Cecil Taylor: Life As...

Structure within a free improvisation

Kaja Draksler

Trboje, Slovenia, june 2013

Cecil Taylor: Life As...
Structure within a free improvisation

A c k n o w l e d g e m e n t s! 2

Introduction! 3

Biography and influences! 4

B i o g r a p h y! 4
I n f l u e n c e s! 5

Cecil Taylor: Life As... (Momentum Space, Verve 1999)! 8

L a n g u a g e! 8
F o u r m a i n b e h a v i o r s! 8
I n t e r v a l s! 16
R e g i s t e r! 18
R h y t h m! 18

E x p r e s s i o n T o o l s! 21
D y n a m i c s! 21
P e d a l i n g! 22

P e r s o n a l t e c h n i q u e! 24
S t r u c t u r e! 28
I n t r o d u c t i o n! 29
D e v e l o p m e n t! 30
R e c a p i t u l a t i o n! 35

I m p l i c a t i o n s o f t o n a l i t i e s! 37

Notation and its relation to music! 40

Cecil Taylor’s relationship with the European classical music! 42

Conclusion! 45

Sources! 47

Appendix! 50
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Acknowledgements
The majority of the material in this research, was written for my
master’s degree thesis, during the study of classical composition at the
Conservatorium van Amsterdam. The research coordinator was Michiel
Schuijer and the external advisor was Vijay Iyer. The original work has
been revised and enriched, resulting in the version you are about to
read. I wish to express my deepest gratitude to my mentor Vijay Iyer for
his enthusiasm, support, guidance and advising. His precious insights
were essential for this research. I would like to extend my sincere
thanks to Trevor Grahl for the language revision and refinements made to
the text. Finally, my heartfelt thanks to George Dumitriu for his care,
encouragement and understanding.
 3

Introduction

“To play with Cecil Taylor, you need the stamina of an athlete and the
imagination of a God!” (Tony Oxley in an interview with Panken, 2001)

Cecil Taylor’s free improvisations are beautifully structured

compositions. The material Taylor is using is pre-considered and fairly
restricted; therefore, cohesive and at the same time, colorful and
varied. He has developed a complete language of his own, which derives
from his philosophy of life, his physical approach to the instrument and
music in general, and from his heritage(s).
As a composer with a jazz background, I’ve been searching for systems
that provide a structural coherence and simultaneously allow the
improvisor to be expressive and inspired. This was the reason I decided
to investigate the music of Cecil Taylor. As one of the pioneers of free
jazz, he has been constructing systems for the purpose of creating his
own music, using, in his words: “the energies of the European composers,
their technique, consciously, and blending this with the traditional
music of the American Negro...to create a new energy.”(Spellman, 1966,
p.28) His endeavor to construct a personal language, resulted in a very
specific material, the sequence and order of which, he is able to
improvise in a given situation. Therefore, the improvisation doesn’t
only apply to pitches and rhythm, but also to structure itself. Creating
the structure in a moment is only possible when one understands and
studies its laws. Taylor did that on many levels and through many arts;
music, dance, theatre, architecture etc. What he has managed, was
“basically, ... to restore to jazz its valid separation from, and
anarchic disregard of, Western popular forms. [He has] used the music of
the forties with its jagged, exciting rhythms as an initial reference
and have restored the hegemony of blues as the most important basic form
in Afro-American music.”(Jones, 1963)

For this research, I chose to analyze a solo piano piece from album
Momentum Space, since it was a recording to which I’ve been
enthusiastically listening for a long time. My two main questions were:
‘what is the reason this free improvisation sounds so coherent’ and ‘how
does Taylor deal with the form in a free context.’ Therefore, my focus
in this research is his structural logic, the manipulation and the
nature of the materials he is using, and his “navigation through
form.”(Braxton, 1988)
Since I wasn’t well-acquainted with Taylor’s work, my guesses were
that he might have specific motives and phrases that serve as a bridge
or reference points between completely free parts. I didn’t expect him
to have a harmonic or melodic plan, or clear structural sections. These
preliminary suppositions proved to be almost entirely incorrect.
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Biography and influences

Biography

“Life of choice within esthetic curve.” (Taylor, 1966)

Cecil Taylor is an American pianist and poet, born in New York City in
1929. He began piano lessons at the age of 5, at the wish of his mother,
who had a lasting influence on him, even though she died when he was a
teenager. “I was tapdancing when I was six. I was entering contests for
young virtuosos--I was never a young virtuoso--but she tried to make
me--so I was playing Chopin when I was six and all this
nonsense.”(Funkhouser, 1995) He also studied percussion with the husband
of his piano teacher, who was a timpani player in the orchestra under
Toscanini. Taylor studied classical piano at the New York College of
Music and New England Conservatory. Boston was where Taylor started his
transition towards jazz. As Ekkehard Jost describes it:

Subsequently, his European musical background was pushed aside

during his stay at the Conservatory, with considerable aid from
Boston jazzmen. The process was not without programmatic
overtones, as Cecil Taylor’s turning to his black musical heritage
was more emphatically expressed in his words than de facto in his
music, at least at the start. Nevertheless, this process was of
great importance to his whole stylistic development; European
elements gradually ceased to dominate and were completely
integrated in what was, to be sure, a very novel conception of
jazz.(Jost, 1974, p.68)

Along with Ornette Coleman, he was the first jazz musician to

consciously place himself outside of the mainstream.(Spellman, 1966,
p.XI) He formed his first band in 1956 with the saxophonist Steve Lacy,
releasing his first recording, Jazz Advance that same year. He released
eleven more records in the next five years (including one featuring John
Coltrane, for marketing reasons called Coltrane Time.)
Even though he wasn’t getting much encouragement from the audience or
most of his fellow musicians, he had been developing his language and
his original music intensely in the ‘60s, producing ultimately two
pivotal recordings (both released on Blue Note in 1966): Conquistador
and Unit Structures. In 1962, during his search for ‘freedom music’, he
started a collaboration with his most important musical partner, his
‘second half’, saxophonist Jimmy Lyons, forming a group Unit, most
notably featuring drummers Sunny Murray, and later Andrew Cyrille.
Taylor began to perform solo concerts in the early ‘70s (many of which
were released on albums). After decades of struggle, he finally garnered
critical (and popular) acclaim (e.g., playing at the White House) and
was eventually being rewarded by Guggenheim Fellowship in 1973 and
MacArthur Fellowship in 1991.
 5

After Lyons’s death in 1986, Taylor formed the Feel Trio in the early
‘90s with William Parker on bass and Tony Oxley on drums. He started
performing with larger ensembles and big bands. His residence in Berlin
(1988) was extensively documented by the German label FMP (performances
in duet and trio with important European free improvisors, including
Tony Oxley, Derek Bailey, Evan Parker, Han Bennink, Tristan Honsinger,
and others). During the ‘80s he collaborated with improvisors like Max
Roach, AACM individualists (Roscoe Mitchell, Henry Threadgill, Leroy
Jenkis) and other European free jazz musicians (Tomasz Stanko, Peter
Brotzmann, etc.). Taylor’s performances were increasingly enriched by
putting into practice his knowledge of Native American, African and
Japanese ritual.(Panken, 2001)
Cecil Taylor has been continuing to perform until today with his own
ensembles, as well as a soloist.
In addition to piano, Taylor has always been interested in ballet and
dance (his mother was a dancer). In the ‘70s, he collaborated with some
of the important dancers of the day, such as Dianne McIntyre, Mikhail
Baryshnikov and Heather Watts. He has been writing poetry since his high
school years, featuring his poems on the performances and on his albums
(most prominently on Chinampas, released in 1987).

