This second track from the album “Ring” is dedicated to Rosa Luxemburg (1871 – 1919). Here are a few quotes from her speeches and writings that I found inspiring.
“Only to the rude ear of one who is quite indifferent
does the song of a bird seem always the same.”
“Capitalism, as a result of its own inner contradictions,
moves toward a point when it will be unbalanced,
when it will simply become impossible.”
“Before a revolution happens, it is perceived as impossible;
after it happens, it is seen as having been inevitable.”
Overall this piece is melodic and very simple, like a folk song. It is mostly diatonic (in the key of Eb Major) with only one chord outside the key center (Db Major in the final cadence, functioning as sub-V7 of iv-7 using principles of modal interchange). The bass ostinato is displaced by a beat, starting on the “and” of one, giving the melody an unexpected entrance as the harmonic rhythm can be perceived on a different beat. The interlude or C section after the melody has 4 short melodic phrases grouped in 4 different time signatures – 5/8 in the alto, 6/8 in the tenor, 4/4 in the bass and 7/8 in the piano. This creates a undulating counterpoint almost like a melodic mobile. Leonard and I improvise over the A-B section while Andy plays over the open C section.
~ Enjoy!
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