Cirrus Minor (song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

“Cirrus Minor”
Song by Pink Floyd
Album	Soundtrack from the Film More
Released	July 27, 1969
Recorded	March 1969
Genre	Psychedelic rock
Length	5:15
Label	Columbia Records
Writer	Roger Waters
Producer	Pink Floyd
Soundtrack from the Film More track listing
“Cirrus Minor” (1) The Nile Song (2)

"Cirrus Minor" is a song written and performed by the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. It is the first track on their 1969 album Soundtrack from the Film More. It is approximately 5 minutes 15 seconds long. It was written by Roger Waters and sung by David Gilmour. The song has a hallucinogenic, pastoral quality, with prominent keyboards and bird sound effects, like those that later featured on the Ummagumma track "Grantchester Meadows". It was also included on Pink Floyd's compilation album Relics. The song features no drums, which creates a rather unusual feeling. The keyboard sequence at the end of the song is similar to that found on the "Celestial Voices" section of "A Saucerful of Secrets". The opening birdsong is from a 1961 recording entitled "Dawn Chorus" and the single bird featured over the organ part is a nightingale also from 1961. Both featured on an HMV sound effects single (together with a recording of owls) but presumably the band just borrowed the originals from the EMI sound effects library as EMI owned HMV.

[edit] Composition

"Cirrus Minor" has an unusual chord sequence: E minor, E flat augmented, G major, C# minor 7, C major 7, C minor 7 and B 7. The chords are built around the chromatically descending bass line. The B 7, C major 7 and G major chords are the only chords which fit into the functional context of the E minor key. This chord sequence gives the song a very surreal atmosphere.

[edit] Personnel

• David Gilmour - Guitar and Vocals
• Richard Wright - Farfisa Organ and Hammond Organ
• Roger Waters - Guitar

[edit] Covers

"Cirrus Minor" was covered by the French artist, Étienne Daho on his 2007 album, "L'Invitation."