GFTO Question

[Nautilus]

Upon listening to this album a dozen or so times, it seems to me there's 15 or so seconds at the end of Turn of the Century which is considered to be part of Parallels, at least on the CD release, because it's part of track 3... making Parallels that many seconds longer and Turn of the Century that many seconds shorter than the lengths listed on the back of the album itself. Also, this section is clearly tuned percussion if you listen closely, and White is credited with tuned percussion on Turn of the Century but not on Parallels.

So in which piece is that section with the noodling around on what sounds like steel drums or marimba? I'd ask Chris or Alan themselves if I could...

[Joedude]

It definitely sounds like a marimba to me, Nautilus. I think it's supposed to be part of Turn of the Century, but I'm not the expert. The band on my album starts Parallels with the organ chords while my CD does the same as yours.

[Kev]

That's a very good question! Speaking theoretically here, I'll see if I can help out at all; but I'm not sure if this question can be answered absolutely. Hope this isn't terribly confusing.

Turn of the Century is, for the vast majority in the key of A minor. So is Parallels for that matter. The very last chord Steve plays on his guitar at the end of TOC is an E major, which turned into the key of the song before Jon sings "Was the sign of the day with a touch as I...Kissed your fingers."

Now, when the church organ eventually kicks in to start Parallels, it is in the key of C, and when the singing starts it switches to a relative A minor, which is the same scale as C major, but follows a different root.

Okay, making a long story short; that marimba part sounds an awful lot like A minor. Since Turn Of the Century ends in a IV-I cadence in the key of E major; I'd be willing to bet that final guitar chord signals the end of the piece. Since Parallels starts in the key of C, and the marimbas before the organ are being played in A minor (C's relative minor key), it makes perfect theoretical sense that the segment you speak of is an introduction to Parallels rather than an ending to Turn of the Century. But then again, Yes break a lot of rules; so that's why I can't be absolutely sure! :D

[ANTIOCH]

Thanks Kev,

I was just explaining to my brother this very point, but you have so eloquently explained it; I'll let him read your reply.

[Kev]

Thanks! Hope this helped, Nautilus. If it's still vague, I'd be happy to clear it up if I can. Those crazy Yes guys sometimes make my life difficult! hehe