The Dorian mode is a lovely ancient ‘scale’ with a minor third and a raised 6th. These elements contain musical light as well as shadow, which is perfect for painting the unfolding stories told by many traditional songs, both secular and sacred.
In July, I chose the Medieval French ‘Noel Nouvelet’ and the 8th/9th Century European plainchant ‘Ave Maris Stella’ (both Dorian melodies) to join together in an arrangement for lever or pedal harp. The lever harp version can't reach the lowest pedal harp notes, but the music suits either harp equally.
