(AUSTRALIAN FOCUS)
Lesson 1: Thematic Alteration, Extended Techniques
Revision of HW: (Class Discussion)
Play your section for the class. Present your findings with musical examples.
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THEMATIC ALTERATION
There are numerous ways to use a single idea and alter it to produce new material. Many of the following methods are used as compositional techniques. Take a look at the original below (taken from the theme in Rush) and swipe to see it transformed.
Augmentation:
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The duration of each rhythmic value is lengthened (normally doubled)
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Diminution:
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The duration of each rhythmic value is shortened (normally in half)
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Inversion:
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The music idea is mirrored horizontally, i.e. flipped upside down
Retrograde:
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The notes in the music idea are reversed in order
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Retrograde Inversion:
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The retrograde of the original music idea are inverted
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Have a look at the other creative ways to alter a theme and some examples that can be found in your focus work, Rush!!
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Can you think of any other methods?
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Aural Skills:
Dictation 2
This compositional technique of altering music ideas has been used in many works from all genres.
Let's take a look at the theme, introduction and first few variations [0:00 - 2:26] of Sergei Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43. (1934)
(The full score has been provided if you would like to refer to it.)
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Notate the main theme
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How has each theme been altered?
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YOUR TURN:
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Individually analyse 3 other variations.
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Present an audio playing and analysis
of 1 variation.
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Revision of HW: (Class Discussion)
Make a collated list of all the different techniques found in Rush.
Include bar numbers, the instrument and the tone colour it produces.
(Many of the techniques appear more than once in this work, only choose one or two appearances).
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Students may volunteer to demonstrate some of the techniques.
Once complete, your teacher will collect your collated list and upload it as a document onto this blog.
[To be done in class. Below is an example of what students may collate.]
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Lesson 2: Hocketing, Thematic Alteration
Matthew Hindson also states that Felix Mendelssohn's String Octet in Eb Major, Op. 20. Movement IV: Presto (1825)
was also an inspiration for Rush.
With reference to the concepts of music, discuss the similarities in Mendelssohn’s String Octet and Hindson’s Rush.
You will be given 4 playings of an excerpt from Mendelssohn’s String Octet in Eb Major, Op. 20. Movement IV: Presto.
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Aural Skills:
Sight Singing Exercise 4
What is hocketing? What the video below to find out.
One of the examples he gave us was Pentatonix’s medley of Daft Punk’s songs, in particular, Harder Better Faster.
[2:26 - 2:55]
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As a class, choose to learn and perform a vocal or instrumental arrangement.
The exported audio and full scores and below.
You have now performed an example of hocketing.
Hocketing is a compositional technique used by both Hindson and Mendelssohn.
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Define the term hocketing.
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An example of hocketing from Mendelssohn's String Octet is shown below.
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[HOMEWORK]: Find two other examples of hocket in BOTH
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Mendelssohn's String Octet
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Hindson's Rush.
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COMPOSITION
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Share your theme (HW) to the class.
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Using your short composed theme, form 11 more ideas using compositional techniques such as augmentation, diminution, inversion, retrograde, hocketing, phasing or other creative forms. You must compose for both treble and bass clefs as well as including (at least) 2 rhythmic lines. (You will end up with 12 ideas in total). Notate all your ideas.
(You may use your instrument to help you compose these new ideas)
An example is shown below. -
Using your ideas and the planner scaffold given, assign ideas to each instrument (you may change the instruments). You do not need to use all the instruments (3 minimum).
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Fill in the 'Big Ideas.'
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Open Sibelius. Using the blank score, copy and paste your assigned ideas to its corresponding instrument.
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Edit your plan and composition until you have completed a 32 bar composition.
(Don't forget to add a title and any dynamics and expressive techniques.) -
Write a short analysis explaining how you used your original theme in your composition.
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Post a score, audio file and analysis under the Blog Post 'Composition 1'
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Your composition portfolio should include:
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Original Theme​
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All 12 Ideas
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Planner Scaffold
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Score (with annotations showing your analysis)
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** You are encouraged to document all compositional processes and any additional inspirations in your portfolio.
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[Continue for HW - details in blog post 'Week 2 Lesson 2: Homework'. You will also be given some time in next week's class to complete your composition.]
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