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Minor-moded piano solos - film music or otherwise?

General Discussions » Minor-moded piano solos - film music or otherwise? (Posts 1 to 25 of 25)

  1.  
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      CommentAuthorThor
    • CommentTimeFeb 3rd 2012
    I'm on a piano binge again (my favourite instrument), and need some recommendations.

    ALL parameters below must be met at the same time in order to fit into my 'project':

    1) ONLY piano. No other instrument. Solo piano! Multiple pianos are allowed, but I prefer pieces for one player only.

    2) The melody must be in a Minor Key. Slow or powerful, but beautiful and emotionally riveting in all its sadness.

    3) Film music or classical music or even more pop-based, I don't care.

    So, with that in mind, what single tracks or whole pieces would you suggest?

    Here are two examples; two Beethoven classics:

    Piano Sonata # 14 in C Sharp Minor, the "Moonlight Sonata":

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2LcJTqwVug

    Piano Sonata # 8 in C Minor, "Pathetique":

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fu8xBmBmKM
    I am extremely serious.
  2. I am going to be no help at all in this topic. I understand the difference between major vs minor key and how it makes tunes sound "happy" or "sad", but I couldn't really identify which tunes are which.

    shame
    The views expressed in this post are entirely my own and do not reflect the opinions of maintitles.net, or for that matter, anyone else. http://www.racksandtags.com/falkirkbairn
    •  
      CommentAuthorplindboe
    • CommentTimeFeb 3rd 2012 edited
    FalkirkBairn wrote
    I am going to be no help at all in this topic. I understand the difference between major vs minor key and how it makes tunes sound "happy" or "sad", but I couldn't really identify which tunes are which.

    shame


    Hehe, I was thinking the same thing. Looked 'minor key' up on wikipedia and here's what I found:

    A minor scale in Western music theory includes any scale that contains, in its tonic triad, at least three essential scale degrees: 1) the tonic (or name of the scale), 2) a minor-third, or an interval of a minor third above the tonic, and 3) a perfect-fifth, or an interval of a perfect fifth above the tonic, altogether comprising a minor triad on the tonic note.


    Gee, thanks wikipedia for illuminating this! <- sarcasm


    Anyway, I'm sure I could think of hundreds of great pieces like this, but for some reason the first that came into my mind was La casa e la giovinezza from Morricone's Il deserto dei tartari. It's probably not the kind of piece that will knock your socks off to begin with, but I do like that theme very much.

    And this is probably not minor key all the way through, but a fantastic theme from Rombi's Jeux d'enfants performed excellently by some youtube dude.

    Oh, I also love this performance of Naiko Sato's Destiny, though you'll probably tell me that isn't minor key either...

    Peter smile
    • CommentAuthormarkrayen
    • CommentTimeFeb 4th 2012 edited
    plindboe wrote
    Anyway, I'm sure I could think of hundreds of great pieces like this, but for some reason the first that came into my mind was La casa e la giovinezza from Morricone's Il deserto dei tartari. It's probably not the kind of piece that will knock your socks off to begin with, but I do like that theme very much.


    I'm completely unfamiliar with this piece - lovely!!! cool

    About the musical theory on wikipedia: I'm a musician, and I myself get dizzy from reading these awfully complex explanations of matters that are so fundamentally simple! Unfortunately, the simple logics of musical theory can't be percieved by reading words - it requires your ears and a good teacher to "de-complicate" it. But rest assured, these things are incredibly simple! Basically: Music in the minor mode somehow sounds warmer, darker, passionate or melancholic, and oftentimes more sad than music in the major mode. The question of why is really a mystery to us all smile

    A few examples for Thor:

    Maurice Ravel: "PAVANE FOR A DEAD PRINCESS"

    Strictly speaking its not in a minor-mode. But it emphasizes minor harmonies within a broader major context, and is perhaps best described as some of the most beautiful and poignant music to have been composed?

