Departure

Whereas Flying over unknown lands evolved from a rhythmic motif, this composition developed out of a set of harmonies.

A key---or a chord---is in some ways like a color. Some people---myself included---even associate certain keys with certain colors. These associations are purely subjective---I don't think there is such a thing as a ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ key-color association. For instance, I associate A-major with red, D-flat major with violet-blue, etc., whereas others might just as well associate different colors with these keys...

Thus, the three ‘colors’ of this little jazz tune are the three main keys that appear in it: D-flat major, A major and F-major. A lot of inspiration (particularly concerning the use of keys related by thirds) came from jazz composers such as John Coltrane and Tadd Dameron, as well as from classical composers such as Maurice Ravel and Franz Liszt.

(Note: g# and ab---being enharmonically the same note---are sometimes tied (or repeated) over the bar as a common tone or ‘bridge’ between two different chords)