Major to Minor - A Musical Experiment

3/24/2018

Hi Everyone!

Today I would like to spotlight Chase Holfelder and his
Major-to-Minor musical transpositions of popular and traditional songs.

I find this to be a wonderful musical experiment that in my opinion can expose the true nature of lyrics that may sometimes be couched or hidden underneath a happy melody (major key).

If you visit Chase's YouTube channel you'll find songs such as:

Girls Just Want to Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
I Dreamed a Dream - from Les Misérables
Every Breath You Take - The Police
All I Want for Christmas is You
The Star-Spangled Banner
Blackbird - Beatles
Amazing Grace, and more...

Note: some of his videos begin with an introduction where he explains details about the song, and most end with a bit of him seeking funding, following, and support.

Here are a few songs that I've found particularly striking:

A Traditional/Folk Example

A Pop Music Example

A Christmas Music Example

A Disney Song Example

Brief Commentary

I find this major-to-minor experiment is very intriguing to the felt sense experience of music, because in some cases we may come to realize how creepy some lyrics are (such as in pop or holiday music). In other cases, we may find ourselves struck more deeply by the emotions behind lyrics that had been softened or that we had become numb to by repetition.

In listening, I have found for myself that in the case of spirituals or folk music, many of these songs, when turned minor become songs quite worthy of the "Spirit Sorrow" macro-genre of music. What is Spirit Sorrow?

Spirit Sorrow: A macrogenre of music encompassing authentic expressions of sorrow throughout a variety of sub-genres including but not limited to: folk music, spirituals, flamenco, yoiking, throat singing, folk-metal, and bossa nova.

See my other musing titled "The Mother of All Musical Genres" if you're interested in more on that topic.

Ok, that's all for now. I hope this has been a moving experience for you. Until next time!

Best Regards,
Yeon-Hee