Myths about teaching can hold you back
- Year 9
Developing a serialist composition
I can develop a serialist composition by using typical techniques including retrograding.
- Year 9
Developing a serialist composition
I can develop a serialist composition by using typical techniques including retrograding.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Serialist composers use tone rows in many different ways.
- This includes varying the timbre, instrument, rhythm, dynamics, octave and articulation.
- As long as the order of the pitches doesn’t change, this is considered ‘within the rules’ of serialism.
- Another method is to create and use a retrograde of the tone row.
- This is when the order of pitches is carefully reversed, creating a ‘mirror image’ of the tone row.
Keywords
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
Retrograde - when a set of notes (like a tone row) is reversed
Common misconception
Retrograding breaks the rules of serialism because it changes the order of the notes.
Serialist composers don't consider retrograding breaking the rules. It does change the order, but the new order is still closely linked to the original tone row (by being reversed). It is therefore an acceptable and musically interesting technique.
To help you plan your year 9 music lesson on: Developing a serialist composition, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 9 music lesson on: Developing a serialist composition, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 3 music lessons from the Approaches to contemporary composition unit, dive into the full secondary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
File needed for this lesson
- Serialism template 2.16 KB (MXL)
Download this file to use in the lesson.
Equipment
Notation software or DAW
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The scale has 12 notes.
Q2.If music has no key or tonic note, it is described as what?
Q3.Each piece of serialism is based on a sequence of notes called a tone
Q4.How many notes are in a tone row?
Q5.What is wrong with this tone row? (Select two answers)
Q6.What note is this?