Influences
For instance, today I listened to Chinese Classical music--which I
really didn’t dig too much, but I’ll listen to it again--I
listened to Islamic chants that really knocked me the fuck out.
And just single voices. I listened to Duke Ellington’s Orchestra
circa 1945-- there was one piece that was just amazing. I listened
to Victoria de los Angeles singing Purcell’s Diedere and something
or other... and then I listened to Gary Grafman playing the first
movement of the Brahms piano concerto. Brahms, boy I tell you--
then I listened to Leonard T. Price singing the last movement of
Richard Strauss’ Solome[sic.]. Boy--what what a-- wheeew--boy,
that guy--I have to go to see that guy. A lot of shit was up. And
then, of course, of course--I listen every day to something by
Ligeti. Today I heard Ramifications and this choral piece, and
Atmospheres. Then I listen every day to [he chuckles] Marvin Gaye,
of course. Then I put on Sarah Vaughn, then I put on Xenakis--oh,
this fucking guy--this orchestra piece, and then I’m--god, I mean
I practiced the piano four hours today. I spent two hours
completing another section of this poem this morning. I cooked, I
mopped all the floors in this house, and I’ve done all this stuff.
(Funkhouser, 1995)

The quotation from an interview with C. Funkhouser shows clearly, that

Cecil Taylor is a man of many interests. Apart from the variety of
musics, he is interested in poetry, literature, theatre, dance, and
architecture. He is active in all of these art forms (except the last).
He is not “interested in separations” between them. “I’m discovering and
 6

becoming aware of every day now is that the similarity, although the
nature of the material is different, the process of building the
structure are very similar.”(Funkhouser, 1995) This attitude, I believe,
is one of the keys for understanding his development as an artist with a
unique voice.
After being influenced by European classical music (Bartók and
Stravinsky in particular) in the conservatory, he started to explore his
heritage on his own. He knew about the Negro history from his father,
who had a lot of knowledge about “black folklore. He could talk about
how it was with the slaves in the 1860s, about the field shouts and
hollers, about myths of black people.”(Spellman, 1966, p.49) He explored
African elements; the African drumming and the blues. He also
investigated his Native American heritage, obvious in his poems (he is
using their languages).
The most prominent jazz figure among his influences is Duke Ellington,
for his work with the orchestra, compositional and structural thinking
and orchestral approach to the piano. He was attracted by Dave Brubeck
(his dense harmony) and Lennie Tristano (his lines) at the beginning of
his jazz career. But as soon as he heard Horace Silver in the early
‘50s, his taste changed and his interest was with the Afro-American jazz
musicians, such as Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, Milt Jackson, Charlie
Parker, Erroll Garner, and, to some extent, Miles Davis. He is very fond
of Betty Carter, and mentions her on several occasions.
He has been interested in Kabuki theatre and the Butoh dancing. He
incorporates the theatrical elements and movement on the stage in his
performances. The theatrical dimension is also present in the music
itself; as his long-time collaborator Buel Neidlinger points out: “His
compositions are organized by juxtaposing elements of different moods
against each other like actors on a stage.”(Neidlinger, 1961)
Cecil Taylor has been very inspired by the construction of bridges. In
his words, he learns much more from looking at a bridge than at a score,
as the bridges “encompass not only structure but also time. They take
you.”(Felver, 2005) He is especially interested in suspension and cable-
stay bridges of Calatrava.

Taylor’s particular interest in Calatrava’s bridges seems to lie in

the ability of Calatrava’s forms to identify the forces and counter-
forces acting upon them. Calatrava’s drawings reflect conceptional
principles that regard structure as a three-dimensional well-woven
network containing different conduits dedicated to different scales
and qualities of movement.(Brown, 2006)

Movement is an important element for Cecil Taylor, having a very

physical approach to the piano and using dance/theater in his
performances.
In poetry, he quotes his influences being Robert Duncan, Charles
Olson, Robert Creeley, Jean Genet, Ishmael Reed, Mike McClure and Bob
Kaufman (with whom he had a couple of live encounters).
 7

He finds inspiration in nature, in the way it functions, in its

shapes, colors, and laws. His connection and translation of nature is
suggestive of Edgard Varèse’s. Like Taylor, Varèse was an extremist and
visionary in his own right, uniquely incorporating geometry and laws of
nature in his peculiar musical esthetics.

I have a lot of interests. Dance is certainly one. Architecture,

particularly structural engineers. I look at basketball. I’m not
interested in it though. I love horses, horse-racing. I’ve never
seen a horse race. I can remember Sea Biscuit and those things,
though. I used to run when I was young. I do all these exercises
everyday.(Cecil Taylor in an interview with Funkhouser, 1995)
 8

Cecil Taylor: Life As... (Momentum Space, Verve 1999)

In order to understand the structure of Life As..., we need to first

observe the building blocks of the composition- the material and the
language used in the piece.

Language
What I am doing is creating a language. A different American
language. I feel that ... I don't make a separation between
intellect and emotion. I think with the great artists that I love
there was the same thing. By that I mean they had a structure,
technique, and the thing that made the technique and the structure
move was their passion. (Funkhouser, 1995)

The language of Cecil Taylor consists of several behaviors, specific

intervals, rhythms and registers. In this particular piece, he is mainly
using four different behaviors: a) fragments of melodies, b) arpeggiated
figures, c) (sustained) chords, and d) (clustered) chord repetitions/
runs.

Four main behaviors

a) Fragments of melodies
By fragments of melodies I am addressing clear melodic lines, with
simple accompaniment (usually a sustained octave). Cecil Taylor uses
these figures predominantly at the opening and the closing of the piece.
The melodies are generally played in octaves (sometimes as single
notes). At the points where the line is resting, the octave is colored
by two or three notes inside of it, in a montuno manner.

An example:

Fragment of a melody, bar 5

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b) Arpeggiated figures/scales
Proportionally the largest part of the composition Life As...
consists of arpeggiated figures 1 (at times, again, reminiscent of the
Cuban montunos), often in contrary motion. The pitch content of these
figures are scales, created by Cecil Taylor himself. In the documentary
All the Notes he describes his method as: “ Scale is linear, harmony is
vertical,” showing how the notes of the scale can be dissected and
distributed in both hands, forming small patterns, played as inversions
and variations.

An example:

Scale with root A (categorized as A1)

Arpeggiated figures based on scale A1:

Bar 60

Bar 61

1 Arpeggiated figure is a figure with the logic of an arpeggio but not simply an
arpeggiated chord. The term is used due to the lack of sufficient terminology. For
a better comprehension, see the notated examples.
 10

!! ! ! !

Bar 73

Bar 82

!! ! ! !

Bar 89 ! !!

Bar 104

We can notice that the choice of the notes for the lower and the upper
voice is fairly consistent; the left hand plays A and F#, at times E as a
passing tone, the right hand plays A, B, D, E and G, (at times
suggesting a G major triad).
 11

Nevertheless, each of the phrases is distinctive (that is especially

evident when listening to the recording) due to the dynamics, the
articulation, the length of the phrases, the context etc.
If we look at the list of scales 2 - I labeled notes played by left
hand/the lower voice with stem down, notes played by the right hand/the
top voice with stem up - we can notice that he is approaching all the
scales in a similar fashion, using I, IV and V/VI degree of the scale in
the lower voice and the rest of the notes (sometimes with the root,
sometimes without) in the upper voice. Regarding the pitch, there are
variations (especially in the top voice), sometimes even within the
phrase (alternating between D and E in bars 73 and 82).
Because the scales, and consequently the arpeggiated figures, are
bound up with specific melodic movements/motives, they tend to have
either “static” or “active” function. 3

Sustained notes
Within the arpeggiated figures, as well as inside the melodic
fragments, Taylor often makes use of sustained or tied notes. When used
inside the arpeggiated figures, they have a function of outlining the
melody or emphasizing a particular color. Within the melodic fragments,
they are mostly used inside the montunos.

Sustained notes (Ab) in bar 47

c) ( S u s t a i n e d ) c h o r d s

As resting points between the arpeggiated figures, Cecil Taylor often

uses a group of sustained notes, suggesting chords. Many of them have a
dominant sonority and blues-influenced grace-note embellishments. Their
placement at the end of the phrases, suggests a resolution point. This
type of dominant chord treatment is connected to the post-blues American
music, where the dominant chord can have a function of a stable chord
(as opposed to its function in western tonal harmony).
Examples of such chords are: D dominant7 chord in second or third
inversion in bars 2, 4, 5, 23, and 41(see bellow), G dominant9 chord with

2 See Appendix B

3 The scales with an “active” nature, function either as a starting point of the
phrase, transition point inside the phrase (usually to modulate to the next scale)
or as a passage to the end of the phrase.
 12

F# in the bass in bars 26, 31, and 32, C augmented7(#11) and Db augmented7
(#11) chords in bar 76 etc. B1 scale motives are often preceded by a B

half-diminished chord (bars 33, 85, 88, 100, 103) 4. There are other
chords separating the arpeggiated figures, not necessarily being
resolution points; F major chord in bars 22, 25, and 31, G minor7 chord
in bar 29, Eb minor chord in bar 42, F half-diminished chord in bars 44
and 49, Eb minor7 chord in bar 46, Bb major(#11) chord in bar 62, a sort
of A sus chord in bars 72, 84 and 90. 5 Although the “definable” chordal
structures are fairly rare in Cecil Taylor’s language, they represent an
important part of the composition skeleton.

