Young Masters

     Peter listened closely while Dylan played a riff on his cello.

     “There,” said Dylan. “Did you hear how the time signature changed from 4/4 to 3/8 after the third bar?”

     Peter nodded, then repeated the riff on his violin. “I see what you mean. And playing in a minor key adds an intricate touch to the compound meter.”

     “Exactly,” said Dylan. “Also, I just noticed how the harmony of the fifth measure increases in dissonance as the tempo changes again.”

     Dylan played another riff to demonstrate and Peter once again mimicked him on the violin.

     “Very interesting,” said Peter. He grabbed a pen to write down the notation. “Would you say this piece has a complex monophony in which there is only one basic melody, but realized at the same time in multiple voices?”

     Dylan thought about it before answering. “Yes, I would. That’s a very astute observation, Peter. Why, I dare say our hard work is paying off. I believe we are on the road to unraveling these challenging compositions.”

     “Indeed,” agreed Peter. “Indeed we are.”

     And so the two aspiring young musicians stayed up very late analyzing the music of Satyricon, Mayhem, Thou Shalt Suffer and other notable bands of Norwegian death metal.