Composition task

Compose TWO themes that you will be able to play together as a duet. One can eventually be the main melody and the other an accompaniment but the two must stand alone as two melodies in their own right. Here is an example.

The story (from the Mabinogi): Branwen is Llŷr’s daughter in the Second Branch of the Mabinogi tales. We meet her at her wedding feast whilst Efnisien, her evil half brother, is planning revenge on the family.

• Theme 1 – is Branwen’s theme; a reason to celebrate and be merry but with a shadow of sadness. This is conveyed using major and diatonic tonality with just a hint of a minor scale at the end of the phrase, almost to pre-empt what was to come. The choice of the trumpet is ceremonial with some fanfare rhythms:

• Theme 2 – stands for Efnisien’s conspiracy, with a faltering and clumsy rhythm and full of chromaticism and semitones. The pulse is really ambiguous. The bassoon is a good choice here – it’s often called the clown of the orchestra, but it can also sound quite sinister.

Even though the two themes sound very unlike each other, they can be played together because of the chords chosen:

Theme 1/2 as a duet:

After adding strings and changing just a little on Branwen’s theme at the end, it sounds fuller:

Your own attempt (with some tips):

• Your two themes should represent a different mood and be independent of each other because they will be played alone at some time or other.
• How about one being in the treble and one in the bass? This is practical and will avoid too many notes clashing against each other in the same range or tessitura. It will also give your music some space.
• Be careful, although the two themes are very different and independent, they should harmonise. You can achieve this by employing a strong harmonic structure.
• In order for all this to make some harmonic sense, try planning a chordal sequence or structure in your bars first of all. The following are just a suggestion, but can be used as a starting point. They include many of the chords learnt at the beginning of this Unit C and they could be a revision point:

Composition task 2 (extended)

By using either a poem or tale from your own area, a landscape or a painting, would it be possible to use your own two motific ideas in a short symphonic poem using the following as a springboard? Consider:

• The local landscape and its features.
• A painting from your school or local art exhibition.
• The story of a local footballer or an athlete’s success.