenity through music. It is written for the piano and is approximately 6 minutes in all. It is very different from the other two, in that instead of modes it is based on two simple chords. In fact the main them of the work is the arpeggiated chord by which the piece eventually fades out by the sustained sound of this arpeggio as a block chord. Furthermore, the structure of this last piece is much more obvious than those of the other two compositions. Every composition is accompanied by a short analysis including examples from the works to explain better what is going on in the music.