Semi-Simple Variations

Description

Piano — This piece is written in the 12 tone technique made famous by Schoenberg. The theme appears in the first six measures and consists of six different tones. The next six measures, beginning at A are the first variation. Here the theme appears in its retrograde (backward) form. It is transposed and the six new tones all differ from the original six. Note however that the semi-tonal distances between the tones are the same backwards as they were forwards in the theme itself. Rhythmically, the sixteenth notes in the first six measures represent all 16 possible partitions of the quarter note unit in terms of the 16th note unit. Further variations appear at B,C,D, and E. Note: Accidentals affect only those notes which they immediately precede.