Parameters
Key: Various
BPM: 100
Mood: Reflective, Melancholy
Difficulty: Easy (Grades 1-3)
Duration: 1:04
External Links
About “Contemplation”
Contemplation is part of a series of miniature pieces with the goal of expressing an emotion or idea in less than 1 minute. The main idea I wanted to bring out in this composition is that in any given moment, our thoughts can move us to a million different places and scenarios but our goal is to try to be ever present and still.
This idea of constant movement in thoughts is depicted by frequently borrowing chords from the parallel minor scale. The idea of trying to be ever present and still was imagined through use of the melody/motif amidst the changing modulations.
Initially, the piece begins in C major but by bar 4, begins to borrow chords from its parallel minor scale, C minor through the use of modal interchange. This continues throughout the piece to give it that feeling of longing. By bar 19, the harmonic structure moves into a mode, C Lydian, lifting the piece’s mood and ending on D major add 9 chord.