Modes

UNDER CONSTRUCTION
*Due to the relatively limited number of modal music compositions within the common practice,
a variety of composers and styles are listed here.

*Some of these pieces have never been commercially recorded, therefore MIDI has been substituted.
Dorian
pdfmp3Zimmer, Hans, Time from Inception, mm. 17-24 (Plagal half cadences)
pdf

link		mp3Belousova, Sonya, and Giona Ostinelli, Geralt of Rivia, The Witcher Main Theme, (Netflix) mm.1-13
(i – VII – VI – v progression) alternates dorian and traditional minor
(piano arrangment by Dominique Charpentier)
pdfmp3Orzabal, Roland, Mad World, piano arrangement, mm.1-20 (VII to IV progression)
pdflinkKilcher, Jewel, Who Will Save Your Soul, mm.5-16 (VII to IV progression)
pdfmp3Bruton Town, Traditional English Folk Song, collected and arranged by Cecil J. Sharp
multiple modal cadences (Dorian example, VII – IV, ii – v, VII – i6) (recording link) (sometimes also known
as Burton Town
pdfmp3Robin Hood and the Tanner, Traditional English Folk Song, collected and arranged by Cecil J. Sharp
multiple modal cadences (Dorian example)
pdfmp3Jenny’s Chickens, Traditional Irish Reel
pdfMIDILang, Josephine, Zwei Charakterstücke,Op. 32, No. 1 Nachtgesang Eines Gondoliers,
Allegretto e parlando. mm.1-4
pdfmp3Yoshimatsu, Takashi, Pleiades Dances for piano, No. 7 Platan Dance, Allegro mm.53-64
pdfmp3Shirley, Nathan, The Seven Modes, No.4 Dorian, mm.1-8
pdfmp3Bartok, Bela, Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs, No. 7, Allegro, mm.1-12
pdfmp3Bartok, Bela, Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs, No. 9, Allegretto, mm.1-16
pdfmp3Bartok, Bela, Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs, No. 10, L’istesso tempo, mm.1-19
pdfmp3Bartok, Bela, Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs, No. 11, Assai moderato, mm.1-18
Phrygian
pdfmp3Balfe, Lorne, Al’Neito (The Flame) From the “Wheel of Time” soundtrack, mm.1-24
(phrygian ostinato)
pdfmp3 Shirley, Nathan, The Seven Modes, No.2 Phrygian, mm.1-8
pdfmp3La Marion Plouro, French folk bourree, transcribed by Henrick Norbeck
pdfmp3Barrios, Agustin, Leyenda de España for guitar, mm.1-5
pdfmp3Djawadi, Ramin, Westworld: Main Title Theme, Piano arr. Patrik Pietschmann, mm.1-10
(Phrygian inflection m. 9)
pdfmp3Mendoza, David, Phrygia for string septet and percussion, mvt. III Cappricioso, mm. 122-134
pdfmp3Holst, Gustav, Four Songs for voice and violin, Op.35, No. 4, My Leman is so true, Allegretto, mm.1-14
pdfmp3Adams, John, Phrygian Gates for piano, mm.114-120
pdfmp3Bingen, Hildegard von, Ave generosa, vocal chant/hymn
pdfmp3Bingen, Hildegard von, O magne pater, vocal antiphon
pdfmp3Bingen, Hildegard of, Symphonia et Ordo virtutum, for voice, Spiritus sanctus vivificans vita,
second part (recording is down a half step) (link)
Lydian
pdfmp3Nobilis Humilis, Hymn to St. Magnus, 12th century Irish Hymn
(Example and recording from Schola Sainte Cécile)
pdfmp3Yoshimatsu, Takashi, Pleiades Dances for piano, No. 3 Apple Seed Dance, Allegro mm.1-7
pdfmp3Shirley, Nathan, The Seven Modes, No.7 Lydian, mm.1-8
pdfmp3Jensen, Nathan, Aubade for solo piano, mm.21-28
Mixolydian
pdflinkThe Rambling Sailor, Traditional English Folk Song, collected and arranged by Cecil J. Sharp
(Mixolydian example) (another version)
pdflinkAs I Walked Through the Meadows, Traditional English Folk Song, collected and arranged by Cecil J. Sharp
pdfmp3Shirley, Nathan, The Seven Modes, No.5 Mixolydian, mm.1-10
