Dobrinka Tabakova

This set of etudes for the piano is designed to introduce performers to one of the oldest musical traditions of organizing notes - the modes. Together with this, most of the etudes are in irregular time signatures (5/8 and 7/8) synonymous with the folk music of Bulgaria thus linking the rhythms with modes used in the folk music of the area.

It is important to note that it is the order of the intervals, and not the starting pitch, that makes the difference between the modes. This set includes the Four Authentic modes: Dorian, Lydian, Phrygian and Mixolydian and three of the Plagal Modes: Ionian, Lorcian and Aeolian.

Aristotle was one of many philosophers to link the effects of music to human behavior and different modes were used to suit music for different occasions. I have tried to capture the essence of what these modes sound like to me to create a set of miniatures with very different characters. Dorian is fiery; Lydian is gentle and lyrical; Ionian is pure; Locrian is solemn; Phrygian is tense; Aeolian is lulling and gentle and finally the joyful Mixolydian.