D7/A chord, 3rd inversion, bar 2

D7/A chord, 3rd inversion, bars 4 and 5

! !

D7 chord, 2nd inversion, bar 23

4 see Appendix A-4, A-11, A-13, A-14

5 see Appendix A-3 to A-6, A-8 to A-11

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D7 chord, 2nd inversion, bar 41

At times, chords appear as a coloristic element: like in bars 16 and

17:

Chords as a color effect, bars 16 and 17

Sometimes such chords repeat in several octaves; bars 80-81, 92, 94,
116-117:

Chords repeating in various octaves, bar 80

 14

Chords repeating in various octaves, bar 116

As a coloristic element and a resting point between smaller or larger

formal sections, Taylor also uses wide range clusters (possibly played
by the whole palm of the hand).

Wide-range palm cluster, bar 20

Chordal structures can be identified also within montuno figures- in

the following example a G-major chord, an A-minor chord and a D-major
6th chord (with added #4).

Sustained bass- montuno gesture exchange, bar 6

d) ( C l u s t e r e d ) c h o r d r e p e t i t i o n s / r u n s

Even though clustered chords (especially chromatic clusters) play a

prominent role in Taylor’s language, they don’t appear as much in this
particular piece- perhaps due to its ballad character. The (clustered)
chord repetitions and runs form the transition material, separating
 15

(smaller or larger) sections of the composition. There are diatonic and

chromatic clustered chords in this piece.
The diatonic cluster repetitions have a transitory function. An
example of such structure appears soon after the opening, in bar 18:

Diatonic clusters, bar 18

Another example of diatonic clustered material is at the beginning of

the last part of the composition, in bar 118, starting with (similarly
to bar 18) diatonic three-note chords, that move upwards and at the
point split into a counter motion in bars 121 and 122.

Diatonic clusters, bars 121 and 122

The only ‘signature’ high speed, impeccably loud, energetic chromatic

cluster run happens in bar 93:

Chromatic-clusters run, bar 93

This bar appears to be the culmination and resolution point towards

which he is building the material patiently.
 16

Apart from having a transitory function, clustered structures also

serve as a coloristic and textural element that thins the more concrete
material.

Intervals
One of the factors that contribute to the coherence of Cecil Taylor’s
language is the consistency in the choice of intervals- I am referring
to the intervals between two (or more) notes played simultaneously;
dyads and chords, as well as to the intervalic relationship between
single notes within a melodic line. If we take a look at the
simplification of the opening bars of the piece (section [A]) 6, we
observe that the melodic lines are constructed mainly with whole steps,
fifths and (chromatic) passing notes. Lower voice is consistently played
in octaves (see the full transcription in the appendix).

Simplification of the opening bars

Similarly, the chords throughout the composition are often voiced

using seconds, fourths and fifths:

Fma9 chord, bar 25

6 note: for easier visual distinction between the scales and the sections, I use []
parentheses when mentioning sections and no parentheses when mentioning scales.
 17

B half-diminished chord with added 4th, bar 85

Various chords, constructed with seconds and fourths, bar 92

Chromatic elements
There is a fair amount of chromatic elements in Taylor’s playing. As
we can notice in the ‘simplification of the opening’ on the previous
page, he uses chromatic passing and approach notes in the melodic lines.
The chromatic motion is dominant in the bass/‘root’ movement throughout
the piece, especially in the slow sections (the beginning and the end).
Furthermore, some of the scales (such as e.g. G#5) are very close to
the chromatic scale. If we take a look at bar 98, we can notice the
dense chromatic texture within an arpeggiated figure.

G#5 scale

G#5 scale inside an arpeggiated figure, bar 98

The scale A3 contains many half-steps as well - it is in fact

resembling scales A1 and A2, with the addition of the half steps.
 18

However, compared to G#5 scale, A3 has a more polytonal logic: the lower
voice is outlining an A-lydian sonority and the top a G major9 sonority.

A3 scale

A3 scale within the arpeggiated figure, bar 97

Register
Cecil Taylor relates the registers to the cosmological areas: ”...two
or three octaves below middle C is the area of the abyss, and the middle
range is the surface of the earth, the astral being the upper
register.”(Figi, 1975) In this particular piece, Cecil Taylor’s focus is
on the middle to low register of the piano, which I believe he generally
feels attracted to in a solo setting. An indicator of this preference is
his love for the 97-keys Boesendorfer (an extra octave places the middle
C in the actual middle of the keyboard).
The register also affects his use of intervals in this piece. In the
middle register he tends to use small intervalic motion, while in the
low and the high register, the intervals are generally broader (this is
also a consequence of mirrored motion in his playing).

Rhythm
Another time Taylor sang a four-note sequence and asked the group
to play it twice. “But I also want you to break up the rhythm,” he
added. “These notes are divided into different rhythmic registers,
and that could be the basis of a whole improvisational...” Rather
than complete his sentence, Taylor demonstrated five or six
variations at half-speed. “Anything is possible,” he said. “Let’s
try it.”(Panken, 2001)

One of the most prominent and altogether important elements in

Taylor’s music is his treatment of rhythm and pulse. His piano playing
has been described as percussive and compared to a dance; as he says
 19

himself, he is trying “to imitate on the piano the leaps in space a

dancer makes.” The rhythms are arguably the most engaging aspect of his
music.
Ekkehard Jost describes Taylor’s rhythmic component as ‘energy’,
claiming that the dynamic impetus of the motion in his music doesn’t
arise from the typical jazz off-beat phrasing (like in swing) but from
combining “the parameters of time, intensity and pitch, thereby creating
a new musical quality, energy”, which is not an equivalent of power or
intensity (measured in decibels), but a variable of time. “It creates,
motion, or results from motion.” (Jost, 1994, p.69)
I believe Taylor generates the energy and motion Jost is referring to,
with the combination of dynamics, articulation, pitch material (scales),
ambitus (of the arpeggiated figures) and the constant change of the
pulse. The idea about pulse fluctuation might derive consciously from an
example of nature. In the documentary All the notes, Taylor speaks about
playing along the movement of a tree (as opposed to the metronome). In
this solo performance we are able to determine the pulse of an
individual phrase quite clearly, but his rhythmical structures grow more
complex/polyrhythmic in the compositions for groups and large ensembles.
There, he deals with the energy of each performer, allowing every
individual a place to express, since rhythm is the parameter of music by
which a musician is able to manifest his own physicality and existence.
For Taylor, rhythm also proves the existence of time, which gives space
to the other elements in the music: “Rhythm then is existence and
existence time, content offers time quantity to shape: color, mental
physical participation.” (Taylor, 1966)
Cecil Taylor has many thoughts on rhythm, beat and motion. There are a
number of philosophical ideas about the rhythm in connection with space,
time, force and motion in his poetic liner notes for 1966 record Unit
Structures:

Rhythm is life the space of time danced thru.

The root of rhythm is its central unit of change.

Rhythm-sound energy found in the amplitude of each time unit.

Rhythms, regular and irregular measuring coexisting bodies of sound.

Acceleration result succession of multiple time compression area.

Beat is physical commitment to Earth force.

These six statements present some of Taylor’s thoughts on rhythm,

pulse and energy. He sees rhythm as an abstract and in some sense mystic
element, but at the same time connected (more than any other musical
component) with the cosmic energy and existence. Pulse is present in
Earth’s rotation and has a quality of constant change. He finds the
rhythm related to space and dance. Rhythm is an embodied element,
 20

helping people to connect and coexist (in sound). The acceleration and
retardation compress and stretch the time, play with its relativity.

