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World Music
I've always been fascinated with music from different places and different cultures, long before the term "world music' was coined. And as a consequence, I started writing in the different styles that appealed to me. And of course, as a film music you are often asked to write in styles that complement the film's geographic setting.
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Below you'll find some of my compositions that employ just some of the many musical styles of our planet.
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Love LostMike Fritz
Style: Argentinian Tango
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​Compositional Approach:
I used tango rhythm 2a (3+3+2), with rhythmic accents being used at a much slower tempo. AABA form Sextet Tango Orchestra. Started in minor and modulated to major for bridge, returning to minor...heavy emphasis on use of bandoneon for melody, but switching to strings. Trying to evoke the sadbess of a lost love....hence the title "lost Love"
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Brairav for PannaMike Fritz
Style: Indian Bhairav
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​Compositional Approach:
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I started with some introductory scale exploration, using some pitch bends. Then i started the main melody using the Sarod.....and adding a sitar later to augment the melody. Used an ambient drone in fifths. Tabla played traditional tintal of 16 beats...doubled tabla pattern to provide more drive. Dedicated to my old friend Panna, whose forbears are Indian. He has approved. :)
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RagaRagaTangoMike Fritz
Style: Raga Tango
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​Compositional Approach:
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I decided to fusion tango and indian music. Raga 15 and harmonic minor(used a lot in tango) share most notes, so I used from both scales for the themes. For most of the piece, there is a typical Indian drone, by about midway, I let the drone descend in a more western way. Then i shift to the parallel major, in a way that a tango might do. I repeat the A theme with the original drone. I used delay on the bandoneeon, panned the sitar and bandoneon about 10 degrees to left and right of each other. Kept the sitar realitvely dry because it sound more authentic than drenching it in reverb.
I Wish You Well BoleroMike Fritz
Style: Bolero​
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​Compositional Approach:
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"I Wish You Well", a bolero for an imagined movie scene of 2 lovers at the end of their romance. I used 3 plus 2 clave and maracas, wrote a basic piano montuno and arpeggiated the chords with guitar. I started off with trumpet playing the melody but switched to clarnet to increase the poignant vibe I was going for. When the melody is repeated, I harmonize it with a flute...the timbres work well together.
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World Music
​I've always been fascinated by the music of different places and different cultures.
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