Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music - …jtao/music/touhou_music_theory.pdfCompositional...
Transcript of Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music - …jtao/music/touhou_music_theory.pdfCompositional...
BackgroundMusic Theory
QuestionsSummary
Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music
Jim Tao
Anime ClubCaltech
TouhouCon 2015
Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music
BackgroundMusic Theory
QuestionsSummary
ZUN
self-taught composer ofinstrumental musicincluded his music ingames to get it hearddrew the sprites,composed the music, andprogrammed the gamesTouhou music hasunrivalled remixabilityhis music CDs featurefull-length compositions
Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music
BackgroundMusic Theory
QuestionsSummary
Outline
1 Music TheoryMusical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations
Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music
BackgroundMusic Theory
QuestionsSummary
Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations
Musical Modes
mode: alternative tonality/scale that can be derived fromthe familiar major scale by starting on a different note onthe scale.Each mode has a unique set of intervals above the startingnote, giving it a distinct sound. ZUN manages to createGensokyo’s otherworldly atmosphere by using differentmusical modes adventurously.
Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music
BackgroundMusic Theory
QuestionsSummary
Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations
Example - C Major
Mode Scale Tonic triadC Ionian (I)? C D E F G A B C C-E-G (major)D Dorian (II) D E F G A B C D D-F-A (minor)E Phrygian (III) E F G A B C D E E-G-B (minor)F Lydian (IV) F G A B C D E F F-A-C (major)G Mixolydian (V) G A B C D E F G G-B-D (major)A Aeolian (VI)?? A B C D E F G A A-C-E (minor)
?C Ionian=C major, ??A Aeolian=A natural minor
Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music
BackgroundMusic Theory
QuestionsSummary
Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations
Modal examples
U. N. Owen Was Her? (II)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2M-3jbqcmQg
Green-eyed Jealousy (III)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAAva5Nlhyc
Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music
BackgroundMusic Theory
QuestionsSummary
Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations
The Pentatonic Scale
Pentatonic major scale: C D E G APentatonic minor scale: A C D E GHaving much of the melody lie on the pentatonic scaleallows ZUN flexibility with regard to the mode used.
Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music
BackgroundMusic Theory
QuestionsSummary
Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations
Pentatonic scale examples
Maiden’s Capriccio~Dream Battle (I)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnamFfl16Oc
The Gensokyo the Gods Loved (II)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA99yBKZy3U
Tomboyish Girl in Love (III)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-saprSObdM
Tomorrow will be Special; Yesterday was Not (VI)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sDrOEiGYEo
Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music
BackgroundMusic Theory
QuestionsSummary
Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations
Ostinati, Imitation, and Counterpoint
ostinato: figure that is usually rather short and repeatsmany times, thus imparting a static quality to the musicimitation: repeating a melody in a voice shortly after its firstappearance in a different voicecounterpoint: very different, independent, and harmoniousmusical linesCounterpoint is often implemented through ostinati orimitation. Counterpoint gives ZUN’s music the degree ofcomplexity necessary to keep it from getting tiring to listento for the 50th time when you’re trying to get that 1cc.
Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music
BackgroundMusic Theory
QuestionsSummary
Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations
Examples of Ostinati
Captain Murasahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnEYQ80xdX8
Shotoku Legend~True Administratorhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UQ3skHm4NU
Futatsuiwa from Sadohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVl-yRNxy9w
Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music
BackgroundMusic Theory
QuestionsSummary
Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations
Examples of Imitative Counterpoint
Necrofantasiahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21TktYgKScE
Cinderella Cage~Kagome Kagomehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ-QOgNFddM
Gensokyo, Past and Present~Flower Landhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45QzSDGpf4k
Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music
BackgroundMusic Theory
QuestionsSummary
Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations
Examples of Free Counterpoint
Paradise~Deep Mountainhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alGjMHREgh0
Sakura Sakura~Japanize Dreamhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRTRr-0HCTo
Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music
BackgroundMusic Theory
QuestionsSummary
Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations
Harmonies and Chord Progressions
sus4 chord (creates tension)
Neapolitan chord (provides contrast)
picardy cadence (releases tension)
Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music
BackgroundMusic Theory
QuestionsSummary
Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations
Examples of Sus4 Chords
Fall of Fallhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONRT3gCBpqA
Faith is for the Transient People (2nd inversion)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M3iQzcDEFE
Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music
BackgroundMusic Theory
QuestionsSummary
Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations
Examples of Neapolitan Chords
Night Falls~Evening Starhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5LS-FOrUHQ
Oni’s Island in the Fairyland~Missing Powerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uacb3qvNlZU
Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music
BackgroundMusic Theory
QuestionsSummary
Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations
Examples of Picardy Cadence
Withered Leafhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGl72LwktAc
Charming Dominationhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIqQVO9MWyU
Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music
BackgroundMusic Theory
QuestionsSummary
Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations
Modulating from One Key to Another
modulation: process of changing from one key to anotheroften achieved via cadences, leading notes, and caesuraeBy modulating frequently between different musical keys,ZUN manages to give a deep feeling of sentimentality tohis music.
Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music
BackgroundMusic Theory
QuestionsSummary
Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations
Examples of Modulations
The Gensokyo the Gods Loved (modulate via cadence)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA99yBKZy3U
Phantom Ensemble (modulate via leading notes)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awH2GKRpfLE
Bloom Nobly, Ink-Black Cherry Blossoms~Border of Life(modulate after caesurae)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LkSIGgjKyU
Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music
BackgroundMusic Theory
QuestionsSummary
Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations
Miscellaneous
There is a chart on Danbooru athttp://danbooru.donmai.us/posts/1649996?tags=touhou+chartwith a lot of Touhou music theory data recorded.
Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music
BackgroundMusic Theory
QuestionsSummary
Questions?
Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music
BackgroundMusic Theory
QuestionsSummary
Summary
ZUN uses a diverse array of compositional techniques toimmerse Touhou players in the magical world of Gensokyo.If you’re not satisfied with my analysis of the music or myanswers to your questions, go annoy your music teachers.
Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music
Appendix For Further Reading
For Further Reading I
A. Schoenberg. Structural Functions of Harmony, revisededition. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 1969. Print.
J. J. Fux. Gradus ad Parnassum. Vienna: Johann Peter vanGhelen, 1725. Print.
H. Brent. "Claude Debussy and the Javanese Gamelan."Brent Hugh’s Personal and Business Web Pages. Web. 7Jul 2015.
"Trial of classifying Touhou characters by the composingtechniques used in their original themes, provisionalextracted edition." Danbooru. Web. 7 Jul 2015.
Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music