The Fragrant Phrase
The Fragrant Phrase is a form of music used for entertainment originally devised by the goblin Zolak Menacesteels. The form guides musicians during improvised performances. A singer recites The Lyrical Embrace while the music is played on a pestrat. The music is melody and rhythm without harmony. The entire performance is at a walking pace. The melody has short phrases throughout the form. It is performed without preference for a scale and in free rhythm. Throughout, when possible, performers are to alternate tension and repose and modulate frequently.
- The singer always should be passionate.
- The pestrat always should be melancholic.
- The Fragrant Phrase has a well-defined multi-passage structure: a lengthy verse and a chorus all repeated two times, a bridge-passage and a finale.
- The verse is voiced by the melody of the singer and the melody of the pestrat. The passage is to be in whispered undertones. The singer's voice ranges from the low register to the middle register and the pestrat ranges from the crisp low register to the sparkling middle register. Only one pitch is ever played at a time in this passage.
- The chorus is voiced by the melody of the pestrat and the rhythm of the singer. The passage is to become louder and louder. The pestrat is confined to the crisp low register and the singer's voice ranges from the middle register to the high register. This passage typically has some sparse chords.
- The bridge-passage is voiced by the melody of the singer. The passage is to be very loud. The singer's voice ranges from the middle register to the high register. Only one pitch is ever played at a time in this passage.
- The finale is voiced by the melody of the singer and the rhythm of the pestrat. The passage is to be in whispered undertones. The singer's voice ranges from the middle register to the high register and the pestrat is confined to the heavy high register. This passage typically has some sparse chords.
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