Astroludes

Listen to samples (audio files coming soon):

The ram, ARIES, cannot decide whether to be diatonic
or chromatic - he likes them both immensely. With a
great deal of zest and no small amount of jest, he rushes
headlong to the cadence.

Surly TAURUS, the bull, is having none of this nonsense.
He refuses to use the right hand and sticks stubbornly to
his tonal A. The inviting bitonal G-sharp is turned down
and a flash of inspiration towards the end cannot break
the monotony.

GEMINI can: playfully they finish each other’s sentences.
The tenor twin gets lost and his soprano sister mourns
plaintively. But then she spots him and it is all delight
once again.

CANCER has no such friends. The emotion builds up
unbearably yet his defensive shell is too strong and
nobody can get in to comfort him. The sad, lonely crab
cries with soft restraint in his castle’s moonlit courtyard.

LEO is the king of the country: or so he thinks. The lion
becomes cross if he tumbles down, but nothing can
break his pride.

Not a note out of place, nor an extra beat in sight, the
VIRGO’ S caprice is perfectly precise.

The scales of justice swing first gently, then sensuously
and then...crash, tinkle, tinkle! But LIBRA picks up the
pieces and makes sure that everything is right.

The sting of SCORPIO is sharp and biting. When it is
lost, she becomes worthless - stewing in her bitterness
and screwing the lid tightly on her emotions. But when
this passion is turned into positive energy, the jealous
scorpion becomes an eagle soaring in triumph.

Even more triumphant is the archer, SAGITTARIUS, who
has great fun blasting his trumpet and chasing his prey.

One of which could be CAPRICORN, the goat who is
prone to running away. Shy at first, when the ice is
broken she has a sad tale to tell.

Ever the innovator AQUARIUS plays inside the piano.
When the water-carrier gets that far-away look, there is
bound to be something profound going on.

The languid fish, PISCES, ends the cycle. She swims in
a river that is at first dreamy, then becomes more and
more turbulent and finally discharges into the sea of
reality (and tonality!)