In this video you can hear me playing a piece of music I improvised and named Laburnum Tree. I had an image of a vibrant laburnum tree, with its mournful weeping chains of golden yellow flowers, and its hidden danger. Every part of the laburnum tree is poisonous, despite its outward allure. In Victorian lore, the laburnum tree represents forsaken love and sorrow; and can also represent the idea of toxicity hidden beneath a veil of beauty. However, in plants and animals, poison is often a defence mechanism built for survival, not just predation, demonstrating the bittersweet complexity of nature.
I started this improvisation in G Dorian, which is grounded in its perfect 4th and perfect 5th, like tree roots; and sorrowful in its minor 3rd, yet vibrant in its hopeful major 6th.
B flat Lydian introduced a weightless reaching upwards in its expansive augmented 4th degree, and a golden-yellow brightness in its ethereal sound.
B flat Lydian sharp 2 only changed a single note, but this was enough to introduce an unsettling, mysterious and mournful darkness, despite maintaining the bright reach of the augmented 4th degree.
Mode Table
| Mode | Note Names | Parent Scale | Modal Relationship |
|---|---|---|---|
| G Dorian | G – A – B♭ – C – D – E – F | F Major | 2nd mode of F Major |
| B♭ Lydian | B♭ – C – D – E – F – G – A | F Major | 4th mode of F Major |
| B♭ Lydian ♯2 | B♭ – C♯ – D – E – F – G – A | D Harmonic Minor | 6th mode of D Harmonic Minor |
Interval Formulas
Dorian Mode Formula:
1 – 2 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – ♭7
Root, Major 2nd, Minor 3rd, Perfect 4th, Perfect 5th, Major 6th, Minor 7th
Lydian Mode Formula:
1 – 2 – 3 – ♯4 – 5 – 6 – 7
Root, Major 2nd, Major 3rd, Augmented 4th, Perfect 5th, Major 6th, Major 7th
Lydian ♯2 Mode Formula:
1 – ♯2 – 3 – ♯4 – 5 – 6 – 7
Root, Augmented 2nd, Major 3rd, Augmented 4th, Perfect 5th, Major 6th, Major 7th
Further Reading and Listening
Learn more about modes here: Complete Guide to Modes of the Major, Melodic Minor, and Harmonic Minor Scales
How to Improvise on the Piano — A Basic Method
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