One of the characteristics of the arpeggiated figures/phrases is the

rhythmic unison. His textures don’t involve much rhythmic polyphony,
which underlines the motion within them. Nevertheless, if we listen
closely, not all the notes are in an exact rhythmic unison, which
creates a tension and a motion, by giving the individual lines a certain
independence and direction.

Rhythmic polyphony of the two voices, bar 102

The basic rhythmic element in this piece, as well as in most of his

other solo piano compositions, is the triplet. The triplet is the
prevalent African diasporic rhythmic element, and since rhythm is one of
the most vital parts of Taylor’s music, I believe this choice was
carefully considered, taking into an account his African heritage and
his jazz experience.
The triplets are present from the opening melodic fragments throughout
the piece, as an indicator of the general underlying subdivision. They
are (most noticeably), the main ingredient of the arpeggiated figures
(and therefore the prevailing texture in the composition).
Due to the constant pulse fluctuation, it was quite a challenge to
transcribe the rhythms of Cecil Taylor and I was at first considering
the use of a proportional notation. I decided not to, because, as I
mentioned, almost every phrase, with the exception of few completely
free clustered textures (bar 118, for example) 7, has its own pulse. I
limited myself to sixteenth-note being generally the shortest value and
for the most part I use only the triplets from the tuplets. It is
impossible in this way to notate exactly all the richness in Taylor’s
rhythmic variations, but I believe a complex, exact notation would not
be suitable, since it would not show properly his rhythmic ideas.

7 see Appendix A-15

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Expression Tools

Dynamics
“Measurement of sound is its silences. Acknowledging silence is
definition in absence.” (Taylor, 1966)

Cecil Taylor’s sensibility in terms of dynamics is for me one of the

most fascinating aspects of his playing. By using its extremes within a
split second, he is creating rhythmic illusions and simultaneously
unfolding a vast color palette. He is working with dynamics within
phrases rather than within sections- it is the differences in the
density and nature of the material that create dynamics in the bigger
picture.
There are places where, especially in the slow sections, every note of
the phrase has a different intensity, for example, in bar 2 (the smaller
note A in the left hand indicates that the top voice is softer than the
bottom one):

Dynamics within a phrase, bar 2

The case of crescendo between mp and subsequent subito mp; that is,
starting with a certain dynamic, making a crescendo and suddenly going
back to the starting dynamic appears in many places. Another example:

Dynamics within a phrase, bar 24

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Especially within longer arpeggiated figures, the dynamics are often

parallel with the ambitus of the phrase. When it broadens, there is a
crescendo and vice versa, when the two lines approach each other, there
is a decrescendo.

Ambitus of the phrase parallel with the dynamics change, bar 38

Pedaling
Listening to Taylor’s use of sustain pedal, I’ve noticed many peculiar
instances, where pedaling creates a specific color effect or surprising
turn in the texture. The first such surprise happens in bar 1, 8 when he
suddenly removes a pedal for a second, as if deciding to start the piece
again. Another surprise follows in bar 10, when he unexpectedly changes
the pedal in the middle of the phrase, letting go of the low-register
resonance for the first time.
At times he likes to add some blur and softness to the melodic
outline, so he changes the pedal less than expected:

Sustaining the pedal to connect the phrases, bar 8

Another beautiful detail happens in bar 15, where he omits the sustain
pedal for one staccato note at the climax of the phrase:

8 see Appendix A-1

 23

Absence of pedal at the peak point of the phrase, bar 15

Among many other examples, his choice of pedaling is interesting also

in the very last phrase of the composition, where he removes the pedal
as the dynamics are getting softer, as if to disguise the two octaves
that were forming the texture.

Pedaling in the last three bars, 130-132

 24

Personal technique

Photo of Cecil Taylor in motion, All About Jazz Archive (www.allaboutjazz.com)

Now, the only difference is that certain people wish to notate

their improvisations. That’s all. And other people improvise – now
what does that mean? It simply means that these people who choose
to improvise utilize certain physical things in their
characteristics and transpose them to the instruments and, after a
certain amount of years, these things take shape in a form...
(Weston, n.d./1964)

Taylor’s statement illustrates the process improvisor experiences in

search of his own language and this process inevitably includes his
physical features and abilities. “...[A]n improvisor’s original playing
style is bound up with his or her (possibly idiosyncratic or self-
styled) technique. Usually the autodidactic approach plays a large role
for improvisors, for whom the creation of music is embodied in one’s
relationship to one’s instrument...” (Iyer, 1998, chapter 4) It is an
important fact, that by the time Taylor involved himself in the
improvised music (as an autodidact), he already was an accomplished
pianist. Hence he has embodied a specific pianistic logic; needless to
mention, this technique was much different from the technique of other
jazz pianists, who mostly built their language on stride piano, boogie-
woogie or later styles (such as be-bop etc.).
Many of his hand-centered figures involve in some way an interval of
an octave (a very comfortable interval on the instrument). One of Cecil
 25

Taylor’s most characteristic, octave-based patterns, that possibly

derives from his formal piano studies, is the arpeggiated figure. Often
times the arpeggiated figure is executed in counter motion, in groups of
three or four notes, out of which the last (or at times the first) of
the group is a dyad, outlining the harmony. This type of hand motion and
finger action resembles the basic arpeggio warming-up exercises and lays
quite naturally in pianist’s fingers. It is interesting that Taylor uses
a fair amount of counter motion, which is a very natural hand/arm
movement. Often times when a (non-musician) mimes a piano player, he
moves his hands horizontally in counter motion. Yet not many improvisors
or jazz pianists use it (it is, again, more prominent in classical
repertoire).

A typical arpeggiated figure, built inside an octave (D in the right and C in the
left hand) bar 38

We can see these arpeggiated figures also as dissected montunos,

repeating themselves in different octaves. Montuno itself is a figure
that fits well in the palm of pianist’s hand.
Another very pianistic gesture, which Taylor possibly drew from Cuban
music is octave arpeggios, half step apart (in this case with added
chords).

Idiomatic playing at a very high speed (q=180), bar 129

When dealing with chords, specifically clusters, Taylor at times seems

to be using the most elemental treatment of the piano, by separating
white keys and black keys. In bars 18-21 and 118-122 we can observe
clusters on white keys only and in bar 92 there is a white keys-black
keys chord ‘exchange’. Similarly, the beginning of part [D] starts with
 26

white keys- black keys dyad exchange. This type of treatment enhances
the difference in the two instrument inherent sonorities.

White keys- black keys chord exchange, bar 92

A distinct sound color is created by the palm clusters. They often

appear after an octave arpeggio and are executed by simply dropping the
wrist, letting the weight of the arm press down the accidental keys
under the palm of the hand.

Palm clusters, bar 20

A type of kinesthetically derived material is the rapid chromatic

cluster runs which demand a great amount of velocity and power. This
uncommon approach to piano displays the percussive properties and
possibilities of the instrument (see bar 93).9
At times, Cecil is using the technique of sliding a finger from black
to white key; utilized often in a blues-influenced musics. This
technique creates an illusion of bending notes and is another of “hand-
centered logic” (Iyer, 1998) figures.
Interestingly, Taylor doesn’t use scale-runs, which are indeed a large
part of the piano vocabulary, perhaps because they involve a specific
finger-technique.

