BackgroundMusic Theory

QuestionsSummary

Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music

Jim Tao

Anime ClubCaltech

TouhouCon 2015

Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music

BackgroundMusic Theory

QuestionsSummary

ZUN

self-taught composer ofinstrumental musicincluded his music ingames to get it hearddrew the sprites,composed the music, andprogrammed the gamesTouhou music hasunrivalled remixabilityhis music CDs featurefull-length compositions

Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music

BackgroundMusic Theory

QuestionsSummary

Outline

1 Music TheoryMusical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations

Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music

BackgroundMusic Theory

QuestionsSummary

Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations

Musical Modes

mode: alternative tonality/scale that can be derived fromthe familiar major scale by starting on a different note onthe scale.Each mode has a unique set of intervals above the startingnote, giving it a distinct sound. ZUN manages to createGensokyo’s otherworldly atmosphere by using differentmusical modes adventurously.

Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music

BackgroundMusic Theory

QuestionsSummary

Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations

Example - C Major

Mode Scale Tonic triadC Ionian (I)? C D E F G A B C C-E-G (major)D Dorian (II) D E F G A B C D D-F-A (minor)E Phrygian (III) E F G A B C D E E-G-B (minor)F Lydian (IV) F G A B C D E F F-A-C (major)G Mixolydian (V) G A B C D E F G G-B-D (major)A Aeolian (VI)?? A B C D E F G A A-C-E (minor)

?C Ionian=C major, ??A Aeolian=A natural minor

Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music

BackgroundMusic Theory

QuestionsSummary

Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations

Modal examples

U. N. Owen Was Her? (II)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2M-3jbqcmQg

Green-eyed Jealousy (III)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAAva5Nlhyc

Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music

BackgroundMusic Theory

QuestionsSummary

Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations

The Pentatonic Scale

Pentatonic major scale: C D E G APentatonic minor scale: A C D E GHaving much of the melody lie on the pentatonic scaleallows ZUN flexibility with regard to the mode used.

Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music

BackgroundMusic Theory

QuestionsSummary

Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations

Pentatonic scale examples

Maiden’s Capriccio~Dream Battle (I)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnamFfl16Oc

The Gensokyo the Gods Loved (II)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA99yBKZy3U

Tomboyish Girl in Love (III)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-saprSObdM

Tomorrow will be Special; Yesterday was Not (VI)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sDrOEiGYEo

Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music

BackgroundMusic Theory

QuestionsSummary

Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations

Ostinati, Imitation, and Counterpoint

ostinato: figure that is usually rather short and repeatsmany times, thus imparting a static quality to the musicimitation: repeating a melody in a voice shortly after its firstappearance in a different voicecounterpoint: very different, independent, and harmoniousmusical linesCounterpoint is often implemented through ostinati orimitation. Counterpoint gives ZUN’s music the degree ofcomplexity necessary to keep it from getting tiring to listento for the 50th time when you’re trying to get that 1cc.

Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music

BackgroundMusic Theory

QuestionsSummary

Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations

Examples of Ostinati

Captain Murasahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnEYQ80xdX8

Shotoku Legend~True Administratorhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UQ3skHm4NU

Futatsuiwa from Sadohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVl-yRNxy9w

Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music

BackgroundMusic Theory

QuestionsSummary

Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations

Examples of Imitative Counterpoint

Necrofantasiahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21TktYgKScE

Cinderella Cage~Kagome Kagomehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ-QOgNFddM

Gensokyo, Past and Present~Flower Landhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45QzSDGpf4k

Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music

BackgroundMusic Theory

QuestionsSummary

Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations

Examples of Free Counterpoint

Paradise~Deep Mountainhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alGjMHREgh0

Sakura Sakura~Japanize Dreamhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRTRr-0HCTo

Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music

BackgroundMusic Theory

QuestionsSummary

Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations

Harmonies and Chord Progressions

sus4 chord (creates tension)

Neapolitan chord (provides contrast)

picardy cadence (releases tension)

Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music

BackgroundMusic Theory

QuestionsSummary

Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations

Examples of Sus4 Chords

Fall of Fallhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONRT3gCBpqA

Faith is for the Transient People (2nd inversion)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M3iQzcDEFE

Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music

BackgroundMusic Theory

QuestionsSummary

Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations

Examples of Neapolitan Chords

Night Falls~Evening Starhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5LS-FOrUHQ

Oni’s Island in the Fairyland~Missing Powerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uacb3qvNlZU

Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music

BackgroundMusic Theory

QuestionsSummary

Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations

Examples of Picardy Cadence

Withered Leafhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGl72LwktAc

Charming Dominationhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIqQVO9MWyU

Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music

BackgroundMusic Theory

QuestionsSummary

Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations

Modulating from One Key to Another

modulation: process of changing from one key to anotheroften achieved via cadences, leading notes, and caesuraeBy modulating frequently between different musical keys,ZUN manages to give a deep feeling of sentimentality tohis music.

Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music

BackgroundMusic Theory

QuestionsSummary

Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations

Examples of Modulations

The Gensokyo the Gods Loved (modulate via cadence)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA99yBKZy3U

Phantom Ensemble (modulate via leading notes)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awH2GKRpfLE

Bloom Nobly, Ink-Black Cherry Blossoms~Border of Life(modulate after caesurae)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LkSIGgjKyU

Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music

BackgroundMusic Theory

QuestionsSummary

Musical Modes and the Pentatonic ScaleOstinati and Imitative CounterpointHarmonies and Chord ProgressionsModulations

Miscellaneous

There is a chart on Danbooru athttp://danbooru.donmai.us/posts/1649996?tags=touhou+chartwith a lot of Touhou music theory data recorded.

Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music

BackgroundMusic Theory

QuestionsSummary

Questions?

Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music

BackgroundMusic Theory

QuestionsSummary

Summary

ZUN uses a diverse array of compositional techniques toimmerse Touhou players in the magical world of Gensokyo.If you’re not satisfied with my analysis of the music or myanswers to your questions, go annoy your music teachers.

Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music

Appendix For Further Reading

For Further Reading I

A. Schoenberg. Structural Functions of Harmony, revisededition. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 1969. Print.

J. J. Fux. Gradus ad Parnassum. Vienna: Johann Peter vanGhelen, 1725. Print.

H. Brent. "Claude Debussy and the Javanese Gamelan."Brent Hugh’s Personal and Business Web Pages. Web. 7Jul 2015.

"Trial of classifying Touhou characters by the composingtechniques used in their original themes, provisionalextracted edition." Danbooru. Web. 7 Jul 2015.

Jim Tao Compositional Techniques in Touhou Music