are you quite ready for what happens at
...and there you were, thinking this was yet another solo piano piece. Do you like the central excursion into other territory? Let me know in the comments. I call this piece CONSONANTIA, by the way.
Sheet music: payhip.com/b/s...
This is the second of three pieces inspired by a famous definition of beauty - that of Thomas Aquinas. I did not learn about this from reading his Summa Theologica, but - and this will surprise no one who knows me well - from the writings of James Joyce. In 'A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man', Stephen Dedalus discusses Aquinas' definition of beauty:
"To finish what I was saying about beauty, said Stephen, the most satisfying relations of the sensible must therefore correspond to the necessary phases of artistic apprehension. Find these and you find the qualities of universal beauty. Aquinas says: Ad pulcritudinem tria requiruntur integritas, consonantia, claritas. I translate it so: Three things are needed for beauty, wholeness, harmony and radiance. Do these correspond to the phases of apprehension? Are you following?"
This much discussed theory of beauty boils it down to three elements: integritas, consonantia, and claritas. Or, in Stephen's translation: wholeness, harmony and radiance.
I don't think beauty can be simplified to those three elements in such a straightforward and elegant manner, but the idea is nevertheless appealing, and I convinced myself (perhaps foolishly) that it is a fine subject upon which to base a composition (or three). I hope you enjoy the second instalment of my trio of 'Aquinas' pieces. Integritas will follow in March, all being well.
Thanks, as always, to my Patreon supporters, who help to make these compositions possible.
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Пікірлер: 50
Fancy learning this piece yourself? Get the sheet music: payhip.com/b/sJQft
Ah that’s the part I saw on Facebook, the 5+3! I love the additional percussion instruments. Even though the mood changed, the similar piano texture there kept the whole piece consistent. Really enjoyable listen! Excellent work!
@GregHarradineComposer
5 ай бұрын
Yes, exactly! Thanks Bethany, I hope it all just about hangs together! Often I love music that suddenly embarks on a new section, with seemingly little or no relation to what came before. I'm testing that out in my own pieces now and then, with varying levels of bravery / success! Trying to walk the tightrope between having some musical consistency within a piece while also enjoying the thrill of the new.
What a beautiful and surprsing change at 1:38 🤗🤗🤗
Oh! This is amazing. I thought it was just a solo piano piece, but the exploration into other areas gives me a fresh feeling. It's impressive that I was inspired by Thomas Aquinas' definition of beauty. I feel a deep background of art and philosophy. It was interesting to hear how you interpreted the three elements of beauty musically.
@GregHarradineComposer
5 ай бұрын
Very kind of you to say, thanks for listening!
A lovely, inspired piece ........ love the rhythmic, latiny section - playful and magical work Greg :)
@GregHarradineComposer
5 ай бұрын
Thanks Richard, kind of you to say!
I can confirm, I was not ready!
@GregHarradineComposer
5 ай бұрын
Haha
Yes, beautiful scene changes, hi Greg! 👌🎵
@GregHarradineComposer
5 ай бұрын
Thanks Antonio, good to hear from you! Hope all's well!
That’s really charming! I like the Spanish vibes from 1:38 😎
@GregHarradineComposer
5 ай бұрын
Thanks! I don't know what happened really, but the section from 1:38 just materialised and I was captive to its influence...
What a wonderful and well-written composition! 🎶 I love to listening. Thanks🌹
@GregHarradineComposer
5 ай бұрын
Thank you Valentina!
Very beautiful music! Enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing.😍
@GregHarradineComposer
5 ай бұрын
Thanks, I appreciate you having a listen!
I absolutely love the outer parts of the piece with very sentimental melody and harmony! The last part changes a bit the texture but a nice change! I’m not quite ready for the middle section and feel it’s somewhat abrupt and unnecessary to introduce that big a change of mood, but nonetheless I love the piece! Henry
@GregHarradineComposer
5 ай бұрын
Thanks Henry, great to hear your thoughts. I know exactly what you mean about the middle section. It is abrupt and certainly disrupts the journey of the piece. I like doing little experiments in my pieces to surprise the listener sometimes, and it's great to hear when people think they work or when they don't!