I believe Taylor’s language is a result of merging his personal

technique with his musical intention. Taylor describes the playing of
John Coltrane: “In short, [Coltrane’s] tone is beautiful because it is
functional. In other words, it is always involved in saying something.
You can’t separate the means that a man uses to say something from what

9 see Appendix A-12

 27

he ultimately says. Technique is not separated from its content in a

great artist.” (Taylor, 1959, p. 34) This statement supports the notion,
that Cecil Taylor’s compositional intent blended with the ways of his
limbs and digits; his idiosyncrasies to form his own language.
Cecil Taylor is not the only composer who developed a large part of
his language on the piano. There are numerous pianists-composers in the
classical history, who wrote their compositions in such fashion, e.g.,
Chopin, Brahms, Lizst, Rachmaninoff, to name a few. In the jazz history
the development of the stride piano is an example of a technique
deriving from the inherit possibilities of the piano, in this case
exposing the orchestrational aspect of the instrument. Art Tatum is
probably the most illustrative pianist who mastered and expanded this
technique to its extremes. In fact, Taylor’s virtuosity, dexterity and
prowess are often paralleled with Tatum’s.
Indeed, the content of Taylor’s and Tatum’s languages differ greatly.
Hoverwer, this fact isn’t only a result of a different period in the
jazz history, but also a result of two different bodies; e.g. Taylor’s
hands are much smaller than Tatum’s and thus “find” other ways on the
instrument. In fact, watching Taylor play, we observe the involvement of
his whole body (even facial gestures), whereas Tatum sits still at the
piano, astonishingly moving as possibly little as needed.
The connection between Taylor’s sound and his physical motion is
perhaps most noticeable in the (extreme) dynamics, which reinforce the
rhythmic fluidity of his playing. Therefore, his body helps in creating
the fluctuating pulse. The physical movement and the pulse are in his
music, as well as in many other rhythm based musics, inseparable. “He
seems to think of his music as a kinetic act, a ritual of place and
ancestry, something that lives in bodies...” (Ratliff, 2012)

My experience with practicing the transcription of Life As... differs

from my original expectations. From watching Taylor play, I suspected he
executes most of the arpeggiated figures “from” his arms, whereas in
fact they involve a lot of finger work and hand positioning. One must
move his hands quickly, parallel and close to the keyboard from one
position to the other and work the material by finger action. The weight
of the arm though helps to execute the dynamics. Another interesting
physical experience is the effect on the hands after playing the rapid
clustered structure in bar 93. The fingers need to hit the keys with a
great force and velocity, and therefore become extremely agile and
flexible, which is just the opposite of what I expected.

Even though or maybe because the material Taylor is using (the types
of chords, the arpeggios, the percussive clusters etc.) derives from a
“hand-centered logic”, his sound and language are very unique due to the
way he contextualizes and works with his material.
 28

Structure
“The concepts of musical organization now have to be broadened to
accommodate the worldwide awareness of music.” (Taylor in an interview
with Funkhouser, 1995)

I believe structure has a special place in Taylor’s music. Since “Life

As...” is a free improvisation, I was most curious to discover his way
of navigating the form. The structure is very difficult to define from a
first listening, but one can definitely sense it. A close look at the
piece reveals a very clear form, with distinctive parts, that have their
melodies, bass motion, etc. Part of why the separate parts are not
obvious is because of the way he interprets them; he likes to stretch or
shrink the phrases, add a full stop in the middle of them, play with the
extreme dynamics, vary the tempo and alternate the pitch material
(scales).
“My music is constructionistic, that is, it is based on the conscious
working-out of a given material.”(Taylor in an interview with Noames,
1965) It is fascinating in Cecil Taylor’s music, how each of the notes
he plays seems to have a place in the composition, a place in the phrase
but also an individual life, a direction of its own. He uses motives
with similar movements and intervalic figures, sometimes alone,
sometimes intriguingly juxtaposed one on top of the other, and even
though they might be similar in form to one another, each of them has
its own way to go, its own color and tension. It seems that he is always
in control of the direction, but simultaneously manages to surprise
himself. “Each piece is choice; architecture particular in grain, the
specifics question-layers are disposed deposits arrangements.” (Taylor,
1966)
Cecil Taylor does not use the traditional concept of form in jazz,
where a particular harmonic sequence delineates the overall structure of
the piece, but he does, in my opinion, use the idea of a melody with a
bass movement as the framework, as a silent song in the background. In
addition, he is using very specific pre-composed motives. I believe the
structure of the piece was not determined beforehand- he most likely
prepared the possible ingredients of the composition and decided the
sequence and the shape of them on the spot, he improvised them. As he
compares improvisation to ‘self analysis’, I believe his choice of the
material, its development and variations are intuitive, depending on his
surroundings and his state of mind at the moment of playing. “Form is a
possibility; content, quality and change growth in addition to direction
found.” (Taylor, 1966)
It may be important, to mention at this point, that his improvisation
within the structure does not only apply to his solo pieces but to
ensemble pieces as well.
 29

Life As... consists, in my opinion, of three main parts, possibly

described as introduction, development and recapitulation. The
introduction is in two parts ([A] and [Abis], [Abis] being a short
transition), the development is roughly in three parts, ([B])-[C]-[D],
[B] is consisting of two sequences). The recapitulation is, like the
introduction in two parts ([E1] and [E2]), [E1] vaguely resembling [A].
Let’s take a closer look at each part.

Introduction

Simplified melodic outline of the Introduction

The piece opens in a slow, fairly static pulse. In this introduction,

Taylor uses soft dynamics and a fair amount of the sustain pedal. Some
of the core material of the composition is presented, such as the step-
wise diatonic and chromatic motion of the bass (with the approaching
fifths; see the example on the following page), octaves in the low
voice, (descending) diatonic melodic motion, montuno-like right hand
figures and diatonic clustered seconds as a transition material [Abis].
The occasional ritardandi and accelerandi are an introduction to the
 30

later pulse fluctuation. Together with the extreme dynamics, they are
creating a strong espressivo character.
The opening phrases (bars 1-8) are similar in duration. From bar 9 on,
the pulse becomes more fluctuating, the energy is starting to
accumulate. The last two bars of [A] section are a sort of a transition
to [Abis] which is a transitional section itself, clearly separated from
[A], serving as an energy accumulator. The melodic connection between
[A] and [Abis] is utilized by the descending figures (step-wise motion),
indicated above by the rectangles.
As I mentioned in the chapter Intervals, Cecil Taylor is quite
consistent with the intervalic motion. There is the main, defining
melodic motive of a half step and a fifth, in the opening bars (1-5),
and in the following bars the focus is on the descending diatonic
seconds with the approach notes (phrases inside the rectangles). The
bass movement in part [A] is A-G-A-B-G, insinuating A as a sort of modal
center. In [Abis], the bass movement disappears (as in most of his
transition parts)- the diatonic texture in the middle register takes
over.

Typical bass movement; chromaticism with an approaching fifth, bar 7

Development

At 2’08”, the development starts - at first very ambiguously, but as

soon as Taylor plays the first arpeggiated figure in bar 22, the new
section becomes obvious. The development section consists predominantly
of arpeggiated figures in various pulses, producing a distinctive
forward motion. In the development section, we can observe Taylor’s
intriguing interpretation of the prepared material.
 31

Simplified melodic outline of [B1] with scales indications

The above figure shows an outline (with the scale markings10), of part
[B1] which consists of merely two melodic motions. They both repeat
themselves, and the configuration [2x Melodic motion 1 + 2x Melodic
motion 2] repeats twice. The ending of the Melodic motion 1 (the
triplet) is clearly and abruptly separating the two phrases. In all the
repetitions, this separating point embraces blues influences; grace
notes, triplets, and dominant sonority (in a function of a stable,
resting point).
Even though the scheme is very simple, the form of [B1] isn’t easily
recognizable when listening to the recording. The repetitions differ in
length and shape of the phrases, the pulse speed, the velocity of pulse
fluctuation and the register. Thus, also the duration of each sonority
(scale) in the context of arpeggiated figures differs from phrase to
phrase, from repetition to repetition. In that sense, the two biggest
deviations are: 1) Melodic motion 1 is much shorter in its first and
longer in its second repetition. The audible differentiation is
strengthened by the choice of the scales- C1 in first and C2 in the
second repetition (the two scales only have three common pitches 11). 2)
The Melodic motion 2 in bars 34-38 (first repetition) has a prolonged
ending, formed by an extensive phrase on C3 scale (bars 35-38), and in
the second repetition (marked as Melodic motion 2’) ends with an F# root
(F#3 scale).
This type of variety in the interpretation of a basic melodic outline
is similar throughout the composition.

10 s e e A p p e n d i x B

11 s e e A p p e n d i x B - 3
 32

Melodic outline of [B2] with scales

Compared to part [B1], the pulse in part [B2] slows down and becomes
more constant. The amount of information is thinned out. Taylor
continues with arpeggiated figures, but moves into a higher register,
and the figures alter constantly with short melodic gestures. Almost
every arpeggiated figure ends in a suspense with a little melodic line,
slowing down and holding the accumulated energy. The pulse is changing
rapidly. [B2] repeats twice and the scales stay consistent in both
repetitions, as well as the length of the phrases and the beautiful
melodic motive at the end of the phrase (again, with the characteristic
diatonic descents). We can clearly notice the chromatic bass movement;
(Eb-E-F-E-Eb)-(C-B-Bb). The blues-influenced elements (see bars 44 and
49 12) appear at the beginning of scale F3 (bar 44 and 49) in both
repetitions as a sort of resting point (with a dominant sonority).

