Task: Your task is to devise an interesting descant for three of the tunes from the selection of five that are set out in Example 39. You can also add percussion if you wish. Think of the colourful effect of the piece as a whole, and add dynamic markings accordingly.
This was an interesting exercise, and a different challenge from the composition of rounds, because the source material is provided and the interpretation of that source material is a large part of what determines the shape of the descant.
The course unit asks us to try and develop a foundational tonal language, and I think this is achieved in this exercise. The descants try and compliment the underlying melody, in both harmony and in shape/direction without overstepping and obscuring each other. I’ve tried to incorporate the repetition of rhythmic motifs where appropriate and have tried to play with suspensions and perfect/close intervals where it seemed to fit the style. I think the informal rules of writing in 3rds and 6ths is a good underlying principle to follow, but these can be made more effective by briefly violating those rules where appropriate.
Descant 1 – ‘Quem Pastores’: 16th century German carol
Descant 2 – ‘You Gentlemen of England’: 17th century
Descant 3 – ‘Ayçem (I did not know you)’ : folksong from West Turkey
