Aesop, the Ancient Greek Storyteller Seven notes in the western diatonic scale. Twelve notes in the chromatic scale. That's all. And yet so many songs are written using only those pitches to create melodies and harmonies. How can so few notes still manage to have an infinite variety of songs created from them? How can so many different songs be unique and memorable?
After doing my Summer Theater Camp last weekend I went around listening to comments our audience members made about the show. Many grandparents came to see their grandchildren perform. Most often I heard that they couldn't believe that the kids gave such a polished performance in just two weeks. They also said that they were amazed that they could understand the kids singing and delivering their lines. But even more than that, they were blown away by the quality of the music and how catchy and memorable the songs were.
The two little shows were "The Ants and the Grasshopper" and "The Country Mouse and the City Mouse," both fables by Aesop, the ancient Greek storyteller. Here's what Wikipedia says about this: "Aesop's Fables are a collection of hundreds of short, morality-driven tales featuring personified animals, plants, and forces of nature. Attributed to an ancient Greek storyteller believed to have lived between 620 and 564 BCE, they are foundational texts in Western literature and culture."
Foundational texts. I hope so. The lessons taught in these fables are so important such as making preparations for the future as in "The Ants and the Grasshopper." Or learning to appreciate what you've got as in the "The Country Mouse and the City Mouse."
After doing my Summer Theater Camp last weekend I went around listening to comments our audience members made about the show. Many grandparents came to see their grandchildren perform. Most often I heard that they couldn't believe that the kids gave such a polished performance in just two weeks. They also said that they were amazed that they could understand the kids singing and delivering their lines. But even more than that, they were blown away by the quality of the music and how catchy and memorable the songs were.
The two little shows were "The Ants and the Grasshopper" and "The Country Mouse and the City Mouse," both fables by Aesop, the ancient Greek storyteller. Here's what Wikipedia says about this: "Aesop's Fables are a collection of hundreds of short, morality-driven tales featuring personified animals, plants, and forces of nature. Attributed to an ancient Greek storyteller believed to have lived between 620 and 564 BCE, they are foundational texts in Western literature and culture."
Foundational texts. I hope so. The lessons taught in these fables are so important such as making preparations for the future as in "The Ants and the Grasshopper." Or learning to appreciate what you've got as in the "The Country Mouse and the City Mouse."
As a composer, I am so humbled listening to such accolades. When writing a show I try to always remain open for bits of inspiration when they come. If that little bit of inspiration can be developed into a catchy, memorable song, well, I hardly feel that I can take the credit.
For example, in desperation I was looking for ideas for a song to sum up the point of the "Ants" show. I had just the weekend to write a little show for a school Drama Club. Somehow I remembered reading the quote by John Maxwell that said, "You can play now and pay later, or pay now and play later. Either way you'll have to pay." Almost instantly the song, "Pay Now and Play Later" was born.
For example, in desperation I was looking for ideas for a song to sum up the point of the "Ants" show. I had just the weekend to write a little show for a school Drama Club. Somehow I remembered reading the quote by John Maxwell that said, "You can play now and pay later, or pay now and play later. Either way you'll have to pay." Almost instantly the song, "Pay Now and Play Later" was born.
Then, when I was struggling with needing an idea for a song for the City Mouse to sing to convince her Country Cousin of the delights of the city, I watched a segment of Rick Steves European Travels. He told of two sayings that the French say about living and eating well in Paris. "Le joire de vivre" and "Bien Manger." Those sayings were just what I needed to write the song "As the French Say."
But the best compliments of all are when the audience walks away singing my songs from the show. Apparently, those two songs were real hits with the audience. I wonder how long they will be stuck in their heads...
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