Reflections - AlexGB231 (Extraordinary Escapade)
Channel: AlexGB231
Date: 11/04/2023

Just before our main characters re-enter the Mystical Woods and make it back to the racetrack, they take one more look at the Ambient Waterfall and reflect on the fact that they've lost their new alien friend...

I'm really proud of how this piece turned out. It uses more acoustic instruments than most of my other tracks, which helps with the more peaceful vibe this one's going for. It's in the key of G, but I do try to conceal the tonic chord quite a bit throughout the piece, there are basically no clear V - I cadences, and pretty much every time a V chord is played, it either doesn't resolve to I, or the resolution still feels weak. Even the choruses start on the IV instead of the I, helping to give the music more of that bittersweet feeling.

For the verses, I have this nice chromatically descending note in the harmony, which sounds really lovely! The flavour that the chromatic descent gives is really nice! The overall progression for the verse is G - D - F - C - Cm - G - A7 - D7. It's still centred nicely around G, so we can still describe it in roman numerals as I - V - bVII - IV - iv - I - V7/V - V7. V7/V just means that it's the V7 chord in the key of the V chord. It sounds confusing, but A7 is the V in D, and D is the V in G. Although it's worth noting that the first time the progression is played, it ends on the IV chord, C instead of D. Regardless, though, we can still see the chromatic descent in the progression play out nicely, as G contains G, D contains F#, F contains F, C contains E, Cm contains Eb, G contains D, A7 contains C#, and D7 contains C (and so does C, so it still works the first time around too!) And it's just a very nice progression too, especially with that iv - I minor plagal cadence midway through it as well!

Oh yeah, I do also change keys for the final chorus, going up a whole step to A major. It sounds nice. Also, that pause with the drum fill at 4:42 sounds so good, I love that! And that string pizzicato ending as well! God, that sounds so beautiful!

But yeah, I hope you enjoy!