Music 418-24: In the Mode

For piano

Most will be familiar (at least in name) with Major and Minor Scales. But there are lots of other scales besides those. Some are called Modes, but are basically the same thing as a scale. Modal Music was the music of the Ancient Greeks and of the Early Church.

Here are seven pieces for piano each based on a different mode. The pieces are named after the names of each mode used.

The fourth piece here – called after the Locrian Mode – is one that some advise never to use as it’s very dissonant. I couldn’t resist, but “cheated” a tiny bit by adding a few non-modal notes!

1. Dorian: The audio HERE, and the sheet music HERE.
2. Ionian: The audio HERE, and the sheet music HERE.
3. Lydian: The audio HERE, and the sheet music HERE.
4. Locrian: The audio HERE, and the sheet music HERE.
5. Mixolydian: The audio HERE, and the sheet music HERE.
6. Aeolian: The audio HERE, and the sheet music HERE.
7. Phrygian The audio HERE, and the sheet music HERE.