Serialism and Fanfare for A New Theatre

Question 1

Why was the idea of a twelve tone row introduced?

Answer 1

• Difficult to structure freely atonal pieces
• Gives composers a framework with which to work
• Ensures that works are TRULY atonal as the notes only relate to each other not to a home key or tonality. All 12 semitones are equally important. Tonal music gives more importance to certain notes (particularly tonic and dominant) than others
• Composers were able to strive towards the idea of ‘thematic oneness’.

Question 2

Composer and year?

Answer 2

Igor Stravinsky
1964

Question 3

What was it composed for?

Answer 3

The New York State Theatre

Question 4

Describe Stravinsky’s prime order.

Answer 4

Predominantly ascending with drops to only D and G sharp

Question 5

What’s the melody like?

Answer 5

Disjunct. Repeats notes frequently.

Question 6

How’s the rhythm fanfare-like?

Answer 6

Triplets prominent

Question 7

How long is the piece?

Answer 7

Only two bars (roughly 30”).

Question 8

Describe the texture.

Answer 8

Two parts. Polyphonic. Imitative (Canonic). Overlapping.

Question 9

Instrumentation?

Answer 9

Single timbre - two of the same instrument playing at same pitch.

Question 10

What is the tempo like?

Answer 10

A fanfare- Fast

Question 11

Points about rhythm?

Answer 11

Predominantly short note values.
Rhythmically complex - quintuplets, septuplets etc.

Question 12

Some buzzwords to hoover up marks?

Answer 12

Retrograde
inversion
retrograde inversion
inverted retrograde