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Twelve tone

Play the chromatic scale - all twelve pitches in ascending or descending order.

Mix the twelve tones up, then play:

  • Prime order: Making the tones into a row--put them in any order! Read or play it.

  • Retrograde: Read or play it backwards--play the last pitch first, then continue in reverse.

  • Inversion: Create a “mirror” from the first pitch by counting the number of pitches up or down from that first note in the original row to the second, but then go in the opposite direction (e.g. if you have a higher second note, then count down in pitch).  

  • Try a retrograde inversion. 

How many 12 tone tools are mentioned in this Text?

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“I am somewhat sad that people talk so much of atonality, of twelve-tone systems, of technical methods when it comes to my music. All music, all human work, has a skeleton, a circulatory and nervous system. I wish that my music should be considered as an honest and intelligent person who comes to us saying something he feels deeply and which is of significance to all of us.”

Did you know:

Schoenberg identified 126 unique rows.

479,001,600 row combinations are possible.

9,979,200 unique rows are possible.

How do we know? Combinations and permutations.

diy dial circles

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  1. Draw out four circles: 13 cm, 10.5 cm, 8.5 cm, and 6 cm in diameter.
     

  2. Cut out accurate circles. Use a compass, find objects with those dimensions, or find another way.
     

  3. Use paper with thickness between cardstock and cardboard.

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4. Stack.​ Use a paper fastener.

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5. Label. Think about how to space tones #1-12.

 
6. Color (optional)

Schoenberg developed some codes:

1-12 for pitches

T = “tonica” basic set

U = “umkehrung” (inversion)

K = “krebs” retrograde

+/- = transpositions

-5 = tritone

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"In the first works in which I employed this method, I was not yet convinced that the exclusive use of one set would not result in monotony. Would it allow the creation of a sufficient number of characteristically different themes, phrases, motives, sentences, and other forms? At this time I used complicated devices to assure variety. But soon I discovered that my fear was unfounded; I could even base a whole opera, Moses und Aron, solely on one set; and I found that, on the contrary, the more familiar I became with this set the more easy i could draw themes from it. Thus, the truth of my first prediction had received splendid prof. One has to follow the basic set; but, nevertheless, one composes as freely as before."

Twelve-tone selection dial for the Wind Quintet op. 26 

The rotating dial helps with transposing. Listen here:

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1) all formal aspirations (Anstrengung) aim at understandableness

2) The 12 tone comp. is such an aspiration

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