The Mother of Toning

The Mother of Toning is a form of music used to commemorate important events originally devised by the elf Nithe Trenchlace. The rules of the form are applied by composers to produce individual pieces of music which can be performed. A speaker recites any composition of The Lens of Mirth while the music is played on a efiva and a thefira. The musical voices join in melody and counterpoint, harmony and rhythm. The entire performance is at a walking pace. The melody and counterpoint both have phrases of varied length throughout the form. It is performed without preference for a scale and in free rhythm. Throughout, when possible, composers and performers are to alternate tension and repose.

• The speaker always should be spirited.
• The efiva always should feel mournful.
• The thefira always should feel mournful.
• The Mother of Toning has a well-defined multi-passage structure: a chorus and a lengthy verse possibly all repeated, a finale and a lengthy coda.
• The chorus is voiced by the melody of the thefira, the counterpoint of the efiva and the speaker. The passage is to start loud then be immediately soft. This passage features only melodic tones and intervals.
• The verse is voiced by the melody of the efiva, the harmony of the thefira and the speaker. The passage is to be very loud. Chords are packed close together in dense clusters in this passage. The passage should be composed and performed using grace notes.
• The finale is voiced by the melody of the thefira, the rhythm of the efiva and the speaker. The passage is to be in whispered undertones. This passage typically has some sparse chords.
• The coda is voiced by the melody of the thefira and the speaker. The passage is to be soft. This passage typically has some sparse chords.

Events

• In early summer of 167, The Mother of Toning was created by the elf Nithe Trenchlace in Fedlobster