Vines of Hope
Michael C.
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‘Vines of Hope’ is a musical journey to find fresh water in the jungle for a village hit by a season of drought. The water represents a beacon of hope for life, propelling us towards it. Along the way, we get lost and come to a dead end that seems impassable. Tired with despair, we are about to give up until a chance encounter with a fellow traveler who, with words of encouragement, reminds us of our original purpose. This propels us forward, with hope regained. In times of darkness and uncertainty, a newfound friend can offer a simple vine of hope, which can make all the difference. In creating this piece, I started with a simple bassoon rhythmic idea and the image of a person exploring the jungle popped into my head. This led to more music, which inspired me to continue the story, which led to even more musical ideas. For example, the emotionally lower points are represented by minor scales and lower notes on the bassoon, whereas I used major keys and higher melodies with the flute and oboe to try and convey a positive feeling of hope. I also experimented with moving the tonal center, starting in the hopeful mode of A-flat Lydian and shifting throughout the piece as the story progressed. I combined a minimalist ostinato idea with a contemporary, pop-based theme as well as a more cinematic Mixolydian theme to try and create a unique and interesting experience for the listener.
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Creativity is the freedom to express myself through music. It allows me to recreate past experiences, share what I’m feeling at the moment, and come up with new ideas, feelings and imagined experiences. It allows me to tell a story for the listener that starts with notes on a page.
