Serialism in Music –
Twelve Tone Row Music
April Antell Tarantine © 2013
General Music/Music Theory/Music Appreciation
Grade 12
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Twelve Tone Music was written after the
Romantic Period and Impressionist Period,
beginning around the time of World War I
(1914-1918).
The composer, Arnold Schoenberg, is
considered the creator of this music.
Schoenberg felt that music of that time was
losing its form and tonal organization.
Twelve Tone Music was a way to organize
music, using the twelve tones of the octave
scale to create a unique melody, with no one
tone having more importance than another.
Serialism in Music
Here are some famous composers of 12 Tone
Music. Please click on screen to see them. Please
click on their names to read about them.
Anton
Webern
Alban Berg
Arnold Schoenberg
Serialism in Music
Click to hear an example of one of Arnold Shoenberg’s
early works. You will only need to listen to the first
three or four minutes (unless you would like to listen to
more).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSff5XkOUys
What did you hear? How would you describe
the music?
Serialism in Music
Here is an example of 12 Tone Music, also
written by Arnold Schoenberg.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39x0Ypi4gTc
How would you compare the two pieces? How are they
the same? How are they different?
Serialism in Music
Here you can view an example of a Twelve Tone
Row, and how it might be notated on a staff.
Notice how EVERY note of the octave is used in the
melody. Also notice how each note is used only ONCE until
the other eleven notes in the octave have been used. This
creates the Prime Row, and establishes one rule of the
Twelve Tone System.
Serialism in Music
Please use this link to brush up on your
notation skills. You do not need to
download anything or register. All you need
to do is click on the start button.
www.musicteachersgames.com
Serialism in Music
What are the ways composers can change the 12
Tone Row? Click on the screen to see the
different ways.
Retrograde
Inversion
Retrograde Inversion
Interval Progressions
Augmentation – lengthening the note values
Diminution – shortening the note values
Serialism in Music
This site gives you a nice matrix calculator
to help you create the variations for your
Twelve-Tone Row.
Matrix Calculator
Serialism in Music
Review Questions (We will discuss these in
class for review)
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How and why was 12-tone music created?
Who were some notable composers of 12-tone music?
How would you describe 12-tone music?
What is one rule of creating 12-tone music?
How do composers alter the 12-tone row?
What is the value of 12-tone music?
What effect did 12-tone music have on later classical music? How
did it influence music?
What do you think about the idea that 12-tone music could have
been used to send coded messages during the World Wars?
Serialism in Music
Online Resources for PowerPoint Presentation
12-tone music. (2013). In Encyclopedia Brittanica online. Retrieved from
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/610945/12-tone-music (Information on
Second Slide)
Billam, P. (2013, July 11). Verklaerte Nacht arranged for Piano. Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSff5XkOUys (Musical Example 1 – Slide 4)
Carter, E. (Last modified 2013, August 24). All-interval twelve-tone row. Retrieved from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-interval_twelve-tone_row (Title Slide Image)
Cummings, R. (2013). Artist Biography by Robert Cummings. Retrieved from
www.allmusic.com/artist/anton-webern-mn0001190857/biography (Anton Webern
Information)
Deadcalledpark. (2009, February 14). Arnold Schönberg: Suite Op. 25/Musette.
Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39x0Ypi4gTc (Musical ExampleSlide 5)
Serialism in Music – Resources
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Music Education Games. (Last updated 2013, February). Retrieved from
www.musicteachersgames.com (Notation Game – Slide 7)
Mütze. (Last modified on 2012, March 5). File:Example tone row. Retrieved from
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Example_tone_row.png (Tone Row Example –
Slide 6)
Nelson, P. (2004). Retrieved from www.composertools.com/matrix/MatrixCalc.html
(Tone Row Variations Calculator – Slide 9)
Schmidt, J. (2013, July 9). What was Theodor Adorno Doing in Thomas Mann’s Garden?
– A Hollywood Story. Retrieved from
http://persistentenlightenment.wordpress.com/2013/07/09/what-was-theodor-adornodoing-in-thomas-manns-garden-a-hollywood-story/ (Arnold Schoenberg Image, found
in Google Advanced Search)
Shaffer, K. P. (2012). Retrieved from
kris.shaffermusic.com/musicianshipResources/twelveTone.html (Information – Slide 8)
Serialism in Music – Resources
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Staff, R. (2013). Artist Biography by Rovi Staff. Retrieved from
www.allmusic.com/alban-berg-mn0001510513/biography (Alban Berg
Information)
Staff, R. (2013). Artist Biography by Rovi Staff. Retrieved from
www.allmusic.com/artist/arnold-schoenberg-mn0000691043/biography (Arnold
Schoenberg Information)
Wikipedia: Anton Webern. (Last edited on 2013, September 25). Retrieved from
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki.Anton_Webern (Anton Webern Image, found on
Google Advanced Search)
Wikipedia: Alban Berg. (Last edited on 2013, September 17). Retrieved from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki.Alban_Berg (Alban Berg Image, found on Google
Advanced Search)
Serialism in Music – Resources
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