Matrixbrute Does Tetris Theme (...+ Nikolai Medtner)

Published on Nov 21, 2018 Kris Lennox

"Recreation of the A section. Square wave, single VCO only for each part. Vid at the start is the melody. Here are the gate settings:

Melody = 100%
Noise = 40%
Bassline = 96%
Counter-melody = 83%

However, on listening back, the distinction of the semiquaver repeated notes during the counter-melody isn't clean enough (in the mix). I'd suggest reducing the gate length to somewhere between 75-80%.

Tempo = 149 BPM. Take note of when the sequencer is playing quavers, and when it is playing semiquavers.

The countermelody has to be two separate sequences due to the semiquavers i.e. 8 by 16 rather than 8 by 8.

The individual voices should be useful for anyone looking to recreate the piece. No large-scale synth necessary - you can make the piece on the simplest of synths. Even VST's will do the job fine.

Technical details RE the Gameboy sound hardware here - http://gbdev.gg8.se/wiki/articles/Gam...

The Tetris theme is actually a very famous Russian folk song, 'Korobeiniki'.

Observation that Classical musicians may be interested in:

Listen to the final three-note theme of the Melody - it occurs at the end of sequencer lines 2&4. This is actually the structural/melodic basis for Medtner's 'Night Wind' sonata - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJBnH...

Much of Medtner's music is actually based on fragments of Russian folk songs. I've never seen any articles on the subject, but any musicologists out there would surely find it interesting/it would merit research. I haven't conducted a full statistical analysis, but from observation etc I've managed to find over 50 Russian folk melodies within his music.

Medtner is, unfortunately, still relatively ignored to this day. But give it time. The internet is saturated with Rachmaninoff - the societal ear will soon become tired, at which point Medtner's day will (...should!) come.

I'm a big fan of his music. Masterpieces of piano writing - perhaps none more so than his Sonata Minacciossa - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7eAE...

I almost quit piano years ago due to that single piece! Nightmarish to play. Absolute monster. Also very beautiful. I had a love/hate relationship with it when learning it. Tozer's performance of the work is a monumental achievement of piano performance/interpretation.

I'm curious if anyone knows the folk songs it is based on?

Structurally, Medtner's works are bombproof - the equivalent of those old Soviet buildings that will likely last forever! His command of fugue/counterpoint is frightening.

All best
Kris"