Triton

Triton is a serialist celestial choral (say that three times fast) written using a single 12 tone row. Initially written as a class project, the piece explores the systematic characteristics of 12-tone rows. Starting with the cello part, the row itself is written as is, then becomes inverted, retrograded, then inverted in the retrograde. Each manipulation of the row is within a 4 measure phrase. The entire 16 bar "row and variations" is then retrograded rhythmically across the following bar line, but uses the same set of tone row pitches with the respected variations creating a brand new 16 bar phrase. This results in a 32 bar piece. This same practice was used in writing the Viola part, except I used the tone row in a different variation order.

To create the other parts, I split the piece into two halves, and retrograded the first 16 bar phrase of the cello part to create the first 16 bars of the Violin 1 line. I wrote the Violin 2 part in the exact same way, retrograding the first 16 bars of the Viola part to create the first 16 bars of Violin 2. The same process was repeated with the second half of the work. I hope I still have you with me, that was a lot!

Triton is the largest moon of Neptune and it is notable because it orbits on its axis in the opposite direction of its home planet. It orbits in a retrograde. How fitting.

Triton is available for ePrint score and parts. Please contact me regarding further details.