Here is a video of an improvised piece of music of mine which I called Moonwake on the Indigo. A moonwake (or moonglade) is the shimmering path created by the reflection of moonlight on a body of water. It represents a personalised perspective, because this moonlight path always appears to lead from the horizon to your feet, no matter where you go to stand at the edge of the water — it moves with you and its specific route exists only because you are there to see it. The indigo represents the darkest part of the water, and can symbolise intuition and the inner realm. The moonwake on the indigo represents the bridge between seeing and knowing.

I started in E Dorian flat 2 (aka Phrygian natural 6) which has the darkness of the indigo depths due to its Phrygian flattened 2nd degree, and minor 3rd. The major 6th adds that shimmer of light, like the glimmering reflection of the moonlight. 

Then I moved to E Dorian which increased the brightness of the moonlight glimmer by removing the Phrygian darkness of the previous mode’s flattened 2nd degree, whilst retaining the shadows of the minor sound. 

A modulation to C Lydian sharp 2 created a paradoxical flare of light with its piercing Lydian raised 4th, as well as its raised 2nd degree, whilst simultaneously creating a mysterious darkness due to its harmonic minor structure. 

Then the lamenting sound of E Aeolian brought to my mind the lonely moon in a solitary dark sky.

The music modulated back through C Lydian sharp 2 on the way to a coda where it settled in the twilight of the E Dorian flat 2 mode.

Modal Analysis Table

Mode	Note Names	Parent Scale	Modal Relationship
E Dorian ♭2 (aka Phrygian ♮6)	E, F, G, A, B, C♯, D	D Melodic Minor	2nd Mode
E Dorian	E, F♯, G, A, B, C♯, D	D Major	2nd Mode
C Lydian ♯2	C, D♯, E, F♯, G, A, B	E Harmonic Minor	6th Mode
E Aeolian	E, F♯, G, A, B, C, D	G Major	6th Mode

 Intervals Formulas

• Dorian ♭2: 1, ♭2, ♭3, 4, 5, 6, ♭7
• Dorian: 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, 6, ♭7
• Lydian ♯2: 1, ♯2, 3, ♯4, 5, 6, 7
• Aeolian: 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7

Further Reading and Listening

Read more about modes in general here: Complete Guide to Modes of the Major, Melodic Minor, and Harmonic Minor Scales

A Guiding Light — Improvisation in A Major (Ionian), A Mixolydian ♭6 & F Harmonic Minor

Sweet Lilac Tree — Improvisation in G♭ Major, A♭ Dorian ♯4, G Mixolydian ♭6 & F Dorian

Evanescent Glimpse Beyond — Improvisation in B♭ Lydian, B♭ Dorian ♯4 & A♭ Major (Ionian)