Issue # 6

Serialism

 

 

A=B=C=D=E=F=G

(1)
at the, in the, to the
very well-head

with the, from the
double-strict tempo

a little, but less than
half as much

not for
or by more
little by little, gradually

a very little
then possible

first, as if
follows always without
suddenly

so much
too much
one
tow
three

soft
very soft

loud
very loud

loud for one note, then
soft

gradually louder
gradually softer

diminishing in volume



(2)
very slowly
as slowly as possible

becoming slower

“going”
(a very unsatisfactory term
nobody seems to know)

at a comfortably
convenient speed

with motion, or
fairly fast

with the whole note as the beat

quick and lively
as quick and lively as possible

with velocity
as fast as possible

rapid, fast
at double speed
hastening, accelerating

string

gradually slower
holding back
becoming larger, broadening

robbed time



(3)
(the French for German)

just a few words
repeating often
new words
repeated entire

with no middle section
(the ladies and gentlemen
are in evening dress and
do not act – or should not!)

neither florid nor dramatic
with no middle section
one slow and mournful, the other
quick and dashing
sometimes repeated in alternation

(the French word means Scottish)

these episodes are almost invariably
woven out of fragments of material
selected from the Subject

in which imagination and fancy
are given full place
yoked together, transport us
to the loftiest realms of glory



(4)
at pleasure at liberty
affectionately

with agitation
sweetly

with animation –
brilliance!

with vivacity
waning

hurrying
with warmth or heat
with singing style
capriciously

with decision
delicately
sadly
with sorrow

with energy
expressively
with ferocity
forced, heavily accented
with fire

jestingly
with grace
impetuously

tearfully
in broad manner
lightly
in a marked manner

hammered
gloomy
mysteriously
dying away

nobly in
speaking style with
passion, losing itself
heavily in
churchly manner

robbed,
leaping with
freedom of touch

dry crisp brittle
in a simple unaffected manner
smothering the tone
with spirit

detached
as short as detached
as possible

noisy with tenderness

the more or less waviness
shaking his left hand –
intentionally or not – by
singers

as lively as possible

flying



(5)
the final movement of a piece

there is a main theme, or Subject
and each voice begins, may end
in the home key

a main theme is repeated
over and over again

groups of people forming parties
singers playing jesters juggling
acrobats dancers actors –
a boy with a dunce’s cap was recognised
as a fool

using drone notes like bagpipes
on some quality of night –
its hush its darkness
or loneliness or its association
with love

the quietness and smoothness of country life
often by means of flowing time
combined with the drone-bass
of bagpipes

(usually known by the French name)

any of the sections may be joined
together by bridge passages

each beat feels like a pulse
boisterous and witty in a rough or violent way
but more suave or polished in style
very smooth and gentle

the biggest and most intellectual movement
in a form known by several names

anything can happen here!

theme and
variations
is a form older than
recorded history and
surely

explains itself

 

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