Download - 12-TONE TECHNIQUE SERIALISM

NGfL CYMRU GCaD

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12-TONE TECHNIQUESERIALISM

NGfL CYMRU GCaD


• Every piece of 12-tone music is based on a scale (called a ‘note row’ or ‘basic series’) that is devised especially for that piece of music.

• The scale must contain 12 different notes (notes of the chromatic scale), each note to be used once only.

NGfL CYMRU GCaD


• The notes are arranged in a chosen order – ‘P’ (for ‘prime order’)

NGfL CYMRU GCaD


• The note row is then written backwards – ‘R’ (for ‘retrograde’)

P

R

NGfL CYMRU GCaD


• ‘P’ is then turned upside down - ‘I’ (for ‘inversion’).

P

I

NGfL CYMRU GCaD


• The notes of ‘I’ are written backwards – ‘RI’ (for ‘retrograde inversion’)

I

RI

NGfL CYMRU GCaD


• Each note of the row may be transposed at the octave.

• Any of these four forms of the series may be transposed (raised or lowered in pitch) to begin on any of the 12 notes of the chromatic scale – P1 to P11 (for ‘prime’).

• The row and its variants may be treated melodically and harmonically (chords built from the row).

NGfL CYMRU GCaD


• Select notes of the chromatic scale in turn and write them down to form your note row (P), thinking carefully about the intervals between each note.

COMPOSITION – INDIVIDUAL TASK

See worksheet for other instructions