The word for the second movement is Oxymoron. Its definition is "opposite ideas that don't fit; incongruous." My inspiration is the phrase "melancholy gladness," To represent this oxymoron musically, I use two contrasting sections, the first in an Andante tempo (A) and the second in an Allegro tempo (B). The form is ABA'B'A''B''.
The oxymoron goes beyond the contrasting sections. There are incongruous elements within the sections as well. The A section is in 3/4 and the melody follows that pattern. The accompaniment however uses triplets against the duplets of the melody and the harmonic rhythm, exemplified by the right hand of the piano, is in a hemiola pattern of 2/4.
The Allegro "Gladness" section has a melody and bass line that suggest one set of chords and the inner voices doing another set of chords. The harmony doesn't quite fit the melody and bass line. In the second B section, modulation is used to add to the gladness.
The movement ends with a measure of the melancholy followed by two measures of gladness that once again emphasizes the oxymoron.
After composing this movement, I decided to create a poem to go along with it. Here it is:
Oxymorons of my psyche
Buried beneath the surface
Id, ego and super-ego
Wage unwinnable wars
Anima and Animus mirror
Masculine and feminine
Traits waiting to be discovered
As life unfolds
Yin and Yang interconnect
Creating perfect balance
If allowed to prevail
Over surface turmoil
My melancholy floats
Over contrasting rhythms
A shroud of doubt
Added to my sadness
Then gladness bursts forth
The sun shinning through
A break in the clouds
Dancing in major-colored skirts
I often wonder
Which is the real me
The oxymoron of life
Imprisons my soul
Below is the transposed score and sampled sounds in video format. Your comments are always welcomed.
Dr. B
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