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Annuccia
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I don't know if this is the right section, I would like to reproduce on the instrument (the piano) the effect that is usually used when referring to magic.
I don't know how to explain it in words, but typically, even in films or cartoons, a "magical" presence is musically represented by a certain "sound" in a broad sense.
I hope I explained myself.
To make a long story short, which notes are they?
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...have you already explored the whole tone scale?
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You should clarify what you mean by "magic," because even true esotericism, in music, has been evoked in very various and different ways and styles. It is one thing to evoke Aladdin's lamp, another the witches of Benevento, and yet another is spiritism, but then there is also a certain "new age" way of understanding magic, which is still very different...
If you have a reference piece in mind, we can start by observing that. I think it is the simplest thing to do.
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Carlos wrote:Humbly, I suggest...
Saint-Saens: Le Carnaval des Animaux, Aquarium
Beautiful Carlos
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CromaDiBrera wrote:You should clarify what you mean by "magic," because even true esotericism in music has been evoked in very various and different ways and styles. It is one thing to evoke Aladdin's lamp, another the witches of Benevento, and yet another is spiritism, but then there is also a certain "new age" way of understanding magic, which is still very different...
If you have a reference piece in mind, we can start by observing that. I think it is the simplest thing.
You are right, but I think perhaps Frank understood instantly; my question was much more banal and I greatly appreciated your insights—in fact, if I wanted to develop something... thank you.
I don't know if I have truly found the notes; the whole-tone scale is made of only tones, and indeed F# G# A# C D E F# G# A# C in succession strongly resemble what I was looking for. Does the succession I proposed say more to you? Besides, I don't even know which instrument is generally used.
Thank you all three, and I hope Croma does some further analysis.
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I am no expert in magic but, even if I were, perhaps I would avoid talking about it here... In any case, octatonic scales played over the resulting chords (especially diminished seventh chords) sound a bit "spooky". The whole-tone scale they suggested to you is a bit more "dreamy", while the use of modal scales where the supertonic is a semitone interval away (insisting within the same harmonic realm) can evoke an "arcane" dimension. Timbre can also play its part (I say this improperly, since we are always talking about the piano), if one prefers few delicate touches in the highest register... These are just random thoughts, because one really needs to know better what you mean by "magical". Once, I happened to create a theatrical scene where, however, the effect was one of spectral magic: I used an octatonic half-step/whole-step melody, in a very steady female falsetto (non-vibrato), over simple perfect triads played by harp and celesta, which then evolved in a choral manner; on stage, two women were wiping blood from the floor with rags and, gradually, others were added... The effect was truly "uncanny"...
Anyway, the example proposed by Carlos is certainly much more useful than any other: it is truly a masterpiece of the genre, revisited countless times even in cinema. You will notice that, even here, high-pitched sounds are used, rich in harmonics, delicate but resonant, somewhat with a "music box effect" that you could reproduce well on the piano. Looking for this score (it shouldn't be difficult) could be an excellent idea if you are particularly interested in delving deeper.
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Evidently, the 800 aquarium was not the cheerful, brightly lit household device with bubbles, pebbles, and flashy fish like the one in the video that we are used to...! To me it is clear that, according to the Maestro, it was rather a nightmare...
Thank you Carlos, for reminding me of this piece that had impressed me as a child and which, in effect, I had completely forgotten.
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This piece by Saint-Saëns is simply stunning. It had been a lifetime since I last listened to it! The last time I heard it was in an episode of The Simpsons
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The magic!
Every scale can sound magical, in my opinion. You just need to know how to propose the right orchestration and it's done! The harp is a very magical instrument! I have "noticed" that on the harp even a very banal harmonic minor scale (not necessarily starting from the tonic) sounds magical in a certain sense.
For magic, refer to Mr. Claude Debussy or M. Ravel or O. Respighi, corridor 3. Thank you.
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I believe everyone who saw "Beauty and the Beast" as a child knows Saint-Saëns' piece... truly wonderful! evocative and magical!
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...but how much Franck is in there?!
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aren't you referring to the theremin?
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riccardoM wrote:aren't you referring to the theremin?
If you are referring to me, I am talking about syntax and the way of treating melody ... not so much the color of the instruments or the sonic texture. For this reason Franck was certainly much more Wagnerian
