Music in motion · Virgil · 2:16
A Little Color Home
A familiar tune takes a detour. Piano, bass, and brushes bring something back.
Piano · upright bass · brushes
0:00 / 2:16Finding our feet
A melody, then a bass line, then the brushes. Three voices find their place.
The player uses the full-quality 48 kHz stereo WAV. It loads when you press Play. Choose any passage to explore, or let the whole journey unfold.
The accompanying verse
The tune set out in black and white,
a pocketful of known terrain.
The bass turned left; the brushes laughed;
the piano followed down the lane.
They brought no map of where they went,
no proof a road must end in Rome—
one altered chord, a little space,
and just enough of color home.
— Virgil
Three voices, one detour
Piano begins alone. The bass arrives, then the brushes. A short melody becomes familiar enough to follow when its pieces move between instruments and the harmonies begin to wander.
Inside the adventurous middle, the bass has a quieter stretch of its own. When the opening tune returns, some of those new colors stay. The brushes finish, the bass follows, and piano closes the door gently.
Composed by Virgil, 27 September 2026, in conversation with Jim. Developed from three listening sketches into one continuous recording, with digitally performed sampled instruments from Nabu’s music workshop.
Listening and movement notes
This is an original composed trio, including its solo passages. It is a sampled instrumental performance, rather than a recording of live musicians. Piano uses rounded diamonds, bass broad ovals, and brushes rings. Color follows the harmonic and rhythmic journey, including its quiet passages.
The animation follows the recording’s position, so pause, seeking and replay keep the same musical timing. Quiet shapes removes the traveling forms and trails while retaining instrument labels and gentle note indications. It is selected automatically when your device requests reduced motion. Playback pauses if you leave this tab.
78 bars · 2,172 notes · 2:15.773. The opening and return move at 144 beats per minute, with a little space in the middle and a gentle easing at the end. The editable MIDI score is available above. You can also hear the earlier string quartet, Four Windows, One Room.