The Carcosa Waltz

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This waltz was inspired by Lovecraft's universe, with particular attention to James Blish's short story 'More Light'. It breaks sequentially from 3/4 into 7/4 and back.

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Mossdog

Man's best bryophyte. Only musical.

Mossdog is the creation of a woman with a synthesizer, a computer, a great deal of passion, and virtually no musical theory training. She has a lot of wonderful friends who back her up, and she appreciates them all.

Song Info

Genre

Beats • Beats General

Charts

Peak #2,599

Peak in subgenre #227

Uploaded

August 04, 2007

Track Files

MP3

MP3 2.5 MB • 128 kbps • 2:44

Story behind the song

"The Carcosa Waltz" was inspired by a game of Arkham Horror.  There's just something about the Lovecraftian universe; it has this compelling grandeur (or perhaps the word is maddening?)....

If you are trying to dance the Waltz from this electronic version, listen for the bells.  Aside from the first measure, the triple bell strikes signal the beginning or end of a 7/4 section.  The composer's recommendation is that you dance the first 3 measures of the 7/4 measure, pause for 4 beats (or, at one point, 18 beats -- experimentation is recommended for this section) and then start off again when the music returns to 3/4. Of course, dancers who are more experienced than the composer (who is definitely a novice!) may have better ideas.

We're looking for someone to render this physically on harpsichord or strings.  If you would be interested, please email Mossdog!

Mossdog would like to thank Rick Phillips (aka flickr-rickr) for use of his photo for this song's icon. Original version: http://www.flickr.com/photos/flickr-rickr/406008941/

Lyrics

The waltz is an instrumental that does not have lyrics.  However, Carcosa (the city) possesses its own song, as follows....

Along the shore the cloud waves break,
The twin suns sink behind the lake, 
The shadows lengthen 
    In Carcosa. 

Strange is the night where black stars rise, 
And strange moons circle through the skies, 
But stranger still is 
    Lost Carcosa. 

Songs that the Hyades shall sing, 
Where flap the tatters of the King, 
Must die unheard in 
    Dim Carcosa. 

Song of my soul, my voice is dead, 
Die thou, unsung, as tears unshed 
Shall dry and die in 
    Lost Carcosa.

—"Cassilda's Song" from The King in Yellow, Act 1, Scene 2 (by Robert W. Chambers)

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