G/D Phrygian?

I thought the best place was to ask about this here as I'm hoping you guys could help me out with it.

I've been analyzing many songs and came across this theme from Zelda, where it sounds very Egyption. So I thought it's in Phrygian. I came across it as a G Phrygian mode, which is in Eb Major but I also noticed the same intervals and notes are the same as D Phrygian and now I'm confused. Why do G/D share the same notes in that mode?

Anyway, here is the theme. (Correct me if I'm wrong if it isn't in G Phrygian.)

Thankyou.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-jT6T59rYw

Phrygian: S T T T S T T (S=semitone, T=tone)

D-Phrygian: D Eb F G A Bb C D

G-Phrygian: G Ab Bb C D Eb F G

So G, being a perfect fifth lower than D, has one additional flat (Ab), just like in any other diatonic mode.

The piece is in G-Phrygian.

I looked at my written formulas again and noticed I do have a natural A in D Phrygian. Why I didn't see this prior posting I have no idea. It must be too much analyzing in a day that has started to fry my brain :P

I have two more questions if you don't mind...

Using the above theme for example:

1. For a mode to work, I thought it was common to play the tonic first (G) as a starting note to get the Phyrgain feel? But in this case, the theme starts on an F, and a D is played first for the main melody.

2. Why would the composer have this in Eb Major? Is there any specifics or it's all a matter of how the composer first got the tune in his/her head?

2. Why would the composer have this in Eb Major? Is there any specifics or it's all a matter of how the composer first got the tune in his/her head?

I presume you're talking about the sheet music?

In which case, if you're thinking G-Phrygian you use the key signature from it's parent major scale. There's no such thing, really, as being in the "key of G Phrygian"... It's being in the "Phrygian mode of Eb Major."

I have two more questions if you don't mind...

I don't :happy:

1. For a mode to work, I thought it was common to play the tonic first (G) as a starting note to get the Phyrgain feel? But in this case, the theme starts on an F, and a D is played first for the main melody.

You can start a melody on any note of the scale you want. The tonic is the most common, but inumerable themes start on the dominant (think of the Star Wars theme, or plenty of other themes inspired by military brass fanfares). 'Ode to Joy' begins on the mediant.

Having said that, I would put my neck out and say that modal tunes are more likely to start on the tonic since very few have been written in recent times, so they are 'closer' to their plainchant roots.

Also, don't expect game music like this to teach you traditional modal writing. If you want to learn historical modal technique, look at Medieval/Renaissance music or West European folk tunes music (Hispanic if you have a taste for Phrygian).

2. Why would the composer have this in Eb Major? Is there any specifics or it's all a matter of how the composer first got the tune in his/her head?

G-Phrygian has 3 flats (B, E, A). Eb is the equivalent major scale with the same 3 flats. However, clearly there's more to a key than just the key signature, so to say it's in Eb is just wrong.

... modal tunes are more likely to start on the tonic since very few have been written in recent times...

:huh:

What?

:huh:

What?

Lol, well I meant in classical music up to the start of the 20th cent.

Sorry for any offence.

Lol, well I meant in classical music up to the start of the 20th cent.

Sorry for any offence.

No offence....just confusion. ;)