The Rhyme of Meandering

The Rhyme of Meandering is a form of music used to commemorate important events originally devised by the elf Muya Fountainhail. The rules of the form are applied by composers to produce individual pieces of music which can be performed. A chanter recites nonsensical words and sounds while the music is played on a thimire and a corowa. The music is melody and rhythm without harmony. The entire performance is to start loud then be immediately soft. The melody has short phrases throughout the form. It is performed without preference for a scale and in free rhythm. Throughout, when possible, composers and performers are to use grace notes.

• The chanter always provides the rhythm and should perform sweetly.
• The thimire always does the main melody, should perform sweetly and locally improvises.
• The corowa always does the main melody and should be melancholic.
• The Rhyme of Meandering has a well-defined multi-passage structure: an introduction, a lengthy first theme, an exposition of the first theme, a bridge-passage, a second theme, an exposition of the second theme, a bridge-passage, a synthesis of previous passages, a brief bridge-passage and a lengthy finale.
• The introduction is consistently slowing. The thimire ranges from the wispy low register to the warm middle register, the corowa ranges from the raspy low register to the muddy middle register and the chanter's voice covers its entire range. This passage typically has some sparse chords.
• The first theme is at a hurried pace. The thimire stays in the wispy low register, the corowa ranges from the raspy low register to the muddy middle register and the chanter's voice ranges from the low register to the middle register. This passage is richly layered with full chords making use of the available range.
• The first exposition slows and broadens. The thimire stays in the muddy high register, the corowa ranges from the muddy middle register to the rippling high register and the chanter's voice ranges from the middle register to the high register. This passage features only melodic tones and intervals.
• The first bridge-passage is slow. The thimire stays in the wispy low register, the corowa covers its entire range from the raspy low register to the rippling high register and the chanter's voice stays in the high register. This passage is richly layered with full chords making use of the available range.
• The second theme is moderately fast. The thimire stays in the muddy high register, the corowa stays in the raspy low register and the chanter's voice ranges from the middle register to the high register. This passage typically has some sparse chords.
• The second exposition is slower than the last passage. The thimire ranges from the wispy low register to the warm middle register, the corowa stays in the muddy middle register and the chanter's voice covers its entire range. Only one pitch is ever played at a time in this passage.
• The second bridge-passage is at a free tempo. The thimire stays in the muddy high register, the corowa ranges from the raspy low register to the muddy middle register and the chanter's voice covers its entire range. This passage is richly layered with full chords making use of the available range.
• The synthesis is slow. The thimire stays in the muddy high register, the corowa stays in the muddy middle register and the chanter's voice ranges from the low register to the middle register. Only one pitch is ever played at a time in this passage.
• The third bridge-passage gradually slows as it comes to an end. The thimire ranges from the warm middle register to the muddy high register, the corowa stays in the muddy middle register and the chanter's voice ranges from the middle register to the high register. Chords are packed close together in dense clusters in this passage.
• The finale is twice the tempo of the last passage. The thimire ranges from the warm middle register to the muddy high register, the corowa stays in the muddy middle register and the chanter's voice stays in the low register. This passage typically has some sparse chords.

Events

• In midwinter of 249, The Rhyme of Meandering was created by the elf Muya Fountainhail in Marketblossoms