This is “Something Like A Rainbow”, my first Orchestral Pop song.
It’s only a string section, not an entire orchestra. But what sets this apart from anything that I’ve ever done before is that, in addition to writing the chord progression, the guitar and bass parts and the lyrics, I also wrote the string part. That’s a new one for me.
And I didn’t just write something on guitar and then transpose it for strings. Instead, I wrote it the way a classical composer would.
To do this, I had to draw on the part writing rules that we learned in music theory class in college, something that I thought I’d never actually use. It was a long time ago, so I feel sure that I broke some of those rules in various places but remembering the basics (no parallel 4ths or 5ths, etc) got me through it.
Something Like A Rainbow
Lost and alone and wandering
Finding a true friend there, in the rain
Hold fast, together
Warmth in a lover’s arms
Loving each other heals the pain
A soft and gentle light, to lead the way
Something like a rainbow
So many things we were told we’d see
Most of them never came to be
But no one can explain the redeeming grace
That shines from the light in your face
A soft and gentle light, it leads the way
Something like a rainbow
And it shines into forever
Walk in its light, into forever
So many things we were told we’d see
Most of them never came to be
Still, no one can explain the redeeming grace
That shines when a smile is upon your face
A soft and gentle light, it leads the way
Something like a rainbow
Soft and gentle light, it leads the way
Something like a rainbow
And its light goes into forever
Ride the light into forever
All music and lyrics ©2022 Kevin Trent Boswell, from the album Something in the Air
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Special Thanks
Much appreciation goes to the people who provided video footage:
Zuzanna Musial, Stefano Barbieri
Kevin Trent Boswell 