Does anyone write in modes?

[MaestroX]

Does anyone write in modes not in a rennaisance style?

Many composers such as Debusy used modes and made the first use of the whole tone scale. Does anyone draw inspiration from these?

[Will Kirk]

Debussy.... ehh, ok.

I use modes sometimes when fooling around, but the one thing I find with modes is that they sound really really old. I find that they're good for music that illustrates a scene, like from a storybook or movie, but I don't really use them a whole lot in my music. If I were asked to compose something for like a horror movie, I would probably use the Phrygian Mode or something of the like.

[Bassoonery]

When i was revising for my theory I read the modes chapter in the blue AB guide to music theory. It seemed to suggest that originally there were specific motifs that had to be used when writing in a certain mode but didn't give much info. I failed miserably on Google to find what these motifs actually were so I too would be interested to know how other people use modes.

Obviously we can look to folk music for modern(??) uses of modes...

[Thorolf]

Sure! Many of my themes come in modes

Regards

[gravehill]

I'm thinking in modes almost all the time when I compose. I started as a guitarist and most guitarists nowadays know modes quite well if they read any magazines and such. So it comes quite naturally as I already know the sound of the common modes* quite intimately so I'm able to immediately associate a mood I'm after to a mode that will get me at least close if not quite there.

*With "common modes" I mean the modes of natural, harmonic and melodic minor and pentatonics as those are the most widely used ones. Experimenting with the modes of exotic artificial and ethnic scales is where things start to get REALLY interesting, though! Add microtonality to that equation and the possibilities are literally limitless.

[ttw]

Modes come in various flavors. The jazz theorists have a bunch that have the same names but are not closely related to the medieval modes.

The rennaisance usage differs from the medieval usage which is different from the Gregorian usage which differs from the Greek usage.

Mostly I just write. I would like to know a bit more about rennaisance usage as that may give me some melodic ideas.

[Ballaw de Quincewold]

modes = OH YEAH!!!

Of course I use modes! (and by the way, modes are used in themes for lots tv shows and such) Modes hold a special place in my heart. There aren't as terribly overdone as scales are. Each one has a special feeling to go along with it. I especially The Lydian and the one whose name I can't remember that starts on B.

[ttw]

Locrian

And where was Locria anyway?

[Thorolf]

Originally Posted by ttw

Locrian
And where was Locria anyway?

Locria was an older form for Locris: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locris

But I also invented my own explanation:

It has its name from the Northern Mythology god, Loke, who was a half-cast between god and troll, and ultimately responsible for Ragnarokk (doomsday).

A fun, but unreliable figure, with a sinister undertone…

Regards

[MaestroX]

Interesting stuff, the amount of modes is just crazy, greek, medival, jazz the list goes on.

The one I hear most about is the Dorian mode probably because of its wide use in folk music.