Night’s Bridge, part 2

Track #7 on handmade, “Night’s Bridge,” was recorded November 20, 2006. In part 1, I talked about the meaning of the song; now for the composition itself.

The song is in two parts. The first is a “verse” portion of 8 bars:

Eb13	%	Ab∆	%
E/Eb	%	Ab69	%

The second is a “bridge” section (from about 3:00 to 3:40):

Db∆

%

Db69

%

[Check this page for a complete list of chord abbreviations.]

The real world vs. dream world parallel is in the first part section.  The first four bars are a standard jazz progression, Eb13 to Abmaj7.  However, the next eight bars use a strange substitute chord — E/Eb — to give the progression a slightly otherworldy sound.

The shift to the Db tonal center on the bridge is related to the dreamless depths of sleep.

Of course, listening to this tune, you’re free to find your own meaning.  These are just the things that were on my mind when I was composing it, and the things I see when I listen to it.