Count twelve

Nuclear fusion

Here are the first two measures of “Solar Sect of Mystic Wisdom — Nuclear Fusion,” from the Touhou Game Subterranean Animism, as arranged by Dorian Bluet. The notes in the treble clef include C, G, G-flat, D, A, A-flat, E, F, D-flat and B. In the bass clef there are E-flat and B-flat. ZUN might not be a rigorous old-fashioned avant-garde dodecaphonist, but there are surprises in his music.

ZUN

Update: I came across a documentary on Touhou featuring an interview with ZUN, the individual responsible for creating the Touhou universe. In the second part, he confirms what I had thought: he hasn’t had formal musical training ((aside from probable piano lessons in his childhood)). He’s also self-taught in art, programming and fashion design, and the Touhou project came about because he wanted to write video game music.

The first part of the documentary is here if you want to start at the beginning.