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Float Islands (theme): Difference between revisions
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==Composition== | ==Composition== | ||
The original "Float Islands" theme is in the key of F major and has a modestly energetic tempo of around 130 beats per minute. The theme starts with the intro, which is a few seconds long and establishes the main chord progression: | The original "Float Islands" theme is in the key of F major and has a modestly energetic tempo of around 130 beats per minute. The theme starts with the intro, which is a few seconds long and establishes the main chord progression: I–ii–iii–ii. The chord consistently changes after every two beats, giving a consistent harmonic rhythm. By starting with the root (I) chord, the theme firmly establishes itself with a chipper major key, and because the chords do not resolve to the V (dominant) immediately, it still has a sense of motion and energy. Avoiding clear resolution is a common technique in jazz, and the composition as a whole is reminiscent of Latin jazz genres such as calypso or samba with its syncopated rhythms (particularly in the bass and drums). | ||
Another jazzy element to the song is its use of seventh chords, both major and minor. Seventh chords are very common in ''Kirby'' music, due to the lack of available sound channels on the Game Boy meaning that harmony had to implied through arpeggios rather than full chords. Nearly every chord in the song is a seventh; the main melody, for example, | Another jazzy element to the song is its use of seventh chords, both major and minor. Seventh chords are very common in ''Kirby'' music, due to the lack of available sound channels on the Game Boy meaning that harmony had to implied through arpeggios rather than full chords. Nearly every chord in the song is a seventh; the main melody, for example, plays on top of the C major seventh, D minor seven, and E minor seventh chords. | ||
The first part of melody is defined by sustained notes, which resemble that of a flute or other woodwind instrument. The lead melody feels as though it is "out of time", playing at its own free pace, which contrasts with the steady accompanying rhythm and fits the tropical feeling of the song. It begins with the dominant note, C, and then descends to the tonic, F, before rising back to the dominant. It goes up to the tonic in a higher octave before returning to the dominant. | The first part of melody is defined by sustained notes, which resemble that of a flute or other woodwind instrument. The lead melody feels as though it is "out of time", playing at its own free pace, which contrasts with the steady accompanying rhythm and fits the tropical feeling of the song. It begins with the dominant note, C, and then descends to the tonic, F, before rising back to the dominant. It goes up to the tonic in a higher octave before returning to the dominant. | ||
The second part of the song borrows chords from the relative minor, D minor, which gives the melody a slightly more bittersweet tone. The rhythm of this section changes, with a call and response between the lead and the harmony, and the chords change every four beats rather than every two. The melody uses chords and arpeggios which imply more harmonic instruments, such as horns or strings. It begins with a repeating | The second part of the song borrows chords from the relative minor, D minor, which gives the melody a slightly more bittersweet tone. The rhythm of this section changes, with a call and response between the lead and the harmony, and the chords change every four beats rather than every two. The melody uses chords and arpeggios which imply more harmonic instruments, such as horns or strings. It begins with a repeating IV–iii progression while the melody outlines the mediant (A) and the subtonic (G). After repeating this, the chords rise to the VI and the v while the melody outlines the dominant (C) and the subdominant (B). The woodwind-like instrument returns to rise to the dominant C, then the tonic F, before returning to the dominant; the chords go from the minor VI to the major V, allowing the loop to resolve back to the I.<ref>[https://vgmisbadforyou.blogspot.com/2013/04/kirby-super-star-05-float-islands.html VGM Is Bad For You: Kirby Super Star — 05: Float Islands]</ref> | ||
Several later sea stage themes in the ''Kirby'' series use the same chord progressions and other musical ideas as "Float Islands". In particular, "[[Sea Stage]]", "[[Bountiful Star]]", and "[[Abandoned Beach (theme)|Abandoned Beach]]" all use variants of the | Several later sea stage themes in the ''Kirby'' series use the same chord progressions and other musical ideas as "Float Islands". In particular, "[[Sea Stage]]", "[[Bountiful Star]]", and "[[Abandoned Beach (theme)|Abandoned Beach]]" all use variants of the I–ii–iii–ii and the IV–iii–VI–v–VI–V progressions; "[[Ripple Field: Ocean Waves]]" bases its main melody on the IV–iii progression, and "[[Aqua Star (theme)|Aqua Star]]" also features the IV–iii–VI–v–VI–V progression. The latter half of this theme is also often remixed as the "[[Rest Area (theme)|Rest Area]]" theme, which likewise follows a IV–iii–VI–v chord progression. | ||
==Game appearances== | ==Game appearances== | ||
