Assignment 2
1. Practice
Practice improvising in the octatonic scale (at least T0; T1 and T2 if you like).The octatonic scale article on Wikipedia is good.
Continue to spend time with the pentatonic scales and explore also all 5 pentatonic modes (not just the familiar major and minor)
Remember, practicing “in” a scale means going beyond playing straight up and down. Learn to use it as a pitch collection that can generate all sorts of gestures. These should eventually include steps and skips, arpeggios, patterns (like alternating thirds) as well as freer gestures, and (if possible on your instrument) chords.
2. Compose
Write a duet for any two performers in the class, not including yourself.Duration: 1.5 - 3 minutes
Use a strict limitation of pitches for each instrument. It could be as little as a single pitch class, or as many as 9 pitch classes, or anything in-between, such as a diatonic or an octatonic mode.
Each instrument will use a different set of pitches. No overlap.
Think deeply about “non-syntactic” elements like register, density, dynamics, articulation, and remember to notate these elements in detail. You should also indicate tempo.
Refer to the Essential Dictionary of Orchestration for information about the instruments’ capabilities. You may also reach out to players and ask them to try different passages.
We will read through the pieces in class next meeting.
Bring in a score (or part, if you make parts) for each player, plus one extra score for the class to look at.