12-TONE TECHNIQUE SERIALISM

1. 12-TONE TECHNIQUESERIALISM

2. 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.

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

4. The note row is then written backwards – ‘R’ (for ‘retrograde’) P R

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

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

7. 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).

8. COMPOSITION – INDIVIDUAL TASK • 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. See worksheet for other instructions