Camino de la Luz (with Canvas) by Trisha Budd

I composed this piece during an Advanced Composition Course run by Daniel Nistico. I chose to model my piece on Capricho Arabe by F. Tarrega, a piece that I love and know very well.

Analysing it brought new light and ideas to my composition skills ( hence the title which means path to the light)

I first looked at the form and phrase structure and wrote out the complete score with a blank stave above it. This forms a Canvas for my new piece that I could then fill in with my own ideas.

I analysed the keys, rhythms and harmony, writing in all the chords and melodic features, looking for modulations, sequences, repeating motifs and texture changes. This helped me to understand how Tarrega had developed his piece.

A feature I particularly liked was how the bass line from the first section continues underneath the melody. I chose to use this idea and follow some of Tarrega’s textures and motifs.

I chose to write my piece in the key of E Minor– said to evoke passion, grief and a restless spirit (the Capricho is in D Minor – a pensive key expressing melancholy, anxiety and solemnity)

I identified several challenges...................................
To create an introduction that will lead smoothly into my main melody.
To create a new melody that will be able to be used in all sections with slight variation but that will still work in each key change.
To create a bass line that will work with a chordal texture and also fit
under my melody.
To maintain a similar shape and texture in each section, providing a unifying feel but also vary sections for interest
To find suitable chords for the chordal texture bars
To create interesting scale like passages, chromatic passages and intersecting phrases.

I hope you enjoy this piece and it takes you on a path to some light too! - Trisha