OOTM May 2023 (Original of the month) - compose something with an irregular form

1712 Views 91 Replies 16 Participants Last post by Mrblackbat, 3 d ago

Mrblackbat

Discussion Starter · 1 mo ago

Hey all! Thanks to everyone who took part last month!

For this month the, the challenge is around form. Hopefully everyone here has a grasp of musical form, but if not the Wiki page is here.

Almost all music has form of some sort; that is structure of the melodies and harmonies into sections, usually terminated with cadences. Some examples are the verse/chorus pattern of modern pop songs, or the AABA and ABAC patterns of tin pan alley songs, or rondo in classical music where a theme is repeated interspersed with new material.

Form brings structure to music but can also be very predictable, as a 32 bar AABA tin pan alley songs can sometimes sound. So for this month, the challenge is to spice things up a little and make the form of the piece a bit more unpredicatble; this could be unequal section lengths, a section that is never introduced and never repeated, a completely through composed piece.... whatever you like really!

Reactions: 3

1 - 20 of 92 Posts

J-Moen

· #2 · 1 mo ago

I've been planning something with this, so I think I'll actually get a full tune out this month! Fun choice!

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Roundmidnite

· #3 · 1 mo ago

I’ve always wanted to write something through composed so this might give me the incentive!

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AddictedToSax

· #4 · 1 mo ago

Please explain "through composed" for the non-music-theory-guy.

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Mrblackbat

Discussion Starter · #5 · 1 mo ago

AddictedToSax said:
Please explain "through composed" for the non-music-theory-guy.

One huge A section! I.e. you don't really return to any of the thematic material you've written in the piece so far.

whamptoncourt

· #6 · 1 mo ago

Too easy! Describes 90+% of what I do. Ha!

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TheElusiveSaxTurtle

· #7 · 1 mo ago

I’m trying to write a song right now, and the format when it’s completed will probably be something along the lines of ABCDB

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Roundmidnite

· #8 · 1 mo ago

TheElusiveSaxTurtle said:
I’m trying to write a song right now, and the format when it’s completed will probably be something along the lines of ABCDB

I would say that is an irregular form so meets the criteria for the challenge. But we’ll see what Mr. Blackbat thinks. 🦇

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J-Moen

· #9 · 1 mo ago

TheElusiveSaxTurtle said:
I’m trying to write a song right now, and the format when it’s completed will probably be something along the lines of ABCDB

Hey that's how my daughter sings the alphabet

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swperry1

· #10 · 1 mo ago

Roundmidnite said:
I’ve always wanted to write something through composed so this might give me the incentive!

I also think a through composed piece would be a good OOTM thread of its own. Are you familiar with The Bad plus Joshua Redman album?

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TheElusiveSaxTurtle

· #11 · 1 mo ago

Unfortunately the piece I’m writing is for me and my brothers, which is not a problem in and of itself, but does mean that I’ll only really be able to give the electronically generated version. My brothers are all younger than me and so they’ll have to do a decent amount of work to get to the level of the piece, even though I am compensation for skill level🫤

Reactions: 1

Mrblackbat

Discussion Starter · #12 · 1 mo ago

TheElusiveSaxTurtle said:
I’m trying to write a song right now, and the format when it’s completed will probably be something along the lines of ABCDB

TheElusiveSaxTurtle said:
Unfortunately the piece I’m writing is for me and my brothers, which is not a problem in and of itself, but does mean that I’ll only really be able to give the electronically generated version. My brothers are all younger than me and so they’ll have to do a decent amount of work to get to the level of the piece, even though I am compensation for skill level🫤

That's all fine, I've been on computer playback for most of this stuff.

Look forwards to hearing it and hopefully your brothers enjoy it too!

Reactions: 1

Roundmidnite

· #13 · 1 mo ago

swperry1 said:
I also think a through composed piece would be a good OOTM thread of its own. Are you familiar with The Bad plus Joshua Redman album?

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Hello – I had not heard this record. Listen to a bunch of it today. It’s so cool to hear amazing players be so free and come up with so many different ideas. The possibilities seem endless really!

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whamptoncourt

· #14 · 30 d ago (Edited)

If the above isn't working type in:

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whamptoncourt

· #15 · 30 d ago

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Mrblackbat

Discussion Starter · #16 · 30 d ago

whamptoncourt said:

Nice! Lots of very unexpected developments in that one! Is this from the collaborative group you play with?

whamptoncourt

· #17 · 29 d ago (Edited)

Mrblackbat said:
Nice! Lots of very unexpected developments in that one! Is this from the collaborative group you play with?

I'm surprised to see that this is still posted, and even more surprised that anyone could view/hear it. Wasn't working for me (tried posting it three times) and asked the moderators to take it down until I could get it fixed with yourtube. I still can't get this to play for me on this site!

Yes, I work with a group of people. We collaboratively work on tracks via file sharing. No standards, or copyright material is the main guideline. All original and often (like this one) not fitting into any genera. Composition by committee?...well, sort of! I don't play drums, bass, keyboards or guitar. Hats off to those who do play all those, or can get these things happening in their computer. The alternative is to hear my one note at a time and have to imagine what the rest would sound like.

If this doesn't seem like it's in the spirit of the challenge I'm OK with it being removed. This is the only way I currently work, or to just do the sax "one note at a time" alternative.

Cheers!

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Reactions: 3

Mrblackbat

Discussion Starter · #18 · 29 d ago

whamptoncourt said:
I'm surprised to see that this is still posted, and even more surprised that anyone could view/hear it. Wasn't working for me (tried posting it three times) and asked the moderators to take it down until I could get it fixed with yourtube. I still can't get this to play for me on this site!

Yes, I work with a group of people. We collaboratively work on tracks via file sharing. No standards, or copyright material is the main guideline. All original and often (like this one) not fitting into any genera. Composition by committee?...well, sort of! I don't play drums, bass, keyboards or guitar. Hats off to those who do play all those, or can get these things happening in their computer. The alternative is to hear my one note at a time and have to imagine what the rest would sound like.

If this doesn't seem like it's in the spirit of the challenge I'm OK with it being removed. This is the only way I currently work, or to just do the sax "one note at a time" alternative.

Cheers!

To be honest, to me, the "challenge" is merely meant to be some form of inspiration to do something rather than to not do something. So if someone writes a 32 bar AABA tune and submits it, I'm certainly not going to say "NOOOOOO YOU DIDN'T COMPLY TO THE RULES".

On which note, I should start to write something.....

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Saxophone Strange

· #19 · 29 d ago

Mrblackbat said:
To be honest, to me, the "challenge" is merely meant to be some form of inspiration to do something rather than to not do something. So if someone writes a 32 bar AABA tune and submits it, I'm certainly not going to say "NOOOOOO YOU DIDN'T COMPLY TO THE RULES".

On which note, I should start to write something.....

To be fair a 32 bar tune with 4 sections 2 of 7 measures 1 of 9 measures and 1 of 8 measures would still be irregular.

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Mrblackbat

Discussion Starter · #20 · 29 d ago

Saxophone Strange said:
To be fair a 32 bar tune with 4 sections 2 of 7 measures 1 of 9 measures and 1 of 8 measures would still be irregular.

Hah, you tweaked my nit picking mode now; that can't be AABA, and also 7*2 + 9 + 8 = 31.... ahem.

I'll go get my coat.

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