Simplification of part [C], bars 52-74

Part [C] begins with a particular Main motive, very different from the
material we’ve heard so far. The staccato octaves without pedal (bar
52 13) are breaking the momentum created by all the arpeggiated lines in

12 s e e A p p e n d i x A - 6

13 s e e A p p e n d i x A - 7
 33

[B1] and [B2]. It is the only part of the composition with this type of
staccato material. The quasi montuno element appears at several places.
Part [C] consists of two contrasting parts; the motivic first part and
arpeggiated second part (using almost the same scales in both
repetitions). The second part is in the second repetition (bars 70-73)
by the character much more connected to the first part of [C], and less
to [B].
Scale G1 and G3 are similar to each other, as well as G#1 and G#2. The
rest of the scales are the same in both repetitions. 14 Part [C] is more
clearly split in smaller sections than the previous parts and has a sort
of static energy, probably due to the arpeggiated section with constant
pulse (bars 59-63 and 70-74). As mentioned, it is repeated twice, second
repetition being slightly shorter variation of the first one, with some
extra repeated notes (not included in the above simplification). The
main motive makes the [C] part very distinctive due to its staccato and
dry sound.

14 s e e A p p e n d i x B - 4
 34

Simplification of part [D], bars 75-105

 35

Part [D] is the most complex in structure. The changes in behaviors

are very swift. The pulse changes ever so quickly, accumulating energy,
with its peak in bar 93, where it manifests itself in a rapid cluster
run.
The opening bars (75-78) are of a transitional nature, again
featuring seconds, moving quickly on, to quasi-arpeggiated figure, two
very concrete dominant(b6,#11) chords half step apart, and more
arpeggiated material, that leads to the Main motive (a). The motive
consists of the typical chromatic bass motion with the approaching
fifths (the root movement from C# to E), answered by montuno-like figures
and the very pianistic chords spread in a wide register (alternating
between “white” keys and “black” keys). Because of the montuno figure,
the Main motive (a) resembles the Main motive of part [C].
[D] section is in two parts as well. The Main motive (a) with its
repetition appears twice, the second time (bars 92-94) the repetition is
separated by the cluster run. The melodic outline of arpeggiated figures
is almost identical in both parts (bars 82-84 and 96-99), with
characteristic G#4 and A#3 scales and chromatic bass progression from G#
to B. The length of the phrases as well as the use of scales varies
considerably. The tempo of the arpeggiated figures is the fastest in
this section. A very distinctive Motive (b)- a melody inside arpeggiated
figure with a rich texture of four consecutive scales- appears in both
parts, being repeated as well, but not always in its complete version. A
B-half diminished chord occurs before each Motive (b) as a resting point
between the motive’s repetition. Scale B1 has a defining sonic role in
part [D].
The expressive interpretation of the phrases, differences in the use
of scales, unpredictable articulation and stretching/shrinking of the
melodic movement, paraphrasing, actually, break the rigidity of the
structure and make the two part structure of part [D] ambiguous and
difficult to hear.

Recapitulation
The recapitulation starts in a slower, more regular pace with material
similar to [D]’s Main motive (a) - a chromatic bass movement with
montuno-like responses. The tempo of the pulse is close to the one of
the introduction, allowing the instrument to resonate and the listener
to digest the condensed material of the previous section. Recapitulation
continues (bars 112-115) with a motive from the introduction (bar 4),
defining itself more clearly as a recapitulation. The bass moves from A
to B, back to A, and in the following bars (116-117) from F# to G, back
to F#, suggesting an inner two-part logic of part [E1]. Bars 116 and 117
resemble the second part of [D]’s Main motive (a) with a chord repeating
itself in three octaves. [E1] is therefore a combination of the
 36

character and motives from the introduction and the material from
previous part ([D]).
The final part of the composition, part [E2] consists of a varied
material, summing up the gestures from the whole composition. It starts
with transitional, clustered diatonic chords, this time also in counter-
motion outwards, leading into octave-chord ‘exchange’ (relating to the
final gesture of the piece). It continues with an arpeggiated material,
resembling the previous sections with a chromatic bass motion (F-E-F-E)
in two parts, separated by a sustained chord. To conclude the piece,
Taylor utilizes an octave-chord exchange (bass motion Eb-D) in an
extreme speed, finishing with octaves exchange C#-D in ritardando. The
bass motion of the section [E2] is thus a chromatic line: F-E-Eb-D-C#.

Simplification of parts [E1] and [E2], bars 106-131

 37

Implications of tonalities

...[what] Taylor ha[s] done is to approach a kind of jazz that is

practically nonchordal and in many cases atonal... [his] music does
not depend on constantly stated chords for its direction and shape.
Nor does it pretend to accept the formal considerations of the bar,
or measure, line. In a sense, the music depends for its form on the
same references as primitive blues forms. It considers the total
area of its existence as a means to evolve, to move, as an
intelligently shaped musical concept, from its beginning to its end.
(Jones, 1963, p.226)

Life As..., as well as other Cecil Taylor’s pieces have neither a

functional harmonic structure, with definable tonalit(ies), nor are they
atonal. However, Taylor is often “implying a tonality without being
strictly tonal” (from a private conversation with V. Iyer, 2012).
Looking at the macro harmonic structure of Life As..., we are able to
observe certain tonal, or perhaps, modal centers. The following basic
outline of the composition might help us determine them: 15
We can theorize that the [A] section is in the key of G major (with
its constant appearance of a D7 chord), but the sound of this
introduction in fact suggests a modality. The note A in the bass, with
the approaching G#, implies an A-dorian mode. The transitory [Abis] part
is in the key of D-minor.
[B1] is probably the only section which offers a possibility for an
actual functional harmonic analysis. It is undoubtedly in F-major; the
harmonic progression is rather obvious; [IV-V-I-#I] inside the Melodic
Motion 1 and [II-V] inside the Melodic Motion 2. The (#I) at the end of
the Melodic Motion 1 is strong enough to suggest a modulation (which
doesn’t happen). Further on, the [II-V] progression in the Melodic
Motion 2 is anything but obvious due to its “disproportionate”
interpretation. The [V]-chord is in fact a suspended chord, and is
treated as a resolution point (with a stable function).
Even though the modulation is obvious, the key of [B2] is harder to
determine, but we can speculate an Eb-minor, the progression being: [I-
#I-II-bII-I-IV-V]. The harmonic progression from [I] to [V] (Ebmi-Bbmi)
outlines the shape of the two part section.
Section [C] is again suggesting an A dorian mode. A major part of the
section (bars 55-58 and 66-69) suggest a clear B-minor tonality, whereas
the beginning (Main Motive) and the arpeggiated sections gravitate
towards A.
The key of section [D] is hard to define. We can hear the C#-minor as
a home key, since the C#mi chord is concluding each of the section
repetitions (bars 91 and 105). The progression of the arpeggiated
figures would be [#IV-V-bVI-VI]-[VII-VI-IV-II-(I)]. We can also
determine D as a lydian modal center. The two indicators of this

15 s e e A p p e n d i x C
 38

modality are the beginning of the section (C#-D bass progression) and the
ending of the Motive(b); in the second repetition of the motive, the
ending is extended to C#-minor. The obvious B-half-diminished sustained
chords suggest a modulation, which doesn’t happen.
Section [E] is by sonority close to the beginning of the piece. The
section starts with Eb-minor- B-minor sequence. Further on, we can hear
an A-dorian mode again. The beginning of [E2] is suggesting a D-minor
(the texture is similar to [Abis]), and the whole piece ends up with the
chromatic bass descend to C#, suggesting C#-minor as the final key
center.
The key centers of the five major parts of this piece would therefore
be: A-dorian; F-major; Eb-minor; A-dorian; C#-minor; A-dorian; C#-minor.
More than an information about the harmonic degrees and tonal/modal
centers, this type of analysis gives an overview of the different
sonorities in the piece.

