Melody! Going Once! Going Twice! Sold!

I am unsure if we are in crisis, but the expressiveness and study of structure and sound are elements that as a non-musician, but someone who loves music, listens to music, writes lyrics and has been known to write the odd melody or two finds captivating, exciting and engrossing. Presently my entire world has become about music. While in the past, I have done many things including acting, voice-overs in addition to film, video and sound editing, screen writing, film and video production and more; the art of writing a song, the terminologies and tools used by different artists is mostly new to me.

As a lover of music I know what I like in any and all music that I listen to, and if I don’t find it, I tend not to give a song my time. I myself am enthralled with harmonies and stunning chord progressions. However, there is a third element and until recently when I was working with Elena Vance on his upcoming album Dark & Light, I had no idea what it was. And the reason I now know what it is, is because he loves using them when writing his songs. Perhaps that is why I have always been captivated by his writing and work, aside from his incredible voice. If I go back and listen to all the music I love and listen to the chances are that the writer uses this technique in the structure and texture of the song.

A counterpoint which is when the melodies that are sounding simultaneously are independent and are more or less of equal importance. Both rhythm, pitch but also timbre can be used to achieve independence or if you would like to take the Webster’s dictionary definition:

“one or more independent melodies added above or below a given melody: the combination of two or more independent melodies into a single harmonic texture in which each retains its linear character : polyphony.”

Yesterday I posted a Gentle Giant piece as a hint for what I was going to write about. “His Last Voyage” https://youtu.be/hqyTDtgSmm4, but probably one of their best examples of using counterpoints is “On Reflection” https://youtu.be/Voa2dSIWnOE  – Note: If you want a special treat, play them simultaneously like I did by accident last night. Wow!

In Andrew’s case he not only uses counterpoint, but loves to use opposing melodies, harmonies and vocals, as well as incorporating sound which I must say, works beautifully and gives the listener something with more substance to listen to and is both soothing and arousing to the ear.
I recently had the opportunity to ask Andrew what his inspiration was for using counterpoints his response:

“I first became aware of counter melody when I listened to the classic YES album Close to the Edge…I was 10 years old at the time. There is a track on the album called “I Get Up, I Get Down”—I instantly loved the way the band sang two different melodies together; they locked together like two ocean currents meeting, I have been hooked ever since…I always see waves in my mind when the ideas for counter melody comes to me, like a big swirling ocean of melodies. It is also like the left hand and right hand when you are playing the piano, two different things played slightly different…but working together”

In my personal catalog of music that I have on hand as my go to, feel good music through the ages, I find that almost all these songs use counterpoints. Perhaps that’s why I am not a huge fan (with few exceptions) of Rap Music, or Hip Hop. Or perhaps it is why I always speak of longing for the musicality and composition that his lacking in today’s music. If you read through my blogs you will see me reference this quite a bit. The lack of structure and texture in a song is deadly and leaves a song flat. It is not rare to use counterpoint, but how one uses it in a composition is what matters. Depth and texture is crucial to a successful implementation. To be daring and unique is what is impressive. One doesn’t just slap two melodies together and you are done. The thoughtfulness and artistry that goes into perfecting this technique is a necessity, it is difficult and can be exhausting in order to get it right. It is an art!

Johann Sebastian Bach for instance was a master of this art as we can hear in “Art of Fugue – Contrapunctus 4” https://youtu.be/CAsP8tBlU9k or let’s use a more contemporary artist as an extreme example Frank Zappa “Holiday in Berlin” https://youtu.be/L1iVLEELtqE, these are two very pointed examples and there are many others. But Songs we listen to everyday like Yes “I’ve Seen All Good People” https://youtu.be/5eNh8ldETEQ and “Awaken” https://youtu.be/vd2QM84wFGc, Simon and Garfunkel “Scarborough Fair” https://youtu.be/4Ccgk8PXz64, so many use counterpoints, but not frivolously and certainly with intricacy and complexity. That is what makes these songs so beautiful and elegant.

In addition to the referenced above The Beatles, King Crimson; Pink Floyd; Emerson, Lake and Palmer; Rush; Radiohead and Opeth are just a few masters of the art. Again, I ask, where are the modern-day composers in the rock world? If you are a rock band or artist of any rock genre, and you are spewing out one melody songs without substance or composition, give it up. Start to take risks with sound, structure and texture. Start to write masterpieces, not 3-minute pop songs with what you think is a catchy tune. Bring it on! Bring us the music and show me some extraordinary counterpoints which are ripe with innovation and risk. Unparalleled, unique and rich. Stop the shenanigans. If you don’t know how, come to us, we will be happy to teach you, but stop pushing out flatline music.

On another note, I am happy to report that in the next few weeks the website will be done and I will be able to blog there. So no more long posts you will have a link. I am extremely excited about it. However, with the good comes the bad. I will not be blogging next week. There are so many things going on in the next month and I must move all the previous blogs to our website, as well as, Elena Vance’s new album, a single by both Chris Adams and Andrew, the completion of the website and so much more. Bear with me and stay tuned! We are so happy to have you aboard!

Blessings & Enjoy,

JoOnna Silberman, The Forgotten Woman at Forgotten Man
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