Those pettes who live, unfortunately, near the edge of the Pit are ever in search of protection from its deracinating influence.
The music of all time periods before the Eclipse can give a pette asylum from the frightening noise of the Pit, as well as providing a thorough cleansing for the soul and lifting a girl's heart to higher realms of consideration, far above the ugliness and vulgarity of Pit-life. Let us look at the musical periods and regions of Aristasia, from Amazonia through to Arcadia.
Amazonian music is not found on recordings or even in written form, but the blondes and brunettes of that most ancient region are the keepers of some of the most beautiful and spiritual music of Arisatasia.
As a general rule, Amazonian music is rythmically complex, with simple melody and harmony lines. This music is passed down through oral tradition, from mother to daughter across the generations.
This actually covers a large amount of territory, both musically and in regards to geography. Musically, it begins in the middle east of Arcadia with the simple chants to Dea that began there in the first great stone cathedrals. These chants, which began with the priestesses, are flowing and rythmically unpredictable, moving mainly with the emphasis of the words. As one moves further west, the chants are expanded upon, harmonically and rythmically, until finally they become easier to write down and more consistent in their stresses, making them easier for the common singer. Where this occurs, music also begins to play more of a part in the secular life of blondes and brunettes. This process continues as one moves further and further west. A few genres include:
For wonderful examples of this, one should look to such composers as Claudia Monteverdi and the mostly anonymous troubadours and trouveres of France. The music is fresh and unassuming, gentle and often accompanied by the lute. Pettes with the purest of voices might sing this music to woo their loves in Far-eastern Arcadia.
This music is metrically precise, symmetrical and stunningly beautiful. Every pette should become familiar with the works of Johanna S. Bach and Georgiana Christiana Handel (composers are often referred to by their initials, such as: J.S. Bach and G.F. Handel). Another name to be familiar with is Antonia Vivaldi. All these pettes wrote beautiful works for both secular and sacred settings. Listen to any of Miss Bach's motets and Miss Handel's oratorios, and I particularly suggest Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" concerti.
Although many of us refer to all music outside Vintesse as classical, that is not strictly an accurate label. It is fine generically, but there is a particular era of music that is known as classical. It is at the very western border of eastern Arcadia that this music is found. Its characteristics include a somewhat wider range thatn can be found in Baroque or Renaissance music, as well as more complex harmonies. Two great composers of this era are W.A. Mozart (a somewhat wild blonde who nevertheless received inspiration from Dea) and Frances Josephine Haydn. Miss Mozart showed great versatility; listen to her final "Requiem Mass" and then listen to a performace of "The Magic Flute" and you will hear the difference. Miss Haydn had a great capacity for involving her listeners in the music; any pette listening to the "Nelson Mass" will immediately be drawn into it.