Urania for orchestra

Abstract

Urania is a work that is loosely modelled on early Greek music theory (Urania was one of the nine muses worshipped by ancient Greeks), namely the idea of creating scale structures from inserting two variable notes in between two invariable notes that were farther apart in distance. These four note cells, or tetrachords, could then be combined with other cells to create numerous scales that would be used for the creation of melodies. In this piece, I have adapted this concept to the prevailing Western chromatic scale, using various tetrachords (whose outer notes span the interval of a fourth) to create both melody and harmony.