#058 Kitchen Mischief by John Bartmann

The piece of music in this week's episode is called Kitchen Mischief. It’s a funny, suspenseful and quirky children’s comedy soundtrack which is suitable for depictions of naughty, adventurous fun and even low-level danger. It uses a combination of pizzicato string plucks, organ, bass clarinet, English horn and percussion to convey a sense of mischief, fun and childishness.

IN THIS EPISODE

For this piece, I had a strong image of children trying to steal some cookies.

01:36 Two sounds are instrumental in conveying naughtiness and fun: the violin pizzicato and the bass clarinet. Perhaps the pizzicato sounds a little like tiptoeing. The vibraslap conveys a little bit of quirkiness. It sounds so much like a rattlesnake that it can also be used to convey danger. These well-established tropes are quickly able to place the listener and instruct their mood.

03:35 For this piece, I had a strong image of children trying to steal some cookies. I wanted to create the sense that our characters are taking a few steps, and then pausing and listening for danger (in the form of a lurking mom!). I used a 5-bar cycle. Four steps, then a pause, four steps then a pause.

04:18 The triangle and hi-hats are really soft, but really sets the rhythm and almost reminds the listener of a lookout character who rings the bell when it’s unsafe.

05:09 The A-part is more staccato, while the B-part is more legato. Having a second part creates forward motion in the music. Making it legato conveys the sense that the cookie adventure is progressing smoothly, and that we’re on the right track.

06:07 The piece has some interesting harmony. Both passages move between a diminished or tritone interval, which is the most un-harmonious interval in the Western music canon. It always creates a sense that something is a little offbeat or even menacing. The piece uses this strangeness to create suspense, a lingering sense tension that is only finally resolved in the closing chords.

DOWNLOAD & USE THIS MUSIC

• Download ‘Kitchen Mischief’ by John Bartmann https://gum.co/maVAU
• Search music by John Bartmann https://johnbartmann.com/music

SOUNDS & DEVICES USED

• Native Instruments Symphony Essentials
• Native Instruments Battery 3
• Pianoteq 4

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CONTACT

• https://twitter.com/johnisthemusic
• https://johnbartmann.com/contact

ABOUT THIS SHOW

How I Make Music is where behind-the-scenes musicians tell their own stories. Every Wednesday, we break apart a song, soundtrack or composition and investigate the insights into how it was made.

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