The Satyric Barley-Grain

The Satyric Barley-grain is a form of music used for entertainment originating in The Straight Byword. The form guides musicians during improvised performances. A chanter recites any composition of The Rational Brains while the music is played on a awkisimem. The musical voices bring melody and counterpoint. The entire performance is to start loud then be immediately soft. The melody and counterpoint both have short phrases throughout the form. It is performed without preference for a scale and in free rhythm. Throughout, when possible, performers are to modulate frequently.

• The chanter always should be spirited. The voice ranges from the middle register to the high register.
• The awkisimem always should feel mysterious. The voice uses its entire range from the crisp low register to the even high register.
• The Satyric Barley-grain has a well-defined multi-passage structure: a theme, an exposition of the theme and a lengthy recapitulation of the theme.
• The theme is voiced by the melody of the chanter. The passage is at a walking pace. Only one pitch is ever played at a time in this passage.
• The exposition is voiced by the melody of the awkisimem. The passage slows and broadens. Only one pitch is ever played at a time in this passage.
• The recapitulation is voiced by the melody of the chanter and the counterpoint of the awkisimem. The passage is twice the tempo of the last passage. This passage features only melodic tones and intervals.

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