Creating a tone row
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Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the fundamentals of serialism and create a tone row.
Key learning points
- Serialism developed in the 20th century, with composers searching for a new approach to composition.
- It is atonal, meaning that it has no key or tonic note.
- Everything in a piece is based on a unique tone row - the 12 notes of the chromatic scale arranged in a specific order.
- A tone row must use all 12 notes and avoid repeating any.
- Arnold Schoenberg and Elisabeth Lutyens are two well-known serialist composers.
Keywords
Atonal - lacking a key or tonic
Serialism - an atonal composition method based on a specific order of pitches (a tone row)
Tone row - a specific order of the 12 notes of the chromatic scale, forming the basis of a piece of serialism
Chromatic scale - the 12 notes used in most Western music
Common misconception
A tone row is just a scale.
A tone row is different because it isn't just a set of notes to choose from, but a specific order. When you are composing something in C major, you can use the notes of the C major scale in any order. With a tone row, they have a specific order.
Teacher tip
Encourage pupils to thoroughly explore the notes to try to create something that sounds unique. Alternating between small and large intervals helps with this, as does changing direction between ascending and descending notes.
Equipment
Notation software, a DAW or live instruments.
Licence
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