The creative process of writing music is rarely a straight line. To describe actions, states, or emotions that fluctuate unpredictably, Portuguese uses the alternating correlative conjunction ora... ora....
Sometimes this, sometimes that
By itself, the word ora can mean "now" or "sometimes". When repeated as a pair—ora... ora...—it translates to "sometimes... sometimes..." or "one minute... the next minute...". Simply place ora directly before each of the alternating options.
| Sometimes I compose fast, sometimes I do nothing. | Ora componho depressa, ora não faço nada. |
| Inspiration is strange: sometimes it flows, sometimes it disappears. | A inspiração é estranha: ora flui, ora desaparece. |
You can use it to alternate between entirely different actions:
| Sometimes I write the lyrics first, sometimes I start with the chorus. | Ora escrevo a letra primeiro, ora começo pelo refrão. |
It also works well for fluctuating states, like how a chord sounds or the emotional rollercoaster of writer's block:
| Sometimes the chord sounds good, sometimes it sounds very out of tune. | Ora o acorde soa bem, ora soa muito desafinado. |
| The block is frustrating; sometimes I want to give up, sometimes I suddenly start composing. | O bloqueio é frustrante; ora quero desistir, ora desato a compor. |
| Because of the block, sometimes I burst into tears, sometimes into laughter. | Por causa do bloqueio, ora desato a chorar, ora a rir. |
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