    → http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNbiTPg3 … re=related


    Frederic Chopin: ETUDE IN C SHARP MINOR, (No. 7 Opus 25)

    A profoundly deep poetic intensity, as is evidant in most of Chopin's heartwrenchingly beautiful, unique and eventful piano music!

    → http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91uXCtFy … re=related


    Ludvig van Beethoven: SONATA IN E MAJOR (Opus 109)

    One of the three final piano sonatas, published simultanously and often thought of as a trilogy. Beethoven's revolution of the sonata form resulted here in a poetic freedom unlike anything written by an influential composer before him. Again, its strictly speaking in the major mode. But such poignancy, such yearning, such intensity, such deliberation! Its ok to cry to Beethoven, right? wink

    → http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qMzooVJOFE
    www.markcandasamy.no
    •  
      CommentAuthorThor
    • CommentTimeFeb 4th 2012 edited
    plindboe wrote
    Anyway, I'm sure I could think of hundreds of great pieces like this, but for some reason the first that came into my mind was La casa e la giovinezza from Morricone's Il deserto dei tartari. It's probably not the kind of piece that will knock your socks off to begin with, but I do like that theme very much.

    And this is probably not minor key all the way through, but a fantastic theme from Rombi's Jeux d'enfants performed excellently by some youtube dude.

    Oh, I also love this performance of Naiko Sato's Destiny, though you'll probably tell me that isn't minor key either...

    Peter smile


    Thanks. The first is a perfect example. The second is more a jubilant major mode piece, actually. The third seems to be a bit of a mix, but largely minor-mode (especially the main theme part). All are lovely, though, even though not all of them fit the bill 100%.
    I am extremely serious.
    •  
      CommentAuthorThor
    • CommentTimeFeb 4th 2012
    markrayen wrote
    A few examples for Thor:

    Maurice Ravel: "PAVANE FOR A DEAD PRINCESS"

    Strictly speaking its not in a minor-mode. But it emphasizes minor harmonies within a broader major context, and is perhaps best described as some of the most beautiful and poignant music to have been composed?

    → http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNbiTPg3 … re=related


    Frederic Chopin: ETUDE IN C SHARP MINOR, (No. 7 Opus 25)

    A profoundly deep poetic intensity, as is evidant in most of Chopin's heartwrenchingly beautiful, unique and eventful piano music!

    → http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91uXCtFy … re=related


    Ludvig van Beethoven: SONATA IN E MAJOR (Opus 109)

    One of the three final piano sonatas, published simultanously and often thought of as a trilogy. Beethoven's revolution of the sonata form resulted here in a poetic freedom unlike anything written by an influential composer before him. Again, its strictly speaking in the major mode. But such poignancy, such yearning, such intensity, such deliberation! Its ok to cry to Beethoven, right? wink

    → http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qMzooVJOFE


    Nice examples! Yes, it's definitely OK to cry to Beethoven, although that last piece is -- obviously -- a piece in major. But when Beethoven does minor mode (as my examples above), I'm REALLY floored.
    I am extremely serious.
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteven
    • CommentTimeFeb 4th 2012
    Fuck your perimeters, listen to Rachmaninov's 2nd piano concerto.

    You're welcome.
    • CommentAuthorTimmer
    • CommentTimeFeb 4th 2012 edited
    Steven wrote
    Fuck your perimeters (sic), listen to Rachmaninov's 2nd piano concerto.

    You're welcome.


    I approve of this post. biggrin
    On Friday I ate a lot of dust and appeared orange near the end of the day ~ Bregt
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteven
    • CommentTimeFeb 4th 2012
    parameters even shame
    •  
      CommentAuthorsdtom
    • CommentTimeFeb 4th 2012
    Two pieces that I can highly recommend are the following: Holst Planets

    http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=pla … FORM=VIRE2

    http://sdtom.wordpress.com/2011/05/29/t … tav-holst/

    And yes it is the composer Richard Rodney Bennett

    Pictures At An Exhibition for Piano. It was composed for piano not orchestral something which Ravel decided would be okay.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7adtriw … ure=fvwrel

