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I am so upset because yesterday I came up with this amazing twitter thread with my FIVE favorite chromatic scales in ALL MUSIC (that I've listened to and could think of at the time), but now I can't remember all of them so I'll just give you the Top 3:
Number THREE:
this sequence featuring a beautifully orchestrated, and intensifying chromatic scale in Ravel's "La Valse" (starting at 10:10, in the inner accompaniment)
this sequence featuring a beautifully orchestrated, and intensifying chromatic scale in Ravel's "La Valse" (starting at 10:10, in the inner accompaniment)
Number TWO:
The looped chromatic scale in the backing track of @MissyElliott's "Lose Control", it's like a musical M.C. Escher staircase because it seemingly ascends forever even though you know is doesn't
The looped chromatic scale in the backing track of @MissyElliott's "Lose Control", it's like a musical M.C. Escher staircase because it seemingly ascends forever even though you know is doesn't
Number ONE:
This whole 1553 (?) motet by Vicente Lusitano (the first known black composer to publish music); this piece is like an etude, and appears in his (unpublished) counterpoint treatise to demonstrate contrapuntal treatment of chromatic tetrachords
This whole 1553 (?) motet by Vicente Lusitano (the first known black composer to publish music); this piece is like an etude, and appears in his (unpublished) counterpoint treatise to demonstrate contrapuntal treatment of chromatic tetrachords
Here are some more honorable mention/I didn't think of these yesterday chromatic scales:
Bach's Musical Offering has a famous chromatic scale in it, I've always loved this scrolling score video of the piece, too
Bach's Musical Offering has a famous chromatic scale in it, I've always loved this scrolling score video of the piece, too
Ligeti's "Chaconne Chromatique" from the unaccompanied viola sonata is also super cool
There are a lot of examples of the chromatic lament bass, I am particularly fond of Gloria Coates' haunting quotation of Purcell's famous aria "When I Am Laid In Earth" in the her Symphony No. 4 'Chiaroscuro' (you really gotta listen to the whole movement)
NOW SOME CHROMATIC SCALES IN METAL:
The voice leading in the verses of Megadeth's "This Way My Life" (1992) is very chromatic - I've always liked this song, Megadeth can be really good sometimes
The voice leading in the verses of Megadeth's "This Way My Life" (1992) is very chromatic - I've always liked this song, Megadeth can be really good sometimes
And, Pantera's "A New Level" (1992) is the most chromatic scale-laden metal riff I could think of, a great song that was a real favorite for me and my twin in high school
Finally, I think Meshuggah's 2005 album "Catch33" deserves discussion in this thread because there is a persistent melodic motive in the album that uses an 012 trichord, and what is a chromatic scale if not four 012 trichords in a row?
