Transcript Serialism - James Frankel

Serialism
A natural conclusion to the
chromaticism of the Romantic Era
Copyright © 2005 - Frankel Consulting Services, Inc.
What is serialism?
Serialism is a method of writing music
whereby the composer first creates a
tone-row. This tone-row is simply all 12
notes of a chromatic scale.
The composer then puts them in an
order where no note is repeated until all
are played.
This is a tone-row by Arnold
Schoenberg from his work
Variations for Orchestra Op. 31
This is a tone-row by
Alban Berg from his
Violin Concerto
This is a tone-row by
Anton Webern from his
Symphonie Op. 21
The Origins
Developed by Arnold
Schoenberg between
1917 and 1923 (WWI)
who invented the style
Other serialism
composers included
Alban Berg & Anton
Webern
Types of Tone Rows
Prime - the original tone-row
Retrograde - the tone-row played
backwards
Inversion - the row played upside down
Inverse Retrograde - the row played
both upside down and backwards.
Transpositions - the row is transposed
either up or down
Examples of Different Tone Rows
What do you think?
Is serialism music?
Is there any creativity involved
in composing a 12 tone row?
We will now listen to Arnold
Schoenberg’s composition
3 Pieces for Chamber
Orchestra
Is it music?
Aesthetics
aes·thet·ics or es·thet·ics Pronunciation Key (s-thtks)
n.
1.
(used with a sing. verb)
a.
The branch of philosophy that deals with the nature and expression of beauty, as in the fine arts.
b.
In Kantian philosophy, the branch of metaphysics concerned with the laws of perception.
2.
The study of the psychological responses to beauty and artistic experiences.
3.
A conception of what is artistically valid or beautiful: minimalist aesthetics.
4.
An artistically beautiful or pleasing appearance: “They're looking for quality construction, not
aesthetics” (Ron Schram).
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Now it’s your turn…
In Groups:
Create your own 12 tone row (prime)
Create the retrograde, inversion, and
inverse retrograde of the tone row
Begin thinking about what instruments
you would like to perform your work
(orchestral only)
Then…
You will be taking your tone rows and creating
a musical composition using Sibelius.
The piece must be at least 12 measures in
length.
You must compose for at least two
instruments other than piano.
After the first note is played, you must have
more than one note playing at a time.