Pretty Words

Instrumentation

Piccolo, 4 C flutes, alto, bass

Duration

6:57

Tempo

Dance-like 𝅗𝅥. = 50

Delivery Method

Digital Download

Notes on the piece

Pretty Words is a multi-faceted piece that explores the concept of sugar-coating, or glossing over words, thoughts, and feelings, whether malignant or not. Set in the blank canvas of C major, the piece morphs back and forth between sinuous modulations, soaring lyrical sections, and harsh percussive interludes. It heavily features the major 7 chord, a chord I find keystone in conveying bittersweetness, to characterize the different layers of the concept. Soft, warm major, glossing over the sharpness of the 7th beneath. Inspired by an article about white lies being ‘social cushion’ and necessary for navigating social situations, I wanted to write about the many facets of conversation and human interaction, and musically explore the question of how much sugar-coating is really necessary.