Fleetwood Mac & the Modes

[David]

I've noticed that Lindsey often wrote in the Dorian mode ("Tusk"), Christine in the Mixolydian mode ("Believe Me"), & Stevie in both the Aeolian ("Rhiannon") & Lydian modes ("Dreams"). They may or may not be aware of this. Peter, too, wrote often in the Mixolydian mode ("Jumpin' at Shadows"). These ancient church modes predate the major & minor modes of Western music, which reigned supreme for about 200 years (c. 1700 to c. 1900). Art composers of the 20th century as well as pop, jazz & blues composers often reverted back to the old church modes (the Beatles wrote "Norwegian Wood" in the Mixolydian mode).

See Leonard Bernstein's "Young People's Concerts" on DVD with the program "What Is a Mode?" for additional information.

edit: I mean, Duster Bennett. I always forget that Pete didn't write Shadows!