At the March 29 Gathering, R.P. Hale let a packed SRSNH session in on some of his trade secrets. We got a new look at scales, modes, and chords, especially as they apply to different cultural traditions. R.P. Hale writes:

Perhaps one of the biggest so-called “secrets” in music today concerns the modes, the arrangement of notes in scales that make the tune “sound like that.” Composers and backup artists have to be thoroughly familiar with these, yet they are either consistently neglected in teaching, or treated as some Dark Secret not to be reveal’d to the Uninitiated. Yet the modes are very logical and easy to learn, and in learning them, you will not only listen better, but find harmony and chord arranging easier and have more options doing them. Different cultures use specific and characteristic modes in their music, and the Scots were no exception – which is why their music tends to – sound like that.

Known nationally as a harpsichordist, hammer-dulcimist, instrument maker and teacher, R.P.’s main interest in music has always been accompaniment and improvisation. He has been a professional continuo harpsichordist – the player who improvises the backup during an orchestral performance – for more than 35 years, and is well known for rhythmic backup on the bass dulcimer, and for dance-piano backup. Those skills have served him well in his work as a church musician – which involves far more than just playing hymns.