There are specific figures, with which Taylor implies the tonal/modal
key centers. The most obvious are a) the chromatic movement of the bass,
and b) the counter-motion of the outside voices to a minor/major tenth
(similarly with the use of chromaticism).
a) The chromatic movement of the bass
If, for example, Taylor wishes to imply a tonality of D (minor or
major), he might approach it through an (usually increasing) bass motion
of a C# (with an octave jump), an approaching fifth (A; a [V-I] motion)
and an octave jump to the final D.

Typical chromatic bass movement figure, bar 92

In other cases, he might use the same pitch as a passing note while
moving chromatically in the bass:
 39

Typical chromatic movement bass figure, bar 16 and 17

There are numerous similar examples of chromatic bass movement with

approaching fifth and octave jumps. The same rule applies, and similar
structures are formed in a progression within an arpeggiated figure. In
most cases, there is a central arpeggiated figure (“I” of the implied
key), which is usually preceded chromatically by one or two other
figures, and sometimes even concluded by a single figure, half step up
from the central figure. E.g. in bar 26, the key center is F-major, but
the progression is concluded by an arpeggiated figure in F#.

“I-#I” motion within arpeggiated figures, bar 26

b) the counter-motion of the outside voices to a minor/major tenth

The counter-motion of the outside voices to a minor or major tenth
usually appears outlining a quasi-montuno figure, or an arpeggiated
figure. In many cases it includes a half step in either the melody, the
bass, or both. Examples are plenty- the above figure illustrates
movement from E-D in the melody and F-F# in the bass. We can find similar
outline of the arpeggiated figures in bars 25, 32, 42, 43, 59, 61,...
 40

Notation and its relation to music

“Notation can be used as a point of reference, but the notation does
not indicate music. It indicates a direction.” (Taylor quoted in Brown,
2006)

Since Cecil Taylor is not very fond of traditional Western notation,

which in his opinion “blocks total absorption in the ‘action’
playing,” (Taylor, 1966) he has developed his own notation, consisting
of letters and symbols; “what is above middle C is plus, what is below
is minus,” (Felver, 2005) in order to write down his musical ideas. This
notation probably has two functions. First is to set the musicians free
from their common experience with reading music and make them more
attentive. And the second is to simplify the communication to ensemble
members of different skill levels with conventional notation. A
description of his score by Dan Marmorstein:

On the page of the scores, he has a group of anywhere between

three or five or as many as ten, and sometimes he may stack
sequences of lines, in which case you could have 25 or 30
different tones. Quite frequently, more than one tone is
described. The way that music is transmitted to the musicians is
that the musicians are basically being asked to breathe their own
poetry into these melodies and shape them as they will. But that
being said, with Cecil being there, Cecil will often play the
thing on the piano and expect that we can hear that that’s the way
he wants it to sound.(Panken, 2001)

Another insight into his work with groups, connected with notation by
Vijay Iyer:

Taylor’s approach spoke volumes about improvised music as a

collective activity. Early on, when we were repeatedly questioning
him about the role of the written material, he said, “This
[written material] is the formal content of the piece; what I want
is for all the players to bring their individual languages to the
interpretation and execution of the piece.” Taylor desired that we
create a collective embodiment of his material by filtering it
through our individual “languages,” framing the music as speech,
individual sound as personal narrative. (Iyer, 1998, chapter 4)

Thus this type of notation can arguably encourage the performer to

listen and remember the motives, using the score only as a reminder.
Working with a group in this way, he is encouraging everybody to
participate in making of the composition and he often only sings the
individual parts, letting the musicians transcribe the score in
whichever notation they choose. Even though this might show he is not
overly concerned with the notation, the mere act of inventing his own
(after mastering the Western notation) speaks for itself.
 41

It might be relevant to mention at this point, that Taylor, despite

being a free improvisor, often uses scores during his performances. As I
mentioned in the chapter Structure, these aren’t full scores, but rather
a pool of motives from which he chooses spontaneously in the moment.

Cecil Taylor’s scores, photo by Ssirus W. Pakzad

 42

Cecil Taylor’s relationship with the European

classical music

There is only one musician who has, by general agreement even

among those who have disliked his music, been able to incorporate
all that he wants to take from classical and modern Western
composition into his own distinctly individual kind of blues
without in the least compromising those blues, and that is Cecil
Taylor, a kind of Bartók in reverse.(Spellman, 1966, p.5)

One of the influences that contributed to the formatting of Taylor’s

unique language was his classical training. While studying at The New
England Conservatory he was exposed to specific esthetics and trained to
develop a particular sensitivity and connection with the instrument. He
might not consciously apply this knowledge later (in fact, Taylor
claimed he had to ‘un-learn’ some of the piano techniques and hand
positions after he had switched to jazz in order to reach the sound he
was searching).
In 1958, Taylor wrote:

Everything I’ve lived, I am... I’m not afraid of European

influences. The point is to use them— as Ellington did— as part of
my life as an American Negro. Some people say I’m atonal. It
depends on your definition of the term... I have been atonal in
live performances... Basically, it’s not important if a certain
chord happens to fit some student’s definition of atonality. A man
like [Thelonious] Monk is concerned with growing and enriching his
musical conception and what he does comes as a living idea out of
his life’s experience, not from a theory. (Taylor, 1958)

While Taylor’s musical conceptions surely derive from his life

experience and his deliberate integration into African-American
environment, there are behaviors in Taylor’s playing and composing that
possibly derive from his classical piano training. For example, his
detailed use of the articulations, subtle pedaling, particular (and
full) use of the piano range and the use of the counter motion. His
right and left hand are equal in expression and nature of the material
(differently from the most post be-bop pianists who use left hand to
support and accompany the right hand). He is dealing with intricate
textures, unusual form, intense, detailed dynamics, absence of constant
pulse or groove. He operates with scales or selected pitch collections
and intervalic relations that are not connected to the functional
harmony. He had probably processed and digested the information gained
during his classical training and applied it to his own idea of jazz/
(black) improvised music. Bassist Buell Neidlinger says he believes
Cecil “is the first cat who has used these [classical] systems,... and
made them work for jazz, which makes me think that all his music is
really very personal, and any kind of allusion to classical music is
strictly accidental or subconscious.”(Spellman, 1966, p.33)
 43

During his conservatory years, Taylor was interested in composition

and wanted to study it “but the department head/. . ./ figured that he
already had one Negro [composition student], and that was
enough.”(Spellman, 1966, p.55). As a composer, he describes himself as a
‘constructivist’, which displays another point of reference to Western
art music. As he says himself, “the key to European music is
construction - that’s what you listen to more than anything else in
European music - form, shape.”(Spellman, 1966, p.39) Nevertheless, he
stresses that for him, of all the composers, the master constructivist
would have to be Duke Ellington, who found a way to integrate the
musical personalities and specific instrumental timbres of the band
members into a distinctive sound and intriguing forms. At the beginning
of his career, Taylor himself played and recorded some of Ellington’s/
Strayhorn’s compositions (e.g., Azure (Taylor, 1956), Johnny Come Lately
(Taylor, 1957)) as well as other popular jazz songs, such as You’d Be So
Nice To Come Home To, Sweet and Lovely, Monk’s Bemsha Swing, (Taylor,
1959), Love for Sale, Get Out of Town, I Love Paris (Taylor, 1959) etc.
His interpretations are indeed rather radical and some of the musicians
he worked with had difficulties with that. The type of situation is
similar to the experiences of another “American original” (Kelley,
2009), Thelonious Monk, who had a considerate influence on Taylor,
himself having an original language and approach to music, way ahead of
his time.
“... his [Cecil Taylor’s] propositions were really brilliant; his way
to develop monumental improvisations from little melodic cells was
gifted with so much structural strength... I sincerely think that Cecil
Taylor is one of the great geniuses of our times as the creator of a
real synthesis, as Anthony Braxton, between jazz and Western
tradition.” (Ollivier, 2009) Braxton and Taylor are indeed both notable
examples of jazz musicians inspired by (some aspects of) the Western art
music, as Marilyn Crispell observes. Nevertheless there is a major
difference in how the two musicians applied their knowledge. While
Anthony Braxton researches and consciously utilizes some of the concepts
of Western composers (e.g. Cage and Stockhausen), Taylor wishes to
continue the lineage of Ellington and Monk. He does not search to
combine jazz with classical music, as he understands his own music as
“an extension of period music- Ellington and Monk. Third Stream is
George Gershwin and Ferde Grofe.” (Spellman, 1966, p.29)
He realizes and admits the influences, but he nevertheless disagrees
with many of the aspects of Western tradition and feels overall far from
it. Notation is one of the aspects, because it (as mentioned in the
previous chapter) blocks the musician’s connection with the sound and
the physicality of performing music. He is an advocate of playing and
learning (even extended compositions) by ear, not only because it brings
out different (in his, and many of his collaborator’s opinions; better)
results, but also in order to stay true to the jazz tradition. He
 44

dislikes the lack of body involvement and the detachment from the music
of contemporaries like David Tudor, who is “so detached, he ain’t even
there.” (Spellman, 1966, p.36)
Being a dancer himself, physical engagement and body movement are of a
great importance to Taylor. And, clearly, the (over)-involvement of a
musician’s body (unless being a part of the composer’s visual concept)
isn’t desirable in the world of classical music.

