Harmonic language and recent works

I've just completed the first draft of my devised harmonic system. The system is based on a scale; the scales and intervallic relationships create chords; observations are made about the chords, their inversions, and other resulting properties. Although I have used my scales in a fairly primitive form in several previous pieces, I'm now going to start a set of orchestral studies to thoroughly test-drive the new system. I view it a bit like an artist having a palette of colours to choose from when starting a new painting.

A busy few weeks have resulted in several works being completed: a setting from The Tempest for soprano and clarinet (the first time I have written for this combination), two Scottish folksong settings for choir, a TV pilot, and three "Harmony Studies" for piano. The Harmony Studies chart a segment of my journey towards the devising of my new harmonic system.

More soon!