pdfmp3Bartok, Bela, Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs, No. 15, Allegro, mm.1-12
pdfmp3Bingen, Hildegard of, Symphonia et Ordo virtutum, for voice, item de virginibus, last phrase
Aeolian
pdfmp3Donaldson, David, David Long, Steve Roche and Janet Roddick, Misty Mountains, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
pdfmp3Madonna, Devil Pray, 2014, also written by Avicii, DJ Dahi, and Michael Diamond (BloodPop), with additional
writing by Arash Pournouri, Carl Falk, Rami Yacoub, and Savan Kotecha, , (i – VI – VII – i progression) (i – III – VII progression) and (i – VII – i progression)
pdfmp3Jaëll, Maire, Les Jours Pluvieux, No. 4, Petite Pluie Fine, Vite, mm.1-18
pdfmp3Pärt, Arvo, Für Alina for piano
pdfmp3Howard, Jame Newton, Gravel Road, The Village Score, mm.21-32
(Transcribed by Gino Moscati)
pdfmp3Horner, James, For the Love of a Princess, from Braveheart, mm.1-16
pdfmp3My Mother Told Me, Traditional Norse, arranged by Marie-Éve Mainguy
pdfmp3Djawadi, Ramin, Mhysa, Game of Thrones, mm.1-13 (VII to i modal cadence)
pdfmp3Shore, Howard, Evenstar, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, mm.5-16
(VI – VII – i progression/cadence)
pdfmp3Bingen, Hildegard of, Ave Generosa, vocal chant/hymn
pdfmp3Bingen, Hildegard of, Symphonia et Ordo virtutum, for voice,
Spiritus sanctus vivificans vita, first part
pdfmp3Onyeji, Christian, Ufie III for piano, Fast, ritmico, mm.2-10
pdfmp3Zimmer, Hans, Now We Are Free from Gladiator, mm.34-48
Locrian
pdfmp3Shirley, Nathan, The Seven Modes, No.1 Locrian, mm.1-13
pdfmp3Bartok, Bela, Mikrokosmos, Book 2, Sz.107 No. 63, Buzzing, Con moto
pdfmp3Kirkpatrick, John, Dust to dust
Romani Minor Scale
pdfmp3Zimmer, Hans, Paul’s Dream, Dune (2021), piano arrangement by Laurie Théberge, mm.1-16
(link)
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL
*Some of these examples are short transcriptions of indigenous music. These are for educational purposes
only and created with the utmost respect and with the spirit of bringing people together through music.
Tritonic Modes – Asian based
pdfmp3Prajñaparamita mantra, Buddhist chant from the Heart Sutra
transcribed by David D. Mendoza – (^1,^b3,^b7) there are various versions of this
chant, some use only two notes while others up to five.
Tetratonic Modes – Western European based
pdfmp3Epistle for the solemn mass of easter day, Gregorian Chant
^1,^2,^6,^7 (last phrase is written on B but is sung on C in the recording)
Tetratonic Modes – North American based (educational uses only please)
pdfmp3Apache Prayer Song, Dishchii’Bikah Group
transcribed by David D. Mendoza (^1,^2,^3,^6) (song link)
pdfmp3Navajo Four Sacred Mountain Song, Diné (Navajo)
transcribed by David D. Mendoza (^1,^b3,^5,^b7) (song link)
linklinkBuck, Joshua “Billy”, Dream Song, Iroquois
transcribed by William N. Fenton (^1^2^4^5)
pdfmp3Osoak, Leo, The Time I Arrive, (Aiya surli tikiatasanga) Traditional Inuit Song
transcribed by David D. Mendoza – (^1^2^3^6)
Pentatonic Modes – Asian based
pdfmp3Kwan Seum Bosal, Korean Buddhist Chant,
transcribed by David D. Mendoza (pentatonic mode 5 – ^1,^b3,^4,^5,^b7)
aka, minor pentatonic / P’yongjo-kyemyonjo scale
pdfmp3Yamada, Kōsaku, Three Old Japanese Art Dances for piano,
mvt. II, Kyo No Shiki, Allegretto mm.1- 10 (In scale / Miyaho-bushi)
pdfmp3McPhee, Colin, Balinese Ceremonial Music, mvt. I Pemoengkah, Animato
(Slendro ^1^2^4^5^6 traditional scale contains microtonal variations)
Pentatonic Modes – North American based (educational uses only please)
