How to make a musical theme fit any context

[@GalenDeGraf]

In case it wasn’t clear from this video: Powell‘s How to Train Your Dragon is probably my favorite score to an animated film, and I think it should be essential listening for all composers. If you aren‘t familiar with it outside of this video, do yourself a favor and: 1. Watch the movie 2. Watch the sequels 3. Listen again (at least) to "Test Drive" and "Forbidden Friendship“ 4. Buy the full score through Omni Publishing (link in description, with no affiliation)

[@KrystofDreamJourney]

Anything from Omni is essential !! BTW : I'm adapting ending of "Test Drive" as a wedding processional ! The bride is obsessed with entire "Dragon' series 🙂

[@GalenDeGraf]

@@KrystofDreamJourney Since the flying theme‘s "body" is stepwise on strong beats, it is also fun to adapt into scale exercises.

[@KrystofDreamJourney]

@@GalenDeGrafYes. Just like anything Debussy, Stravinskky etc. 😊

[@derycktrahair8108]

Thanks for a thoughtful video. Consider 'Peter & the Wolf' (Prokofiev op 67) where each character has his theme, & no matter what he goes through in the work we know who he is. It's what Jazz players do (often without the Academic analysis) & it's natural in telling a story in Music. To write it down we need your knowledge. Thank you for sharing it l.

[@monoverantus]

Your editing, man... I know it's not the point of the video, but still, it's just so smooth, aesthetic and pedagogic.

[@GalenDeGraf]

So glad to hear you say that! I have a vision of the editing for my theory vids to actually be a central component not just from an aesthetic standpoint (which I do value a lot), but because I can often say less and let the visuals clarify. And this becomes more valuable as the concepts I communicate become more technical.

[@GlortMusic]

When I saw the thumbnail, I immediately thought about the 4 movements of Beethoven's 9th Symphony: 1 - Tragedy, 2 - Terror, 3 - Triumph, 4 - (ode to) Joy.

[@puvendranpillay8802]

Ok

[@kayzkitchen2420]

True

[@irbomusic]

It's nice to see another person appreciate John Powell's creative leitmotif modulations. His new soundtrack for Migration is also really nice

[@MFJMD564]

This is an advanced topic, and since I don't know modes well yet, it's hard to follow. But it's worth making the effort to understand it completely, because it's pure genius packed into a 27-minute video! With that harmonic and melodic knowledge presented here, you'll significantly expand your compositional skills!! And surprisingly, this video has helped me understand how to use modes, it's great to be able to play the same song in various modes to build different emotions!

[@KrystofDreamJourney]

Out of tons of similar videos explaining for the students the same exact thing, yours is the best IMHO - in terms of graphic design, elegance, colors choices and overall methodology. Bravo ! As a matter of fact Debussy's concept of scalar adaptation to the underlining ever changing harmony is a base for any jazz improv, and in general of any composing process (including Powell's or any other Hollywood composer's). Fluency within any scale with any intervalic combinations, strong beat emphasis in groups (or awareness of them to be more precise - you don't need to accent anything) patterns, permutations, melodic shapes are to be practiced on daily basis. In All 12 centers equally. Endlessly, and to the point of complete mind-apparatus fluency (but NEVER a mere muscle memory). For the pianist (myself) transposition is essential. Intervallic approach is great for that. It works ! It really does 🙂I remember being introduced to this concept of intervallic fluency by Jerry Bergonzi back in the early 1990s (Berklee). He could play any melody in any "key", adapt it to any vertically changing harmony, modifying intervals (if necessary) etc. His entire concept of pentatonics for example is all intervalic structure based, that goes beyond certain tonality... Just like in Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett etc. piano improvs or Michael Brecker's sax solos.

[@max_mussi]

When I watched the video I couldn't believe the channel only had 7k subs, great stuff.

[@MFJMD564]

One month later: 7k + 4k! 👍

[@shawnlee8192]

unexpectedly this might have been one of the best videos for jazz improv inspirations ty

[@TG_BRUH]

You deserve so many more subscribers. Not only do you explain the music theory really well. But the editing is also very on point with the style of your videos. great work!

