Writing & Using Tone Rows

Objective: SWBAT write and use a tone row in a composition

Big Questions What is a Tone Row? How do Serialist composers use Tone Rows in their compositions?

Writing a Tone Row 1 Tone Row: A non-repetitve melodic pattern that arranges a set group of pitches You are going to write your own! “OMG! For realzeez? It’s always been my dream to write a tone row!” - Student who won’t have to take this class during summer school

1 Writing a Tone Row A set group of pitches This will be the set of pitches we use today

1 Writing a Tone Row Non-repetitive Now, let’s rewrite your chosen pitches into a tone row with no repetitions

1 Writing a Tone Row Melodic pattern Interval – The distance between two pitches  Write the intervals between each pitch above the staff

Serialism is a style of music based on melodic pattern Using the Tone Row 2 Serialism is a style of music based on melodic pattern

Using the Tone Row 2  Inversion – when a tone row is arranged upside down  The intervals should be in the same order but in the reverse direction Original Inversion

Using the Tone Row 2 Now let’s practice rearranging the tone row in different ways  Retrograde- when a tone row is arranged backwards  The intervals should be in reverse order starting with the last pitch of the row Original Retrograde

2 Using the Tone Row  It’s best easiest to reverse the inversion Retrograde Inversion - when a tone row is arranged upside down and then backwards  It’s best easiest to reverse the inversion Inversion Retrograde Inversion

Write Your Own Composition 3 “I can compose my own Serialist piece?!?! Today just get’s better & better!!!!” -Student who has a better grade than you