pdfmp3Bird Song, Traditional, Tohono O’odham Nation,
transcribed by David D. Mendoza (pentatonic mode 1 – ^1,^2,^3,^5,^6)
aka major pentatonic (song link)
pdfmp3Shenandoah, Joanne, Kalunyaha-Wi, from her album Matriarch – Iroquois Women’s Songs
transcribed by David D. Mendoza – (pentatonic mode 1 – ^1,^2,^3,^5,^6)
linklinkWilson, Charlton, Peyote Song, Delaware
transcribed by Willard Rhodes (pentatonic mode 1 – ^1,^2,^3,^5,^6)
linklinkHandle, Tom, Lullaby, Cherokee
transcribed by Willard Rhodes – (pentatonic mode 2 – ^1^2^4^5^6)
pdfmp3Wendeyaho, traditional Cherokee
arranged by Clint Goss – (pentatonic mode 1 – ^1,^2,^3,^5,^6)
Pentatonic Modes – South American based
pdfmp3A las orillas del Titicaca, Traditional Andean Folk Music, Huayno/Wayñu genre
transcribed by Henrik Norbeck (pentatonic mode 5 – ^1,^b3,^4,^5^b7)
Pentatonic Modes – African based
pdfmp3Onyeji, Christian, Ufie III for piano, Fast, ritmico, mm.29-40
(pentatonic mode 5 – ^1,^b3,^4,^5,^b7)
pdfmp3Tu!Tu! Gbovi, Ewe Children’s Song
(^1^b2^b3^b6^b7)
linkChiweshe, Stellla Rambisai, The Speech
(major pentatonic ^1^2^3^5^6) (not sure, but could be Nyamaropa tuning)
Pentatonic Modes – Western European based
pdfmp3Erart, Jehans, Au Tems Pascor, Trouvère Pastourelle
(^1,^2,^3,^4,^5 – pentatonic collection)
pdfmp3Christe Fili Dei and Erue a framea Gregorian Chant
(^1,^2,^3,^4,^6 – pentatonic collection)
Hexatonic Modes – Asian based
pdfmp3Rain in Jiang Nan for erhu, contemporary/commercial Chinese
(aeolian hexatonic – ^1^2^b3^4^5^b7)
pdfmp3Hon Shirabe, Traditional Japanese Honkyoku
arranged by Clint Goss – (^1^2^3^#4^5^7)
Hexatonic Modes – Western European based
pdfmp3St Patrick´s An dro, Traditional Breton Music
transcribed by Henrik Norbeck (aeolian hexatonic – ^1^2^b3^4^5^b7)
pdfmp3Dies Irae, Gregorian Chant (aeolian hexatonic – ^1,^2,b3,^4,^5,^b7)
pdfmp3Wild Mountain Thyme, traditional Scottish folk song, mm.1-10.
pdfmp3Kyd, Jesper, arr. Noah Wojcik, Ezio’s Family, piano arrangement, mm.34-41 (phrygian hexatonic – ^1^b3^4^5^b6^b7)
Hexatonic Modes – North American based
pdfmp3Kayowjineh, traditional Seneca, collected by Pete Seeger
^1^2^3^4^5^6
Hexatonic Modes – South American based
pdfmp3El Sicuri, Traditional Andean Folk Music, Huayno/Wayñu genre
transcribed by Henrik Norbeck (aeolian hexatonic – ^1,^2,b3,^4,^5,^b7)
Hexatonic Modes – African based
pdfmp3Onyeji, Christian, Oga for piano, mm.3-10
pdfmp3Roux, Isak, Preludes in African Rhythm, Lullaby, Lento e molto rubato, mm.1-4
(Ionian hexatonic – ^1,^2,^3,^4,^5,^6)
Heptatonic Modes – Middle East based
pdfmp3Shawwā, Sāmī al, Samai Bayat – maqam bayati, mm.1-7
(^1^qb2^b3^4^5^b6^b7 – ^qb6 may also be present)
Bayat/Bayati has a D/Re tonic
pdfmp3Al-Arian, Ibraheem, Samai Bayat – maqam bayati, mm.1-11
pdfmp3Al-Atrash, Farid, Noura Ya Noura
Bayat/Bayati has a D/Re tonic
pdfmp3Cemil Bey, Tanburi, Cecen Kizi – maqam huseini
(^1^qb2^b3^4^5^qb6^b7 – ^b6 may also be present)
Huseini is variant of Bayati with an emphasis on ^6 to ^5 motion
pdfmp3Ekserciyan, Tatyos, Samai Rast – maqam rast
(^1^2^qb3^4^5^6^qb7 – ^b7 may also be present)
Rast has a C/Do tonic
Heptatonic Mode – Eastern European based
pdfmp3Cadaneasca, Romanian folk song
(Phrygian Dominant, Spanish Phrygian, Hijaz Maqam, Freygish scale) phrygian #^3
Klezmer Modes
pdfmp3Sher or Sherele, Yiddish freilach (lively song/dance)
(Freygish scale) phrygian #^3
pdfmp3Freylekhs fun der khupe, Yiddish freilach (lively song/dance)
(Misheberekh mode aka Ukrainian Dorian scale)
Nine-note Russian modes