What a great mysterious sound - so soothing and soft. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful compositions here 🤗💖🙏🎶🎹
@GregHarradineComposer
5 ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing your kind words! Great to connect on here, Sina!
I wasn't ready for the change in the music even though the title forewarned me - wonderful changes 👍🎹🎶
@GregHarradineComposer
5 ай бұрын
Thank you for listening!
wow fantastic My friend
@GregHarradineComposer
4 ай бұрын
Thanks for listening!
So beautiful and expressive! ☺ Many thanks and warm greetings! 🎶🌷🎶
@GregHarradineComposer
5 ай бұрын
Thank you for your kind word, Juliane!
A wonderful surprise! I really liked the twist! 😍Awesome! 👌🎵
@GregHarradineComposer
5 ай бұрын
Thank you Nelly, much appreciated!
I wish I could write with as much conviction as this. Looking excitedly forward to new stuff in the future!
@GregHarradineComposer
5 ай бұрын
Thanks for your kind words!
WOW!Bravo! Beautiful melody. I like it.
@GregHarradineComposer
5 ай бұрын
Thank you Alena, I appreciate you listening!
Wonderful 👏👏👏
@GregHarradineComposer
5 ай бұрын
Thank you, as always, Peter!
@peternaryd_operasinger
5 ай бұрын
You're so welcome!
Wow, I certainly was not expecting that! Reminded me of Salsa Celtica. You might be interested by the work of Alfred Schnittke. He specialised in polystylism. Polystylism has never been my strong point; it's a hard one to do well. In Schnittke's first symphony, we get a big jazz improvisation on piano and violin, it is delightful. Then later on there's this moment where it breaks into this imitative texture which just sounds hilarious in the context.
@GregHarradineComposer
4 ай бұрын
You're the second person who has mentioned Alfred Schnittke to me recently. I admit to not knowing his work at all, but I am going to change that very soon! Thank you.
Awesome
@GregHarradineComposer
5 ай бұрын
Thanks for listening Benjamin!
Super partage Greg!
@GregHarradineComposer
5 ай бұрын
Merci beacoup, Karine!
An interesting description, especially the reflection on what even is beauty? I like the idea of radiance and harmony, wholeness on the other hand is an interesting one, because in Japanese aesthetics there's an idea of wabi-sabi, imperfection as a thing that can be very beautiful. So that's something to think about. I like how your style seems to be a kind of 'refusal to be categorised'. There are elements that strike me as less typical of classical style, and then way less typical of classical style (lol!), which is curious. It does raise an interesting question about, why introduce such a striking change in the sound? By the way, check out Alannah Marie if you haven't already.
@GregHarradineComposer
4 ай бұрын
Your comments are really thoughtful and gave me much to think about (unless most comments!). So, thanks again. All I'm really doing, honestly, is composing what I like to compose. I don't usually introduce such a striking change in the sound in my pieces, although I have done it once or twice before (see my Sylva Sylvarum - kzread.info/dash/bejne/g6ao14-KaN3boag.html - or, my Oxen Of The Sun, which changes style a huge amount, thanks to the influence of James Joyce - kzread.info/dash/bejne/hJ-s18iplrjYg5c.html).
@GregHarradineComposer
4 ай бұрын
May I ask why do recommend I check out Alannah Marie in particular? I already subscribed to her, and have heard a few pieces, which I've really liked.
@CameronWattMusic
4 ай бұрын
@@GregHarradineComposer I use her canon video as a reference video, which is really good. Her videos about Xenakis also help me to understand Nomos Alpha which is a cool piece.
gipsy dance happens there,
@GregHarradineComposer
5 ай бұрын
Haha, something like that!