    Tom
    listen to more classical music!
    •  
      CommentAuthorplindboe
    • CommentTimeFeb 4th 2012 edited
    markrayen wrote
    I'm completely unfamiliar with this piece - lovely!!! cool


    Great! I'm happy you like it!


    markrayen wrote
    About the musical theory on wikipedia: I'm a musician, and I myself get dizzy from reading these awfully complex explanations of matters that are so fundamentally simple! Unfortunately, the simple logics of musical theory can't be percieved by reading words - it requires your ears and a good teacher to "de-complicate" it. But rest assured, these things are incredibly simple! Basically: Music in the minor mode somehow sounds warmer, darker, passionate or melancholic, and oftentimes more sad than music in the major mode. The question of why is really a mystery to us all smile


    Yes, I think you're absolutely right. Often wikipedia is edited by people with some formal training in music theory, so they end up using all this terminology without seemingly realizing that it's an encyclopedia, and that it's meant to explain stuff to people not trained in music theory. I mean if you're trained in music theory, you have absolutely no reason to look up "minor scale" on wikipedia. It's only people who are not trained in music theory who will tend to look these things up, so it's so inane that the explanations they give require people to have advanced knowledge of the subject to be able to understand the explanation.

    Peter smile
    •  
      CommentAuthorplindboe
    • CommentTimeFeb 4th 2012 edited
    Thor wrote
    Thanks. The first is a perfect example. The second is more a jubilant major mode piece, actually. The third seems to be a bit of a mix, but largely minor-mode (especially the main theme part). All are lovely, though, even though not all of them fit the bill 100%.


    Glad you like them!

    Think I'm beginning to get what minor mode is. One piece I've always liked that I believe is in minor mode is Saties's Gymnopédie no.1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-Xm7s9eGxU

    Peter smile
  13. I once knew what a minor key was, but I can't really hear it by ear, so I'll just put some of my favorite pianotunes, and you can figure out if it fits your criteria.

    1) I just love the variations of Metamorphosis from Glass. Here is Metamorphosis nr 5:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWLvNULJDpo

    2) Always loved this little piece from Yann Tiersen's Le fabuleux destin d' Amelie Poulain: Comptine D'un Autre Eté. However I think this is in a major key as well.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qK_JfNlNSTk

    3) Finally, I have got to plug some Bear McCreary music so here it goes: Elegy
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuVh3BVJCmo

    Let me know if there were any minor keys in there, will you Thor...

    Elin
    Recognizing somebody else's strength doesn't diminish your own (Joss Whedon)
  14. Steven wrote
    Fuck your perimeters, listen to Rachmaninov's 2nd piano concerto.

    You're welcome.


    Nomiation for Best Post of February 2012.*



    I'll have to think, but score wise I could only think of one cue that is only piano. Never mind the beginning -- it blended in from the previous cue:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjvspeLgeww
    "Truman Sleeps" (Philip Glass, "The Truman Show")



    Oh, and Thor -- be patient with "Drive" -- I know somebody I can ask, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.



    * = This posted Edit Fairy approved.
    The views and opinions of Ford A. Thaxton are his own and do not necessarily reflect the ones of ANYONE else.
  15. So the best post of January was written in February? biggrin
    http://www.filmmusic.pl - Polish Film Music Review Website
    •  
      CommentAuthorThor
    • CommentTimeFeb 6th 2012
    sdtom wrote
    Two pieces that I can highly recommend are the following: Holst Planets

    http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=pla … FORM=VIRE2

    http://sdtom.wordpress.com/2011/05/29/t … tav-holst/

    And yes it is the composer Richard Rodney Bennett

    Pictures At An Exhibition for Piano. It was composed for piano not orchestral something which Ravel decided would be okay.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7adtriw … ure=fvwrel

    Tom


    They are nice piano pieces, but they're not exactly what I'm looking for. They're a little too 'upbeat' and aggressive for that.

