Olivier Messiaen, a renowned French composer (19081992), discovered and compiled the Messiaen Modes, a collection of the only symmetrical series that exists. These modes consist of seven series or scales, including nonchromatic scales such as the Wholetone Scale (mode 1) and the Diminished Scale (mode 2). The remaining four modes are both chromatic and symmetrical.

Full video found at:
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The video lesson discusses modes 1, 2, and 3, as well as tonal and posttonal theory. Messiaen was particularly fond of these series because they lack a root note, making the music posttonal, a term coined by Joseph N. Strauss in his book Introduction to Posttonal Theory.

The seven Messiaen Modes produce an extensive range of chords, arpeggios, submodes, and other elements that can be applied to music to refresh one's style. By studying these modes, one can gain a better understanding of 20thcentury orchestral music and modern fusion, such as that of Holdsworth and Tim Miller.

The lesson covered modes' reharmonization with tertian and quartal triads, tetrads, chromatic chords, trichords, patterns, cadences, voice movement, phrases, and deep theory comprehension.

Future video lessons will cover the remaining modes and the modes of the Messien Modes. These fascinating series, scales, or modes offer a captivating new world to explore.