According to Wikipedia, an epigram is “a brief, interesting, memorable, and sometimes surprising or satirical statement.” Derived from the Greek for ‘inscription,’ it seems “this literary device has been employed for over two millennia.”
It occurred to me that there is no real parallel in music, at least not that I’m aware of. There are no musical epigrams – very short pieces that present a single idea musically. And yet, before TikTok, had anyone really considered 10-second videos a viable commodity? Surely, there must be scope for the musical epigram.
I set about producing some examples with my long-time colleague, Phil Green. He wrote some examples of epigrams and I put them to music. Here are a few examples:
A simple thought, an epigram For when I did you wrong The purpose clear I want to hear the singer, not the song.
My life, if it's a poem, is difficult to write
With moments of deep darkness and intervals of light
Retired from work, and busy, how Could I find time for business now?
Try to see The best in me I never knew The things I do Could hurt
So, musical epigrams (musigrams, epitunes?). Well, there’s an idea.
