When you study traditional music theory, you’re taught the importance of tonality: composing music in one key and then staying there. This gives compositions a feeling of stability. It keeps things from flying around too unpredictably.

But on the other hand, what’s wrong with a little unpredictability?

I enjoy clever chord changes. And I’ve always loved the music of George Gershwin, Erik Satie and Scott Joplin. So I decided to write a piano piece that combines the styles of those three composers — and deliberately tests how often you can change keys without annoying listeners.

(Hence the title. There’s no such note as C flat.)

Interesting footnote: I wrote this piece with digital music software, then had the computer play it on my digital piano. I could never perform it live because I’m just not that good. But if anyone wants to give it a try, I’d gladly print out the score.

 

 

 

Music © 2008 by Tim Harrower