    I'm more looking for slow and melancholic tunes.
    I am extremely serious.
    •  
      CommentAuthorThor
    • CommentTimeFeb 6th 2012
    plindboe wrote
    Thor wrote
    Thanks. The first is a perfect example. The second is more a jubilant major mode piece, actually. The third seems to be a bit of a mix, but largely minor-mode (especially the main theme part). All are lovely, though, even though not all of them fit the bill 100%.


    Glad you like them!

    Think I'm beginning to get what minor mode is. One piece I've always liked that I believe is in minor mode is Saties's Gymnopédie no.1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-Xm7s9eGxU

    Peter smile


    There are minor chords in it, of course, but it seems mostly structured around major mode.
    I am extremely serious.
    •  
      CommentAuthorThor
    • CommentTimeFeb 6th 2012 edited
    Skating_Lientje wrote
    I once knew what a minor key was, but I can't really hear it by ear, so I'll just put some of my favorite pianotunes, and you can figure out if it fits your criteria.

    1) I just love the variations of Metamorphosis from Glass. Here is Metamorphosis nr 5:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWLvNULJDpo

    2) Always loved this little piece from Yann Tiersen's Le fabuleux destin d' Amelie Poulain: Comptine D'un Autre Eté. However I think this is in a major key as well.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qK_JfNlNSTk

    3) Finally, I have got to plug some Bear McCreary music so here it goes: Elegy
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuVh3BVJCmo

    Let me know if there were any minor keys in there, will you Thor...

    Elin


    There are definitely minor chords in there (almost all music has!), but the Glass piece is BASED in major mode, especially the main melody. The TRUMAN SHOW piano piece that Justin posted is closer. The Tiersen piece is also a relatively good example, as is the McReary.

    I realize now it's probably difficult to understand EXACTLY what I'm after, but I recommend you to check out the Beethoven pieces I posted up there. That's really what I'm after.
    I am extremely serious.
  19. Thor wrote
    I realize now it's probably difficult to understand EXACTLY what I'm after, but I recommend you to check out the Beethoven pieces I posted up there. That's really what I'm after.


    OK, Well you quoted moonlight sonate, I'll give you Battlestar Sonatica, McCreary's version of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonate...
    Recognizing somebody else's strength doesn't diminish your own (Joss Whedon)
    •  
      CommentAuthorThor
    • CommentTimeFeb 6th 2012
    Skating_Lientje wrote
    Thor wrote
    I realize now it's probably difficult to understand EXACTLY what I'm after, but I recommend you to check out the Beethoven pieces I posted up there. That's really what I'm after.


    OK, Well you quoted moonlight sonate, I'll give you Battlestar Sonatica, McCreary's version of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonate...


    Nice. I didn't know there were that many musical references in the BG score.
    I am extremely serious.
    •  
      CommentAuthorsdtom
    • CommentTimeFeb 8th 2012
    Shostakovich wrote minor key preludes.
    Tom
    listen to more classical music!
  22. Try the piano solo rendition of Desplat's score for Syriana.
  23. Would this work for you?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uItVhM0SnfY
    The views and opinions of Ford A. Thaxton are his own and do not necessarily reflect the ones of ANYONE else.
    •  
      CommentAuthorsdtom
    • CommentTimeFeb 10th 2012
    Morceaux De Fantasie, Op. 3: II. Prélude In C-Sharp Minor: Lento Tomislav Bavnov

    Sonata No. 8 In C Minor For Piano, Op. 13, ''Pathétique'': III. Allegro Dubravka Tomsic

    a couple more
    listen to more classical music!
    •  
      CommentAuthorThor
    • CommentTimeFeb 10th 2012
    sdtom wrote
    Morceaux De Fantasie, Op. 3: II. Prélude In C-Sharp Minor: Lento Tomislav Bavnov

    Sonata No. 8 In C Minor For Piano, Op. 13, ''Pathétique'': III. Allegro Dubravka Tomsic

    a couple more


    Yeah, I already mentioned the 'Pathetique' in my first post above. That's a good example.
    I am extremely serious.

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