The Palette program is a tool for the creation
of 'theoretically correct' melodies.
The program is based on composition theory and the
theory of harmony. The strong theoretical base makes
the melody composing process easier.
The program contains seventeen lessons. Each
lesson has one or two demo-scripts. The lessons
sequentially describe all process of melody
creation.
The program represents the melody in a structure
that is analogue to the structure of common speech.
There are words (motives), phrases, sentences, commas
(caesuras), question marks and points (cadences).
Such an approach allows a simple and effective
algorithm to be applied to the composition of
melodies.
The program implements twenty four methods of
motive development. Some of them are listed here:
variation; inversion; repetition; new rhythm;
sequence and so on. These methods similar to the
visual effects in graphical editors. The program
suggests the 'theoretically correct' algorithm for
the melody creation. The main advantage of the
algorithm is: we take some existing part of a melody
(motive or phrase) and apply the methods of motive
development (for example, variation) to this motive
of phrase to create a new motive or phrase of the
melody.
The program knows the most commonly used triads
and sevenths of the key. The program represents the
chords in a four-voice form. The names of the voices
are soprano, alto, tenor and bass. Any chord has many
variants of an arrangement. For example: any chord
note can be placed in the first position of the
arrangement. The chord notes can be arranged
adjacently (tight arrangement) or remotely (wide
arrangement). The user can choose both the type of
the chord and the arrangement of the chord.
The program has an option that exports the melody
to a midi (*.mid) file. The exported file consists of
three tracks: melody, chords, bass. You can import
this file to any midi sequencer or style arranger to
create a complete tune.