Max Embers, an LA-based singer/songwriter originally from Germany, has produced many original tunes, including “Lookin’ Up,” featured on the TV series Songland in 2019. On the series, Embers competed with several other songwriters to have a song chosen for a performance setlist by John Legend.
Here, Embers covers a 1967 classic by one of his musical heroes, Stevie Wonder: “For Once In My Life” (2019). The modulation is at 2:05.
Gabriel Fauré’s “Élégie”, Op. 24 for cello and piano has held a special place in my heart ever since I was first introduced to it and played it with a close friend in high school. Originally envisioned as the slow movement in an uncompleted cello sonata, Fauré published the piece as stand-alone work in 1883, and later orchestrated it as well.
Fauré scholar Jean-Michel Nectoux wrote that the Élégie was one of the last works in which the French composer allowed himself “such a direct expression of pathos,” noting further that he regards the piece as “one of the last manifestations of French musical Romanticism. From now on Fauré’s music was to be more introverted and discreet.”
A large scale ABA form begins and ends in C minor; Ab major is hinted at in the bass beginning at 2:24 before fully arriving when the piano takes the melody at 2:35. Performed here by Jacqueline du Pré and Gerald Moore, pianist.
Wolfgang Mozart’s Alla Turca from Sonata #11 in A Major (K. 331) shifts back and forth between A minor and A major throughout. A piano sonata in three movements, the piece was likely written in Vienna or Salzburg around 1783. The first modulations are at 0:48 and 1:02.
Many thanks to MotD fan Chris Larkosh for this submission: Swedish duo Roxette released the single “Crash! Boom! Bang!” in 1994, part of an album of the same name. AllMusic liked the release’s vocals and songwriting, but felt that the album was “too pop for rock listeners and too rock for mid-’90s pop fans.” The LA Times, however, enjoyed the album’s “deliciously overwrought ballads” and the New York Times praised Marie Fredriksson, the lead vocalist, as the band’s “main asset … a singer with a sob in her voice.” Fredriksson passed away in late 2019 at the age of only 61.
Starting in C# minor with on-and-off shifts to B major, the tune transitions strongly to E minor for the bridge at 2:24, then back to C# minor again at 2:49.
Italian jazz pianist Enrico Pieranunzi, who has played with the likes of Chet Baker, Paul Motian, and Charlie Haden, released the trio album Play Morricone (2002) with bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Joey Baron. The album’s focus is the broad discography of composer Ennio Morricone, who has written over 400 scores for film and TV.
“Jona Che Visse Nella Balena” (Jonah Who Lived In The Whale), a solo track, modulates at 1:18, 2:36, and 4:10.
Quentin, a reader of the MotD blog, sends this contribution:
“I just discovered your blog and I love it. I immediately thought about the song ‘Où?’ by Mathieu Boogaerts (1998). This song uses modulation paired with a fade-out in the outro to signify the loss of references, the feeling of not knowing where we are…the lyrics are ‘Où allons nous? J’y comprends rien.’ (‘Where are we going? I don’t understand anything.’)
The modulation ladder starts at 2:27; we can hear four modulations before the sound completely fades. Boogaerts is a French musician, composer and writer; the lyrics of his own songs have a really unique style.”
The tonality of the “Military” Polonaise in A Major by Frédéric Chopin, composed in 1838, pivots all over the place during the many repetitions of its regal main theme. Canadian/Israeli pianist Tzvi Erez‘s version includes several more interesting points about the piece in its captions.
Ignacy Paderewski (1860 – 1941) was a Polish composer and pianist who is likely just as well known for his work as a philanthropist and brief stint as Prime Minister of Poland in 1919. The composer has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Irving Berlin song “I Love a Piano” (1916) includes the lyric “…and with the pedal, I love to meddle/When Paderewski comes this way/I’m so delighted, when I’m invited/To hear that long-haired genius play.”
Paderewski’s Minuet in G major (Op. 14 #1, 1887) is performed here by Polish pianist Michał Szymanowski. At 1:54, the piece transitions away from its overall key of G major, then reverts to its main theme at 2:38.
American singer, songwriter, and dancer Kehlani is a familiar fixture on the US R&B and HipHop charts. In 2016, she was nominated for the Best Urban Contemporary Album Grammy for You Should Be Here. Her 2019 track, “Good Thing,” a collaboration with German/Russian producer Zedd, charted worldwide, including Australia, Canada, Belgium, Singapore, and the US.
Built around a relentless 12/8, the tune modulates after a grand pause between 3:40 to 3:50. The music in the video starts at 0:45.
The “Humoresque No. 7” (Op. 101, 1894) by Antonín Dvořák was originally written as part of a cycle for solo piano. It was composed during a multi-year US visit by Dvorak during which the Czech composer also wrote his iconic “New World” Symphony.
Performed here by the legendary duo of violinist Itzhak Perlman and cellist Yo-Yo Ma, accompanied by the Boston Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Seiji Ozawa, the piece begins in Gb major, transitions to Gb minor at 1:35, and back to major again at 2:27.
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