[@Osoch]

This is the best music related channel I've ever found

[@GalenDeGraf]

Thank you! As long as people appreciate what I‘m doing here, I‘ll keep making more when I can!

[@JevatJes]

​@@GalenDeGraf WE Thank you!

[@Coloron]

This channel is PURE GOLD

[@melissaflettner]

I wondered why this video seemed so familiar when it's only 6 days out on KZbin - I looked up your other videos and remembered the video about scalar mapping about two months ago I really like not only your explanation style but especially your video style. It is - as you can see - very memorable. Keep up the good work 👏

[@TimN-5]

This is some really high quality content. I hope your channel takes off!

[@ILF8977]

Thank you sooo much for this!!!! What a masterclass!

[@VexVex24]

Amazing video! You can really do a lot to a theme and still keep it recognizable.

[@regularly_priced]

Personally I think the scale degree approach is much more intuitive than the intervalic approach because it’s like a whole map of which notes are more or less important in the scale. For example, in the Phrygian Dominant scale, seeing all the notes in your head as scale degrees makes it easier to conceptualize the 5 as a “structural” note, flat 2 and the flat 6 as dissonant tones, and the natural 3 as the tone that changes the feel from minor to major. Just thinking of different intervals makes it easier to get lost and not focus on which note is the tonic. However, the intervalic approach does usually make for more interesting music, so it’s important to use anyway

[@GalenDeGraf]

I agree. Thinking in scale degrees is more intuitive, and that is why I explain it first. However, the interval method seems overall more robust and flexible, since in my experience it‘s easier to transfer ideas to have other starting pitches within a scale, and it also handles moving between scales of non-corresponding cardinalities with more ease.

[@KrystofDreamJourney]

23:52. This is the essence. Estehetics - all boils down to it at the end...

[@yadinmichaeli12]

Very interesting and cool,thank for the lesson 😊

[@iamrolexsir]

Marvellous Contents & Teachings Man. Super Master.

[@blueboppi]

great video structure and i feel like it was explained really well so i learnt alot. thanks!

[@xshayahyawzi3666]

brilliant video and channel. Thanks

[@Warlowisnumberone]

Incredible video! Thank you

[@lughar]

Masterpiece. I mean the video.

[@andreiviievskyi2838]

beautiful video! thanks!

[@p07a]

Love your theorizing.

[@Nyctorn]

Gotta be long term subscriber tbh

[@JevatJes]

Thank you!

[@fernandog5855]

Amazing job!

[@luukvandertogt7874]

great vid!!

[@ultra9349]

This is going to be useful since i’m currently composing a concerto and if i can have a theme from movement one show up in another way later in other movements it can tie em all together

[@CheezeGreater]

dm dokuro in the calamity mod soundtrack is a good example of using themes in a lot of contexts, like a lot a lot of contexts

[@ScubzMcTalBowling]

22:14 this sounds very similar to a theme in avatar, the part where the humans destroy Hometree.

[@radupopescu9977]

Well, it depends on what kind of film do you want. I am not Indian, but I am very accustom with Hindi style of make mood themed songs, and I never see anything so versatile. With the same sounds (as the root notes) (in the same order) but different ornamentations (they call themselves gamakas) they can give any mood you want. If you are interested check Anuja K or Vox guru on youtube. Anyway, I liked your video.

[@GalenDeGraf]

There‘s so much you can do with ornamentation that I don‘t touch upon, to the point that I was even thinking of doing a video just on ornamentation sometime in the future! I did study South Indian music formally for four years (and occasionally incorporate it into classes), but with more focus on solkattu and mrdangam. Maybe at some point I‘ll also talk about that theory as well!

[@TheSymphonium-CTYT]

Yes. I have found.

[@antomcmanus1775]

To summarise.....change the mode. Change the rhythm ....add or simplify ornimentation as needed

[@fedah333]

Tremenduuuuuuuuuussssssssssssssss

[@quinnardgreen]

debussy haha