Matrixbrute: Arpeggiator + Gregorian Chant

'Matrixmonk'. Almost a millennium apart :) Interesting idea possibly worth developing. Personally, I always wondered how a Gregorian chant would sound with a synth apreggiator accompaniment.

The vocals are from a work titled 'Ad sepulchrum beati lacobi'. Female, but I pitch-shifted down a minor third to give it more of a high male sound. I spliced the track and used the vocal parts that were appropriate for what I wanted to do. I also faded in the arpeggio sequence post-recording.

Of course, being monophonic, there is no harmony. I chose chords/harmonic progressions I feel work well. Focus given at certain points to the A Lydian tonality. But overall, I've rooted the work in C#m (A Lydian, of course, being one of the modes of C#m). At one point there is an implied cadence to C# major via a G#7 secondary dominant (i.e. tonic major/picardy third), but it is only passing harmony, rather than a full modulation.

Progression for the first phrase is intentionally jazzy. Chord progression = C#m, G#m, A major7, F#m7, B11, and E major7 to E.

The 11 chord works well. I'll probably use it in the next piece I do in this style. Who'd have thought a chord more associated with jazz would work well with Gregorian chant!

Soundcloud link =   / matrixmonk  

Right. I'm going to do a full track like this, and add some pads on the Obi.

All best
Kris