Lydian mode
The modern Lydian musical scale is a rising pattern of pitches comprising three whole tones, a semitone, two more whole tones, and a final semitone. Because of the importance of the major scale in modern music, the Lydian mode is often described (or learned) as the scale that begins on the fourth scale degree of the major scale.
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Theory
The Lydian scale can be described as a major scale with the fourth scale degree raised a semitone, e.g., a C-major scale with an F♯ rather than F♮.
Triads within Lydian mode
In Lydian mode, the tonic, dominant, and supertonic triads are all major. The subdominant is diminished. The triads built on the remaining three scale degrees are minor.
Notable compositions in the Lydian mode
Classical
A rare, extended use of the Lydian mode in the Classical repertoire is Simon Sechter's 1822 Messe in der lydischen Tonart (Mass in the Lydian Mode) (Carver 2005, 76). A more famous example from around the same time is the third movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132 (1825), titled by the composer "Heiliger Dankgesang eines Genesenen an die Gottheit, in der lydischen Tonart" ("Holy Song of Thanksgiving by a Convalescent to the Divinity, in the Lydian Mode"). The alternating passages in F use the Lydian scale with sharp fourth scale degree exclusively. Anton Bruckner employed the sharpened fourth of the Lydian scale in his motet Os justi (1879) more strictly than Renaissance composers ever did when writing in this mode (Carver 2005, 74–75).
In the 20th century composers began once again to exploit modal scales with some frequency. An example from the middle of the century is the scherzo movement of Carlos Chávez's Symphony No. 3 (1951–54). The movement opens with a fugue subject, featuring extremely wide leaps, in C Lydian with following entries in F and G Lydian (Orbón 1987, 90–91).
Jazz
Pianist-composer George Russell developed a Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization, which became highly influential in the jazz world, inspiring the works of people such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, and Woody Shaw (Anon. nd.)
Popular
- The Simpsons signature tune (Chase 2006).
- Passage beginning at the words "Much as I definitely enjoy solitude" in the song "Possibly Maybe" by Björk (Hein 2012).
See also
- Lydian chord — A chord that is related to the Lydian scale
External links
- The Lydian mode in all seven three note per string positions, with intervals mapped out for guitar.
- Lydian mode in six positions for guitar at GOSK.com
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