Jan. 10, 2017

Retrograde

Two other compositional tools used by composers to help generate new material for their next composition and help develop all of the musical potential inherent in a melodic line are retrograde and retrograde inversion [See blog, Inversion].
When a melody is written or played backwards, note for note, value for value, starting with the last note, we have it in reverse; this is called retrograde (photo).
When the inversion of a melody is played backwards the same way we have it in reverse as well, and it's called retrograde-inversion.
These are among several time-honored compositional tools that can be applied to virtually any style of music.

Two other compositional tools used by composers to help generate new material for their next composition and help develop all of the musical potential inherent in a melodic line are retrograde and retrograde inversion [See blog, Inversion].
When a melody is written or played backwards, note for note, value for value, starting with the last note, we have it in reverse; this is called retrograde (photo).
When the inversion of a melody is played backwards the same way we have it in reverse as well, and it's called retrograde-inversion.
These are among several time-honored compositional tools that can be applied to virtually any style of music.

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