I think Western musicians, fine art musicians, what they call fine
art musicians--European fine art--they're the only ones who don’t
dance. Every other--of course these certain stupid Americans--but
you’ll find in all other cultures, like third world cultures,
musicians dance. What they don't understand is when you are
playing, whether you know it or not, you're dancing. I always got
great enjoyment watching great musicians dance when they play. I
mean, to watch Elvin Jones or Art Blakey. Horace Silver, Ellington
had a way--and Billie Holiday--those movements. Or Betty Carter.
(Taylor in an interview with Funkhauser, 1995)

Cecil Taylor’s music of course doesn’t have a steady pulse (which

arguably defines the dance music); nevertheless, he is following the
jazz legacy, “dancing” at the piano, possibly making the audience move
as well. Jazz critic Garry Giddins confirms, Taylor “is still swinging,
he is still in a jazz tradition, a different kind of swing, the rhythm
of the momentum separates him from Messiaen and Boulez’ piano sonatas
which very superficially might sound alike.”(Artisthouse Music, 2004)
While not being conceived systematically and led by strict rules,
Taylor’s piano pieces might resemble serialism- a variety of elements is
made into a sort of collage, cut one from the other. Along with the
changes of the material, there are also rapid variations in dynamics and
articulation, which correspond to the attributes of e.g. Anton Webern’s
music. It is the material, and the condensed form, Taylor values in
Webern’s music and compares it to the melodies of Parker and Monk, who
could “have all the energy and all the rhythmic qualities of a symphony
in twelve measures.”
Taylor’s interest in classical music isn’t for the sake of finding a
synthesis, but rather to observe the conceptual and esthetic parallels
between the two worlds.

“The ultimate struggle is to challenge the musical concept America has

adopted from the West.” (Taylor in the documentary by Felver, 2005)
 45

Conclusion
My initial idea about the piece Life As... was that it is a free form
improvisation. I could not hear where the individual parts of the
composition start and end but I understood that there is a strong inner
structure, because there is an obvious, audible coherence within the
piece. My goals were to understand the ways Taylor is manipulating the
material and creating the structure. I wanted to learn about how he
combines composition and improvisation, since he owns, in my opinion,
one of the most inspiring and original approaches to composition through
improvisation. The two are balanced perfectly in his work and I thought
the reason for it is his mind being miraculously ‘composerly’, enabling
him to create perfectly structured pieces on the spot, without agenda.
The analysis showed that this is not the case. This particular work
consists of a fair amount of prepared material, which differs from
repetition to repetition and which is repeated in various manners. The
bass movement is following a specific (chromatic) logic and almost each
motive has its respective scale (consistent in the repetitions). The
order of the parts is probably improvised. So are the tempi, all the
stretches and the compresses of phrases, the dynamics, articulations and
sometimes the scales. He might play the same phrase with another scale
in the second repetition to give it a slightly different flavor. All
these factors give his free improvisation fluidity and at the same time
a sense of inner logic and coherence.
To reach this level of improvising, one must develop his own language
continuously and rigorously. Cecil Taylor achieved his unparalleled,
highly individual style by combining the knowledge of his heritages, the
social experience of the jazz community, the interest in other arts, his
classical piano training and the vision of his own music.
It is not only his obvious devotion to the instrument, to the search
of new, and his uncompromising music-making that contribute to his
unique voice. It is also his ability to connect his physical existence
with the elements of music and to combine all his various (extra-
musical) interests in a very natural way. It is probably one of the most
challenging tasks for an artist, to present his work as self-evident,
even thought it might include a number of seemingly incongruous
elements.
I was eager to learn a “new system” for combining composition and
improvisation, but ended up realizing, that his approach is actually
quite basic- he takes a motive and embellishes it, variates it, repeats
it. He takes a scale and dissects it, finds interesting combinations
within it and plays around with it. What is more, the whole process of
language creation is connected to the body logic (unique for every
individual).
Cecil Taylor’s music undoubtedly has a strong inner logic and a unique
sound. Perhaps one of the reasons for it is the system behind it being
so natural and fundamental. It is Taylor’s treatment of the system, the
 46

focus on details, and the effortless playfulness within the complex

possibilities that are breath-taking and genius.
 47

Sources
Books, articles, and links:

Artisthouse Music [ArtistHouseMusic]. (2004, October 10). Backstage

interview with Garry Giddins. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=wU0EXOnsqgE.

Braxton, A. (1988). Composition Notes vol. A & E. Lebanon, NH: Synthesis

Music/Frog Peak Music.

Brown, D. P. (2006). Noise Orders: Jazz, Improvisation and Architecture.

Minneapolis, MN: University Of Minnesota Press.

Coss, B. (1961, October 12). Cecil Taylor’s Struggle For Existence:

Portrait Of The Artist As A Coiled Spring. Down Beat.

Dibelius, U. (1966). Moderne Musik 1945-1965. Munich, Germany: Piper.

Figi, J. B. (1975, July 3). Cecil Taylor: African Code, Black

Methodology. Down Beat.

Funkhouser, C. (1995). Being Matter Ignited..., an interview with Cecil

Taylor. Hambone magazine, Nr.12.

Galasi, G. P. (2012, March). Cecil Taylor: Inner Creation. Complete

Communion. October 10, 2012. http://completecommunion.blogspot.nl.

Goodheart, M. (1996). Freedom and individuality in the music of Cecil

Taylor. Masters thesis, Mills College, Oakland, California.

Grad, A., Skerlj, R., Vitorovič, N. (1994). English-Slovene Dictionary.

New York: Oxford University Press.

Grad, A., Leeming, H. (1994). Slovene-English Dictionary. New York:

Oxford University Press.

Iyer, V. (1998). Embodied Mind, Situated Cognition, and Expressive

Microtiming in African-American Music. Ph.D. Dissertation, University
of California, Berkeley.

Jones, L. (1963). Blues People (Negro Music in White America). New York:
William Morrow and Company

Jost, E. (1974/1994). Free Jazz. New York: Da Capo Press.

 48

Kelley, R. (2009). Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American

Original. New York: Free Press.

Lyons, L. (1983). The Great Jazz Pianists: Speaking Of Their Lives And
Music. New York: Quill Edition.

Mandel, H. (1994, June). Interview with Cecil Taylor. The Wire, 124.

Mandel, H. (2007). Jazz Beyond Jazz: Miles, Ornette, Cecil. London, UK:
Routledge.

Neidlinger, B. (1961). Cecil Taylor Quartet: The World of Cecil Taylor.

[LP liner notes]. New York: Candid Records.

Noames, J. L. (1965, December). Le système Taylor (interview). Jazz

Magazine, 125, 34-36.

Ollivier, S. (2009, December). Marilyn Crispell (interview), Jazz

Magazine.

Panken, T. (2001, February). Cecil Taylor. Jazziz Magazine.

Ratliff, B. (2012, May). Lessons From the Dean of the School of Improv,
New York Times

Richards, S. & Ameen, R. (1978). The World of Cecil Taylor, Recorded

Anthology of American Music, Inc. Liner notes [CD]. New World Records
80201.

Spellman, A.B. (1966). Four Lives in the Bebop Business. New York:
Random House.

Taylor, C. (1958). Looking Ahead. Liner notes [CD]. Contemporary S7562.

Taylor, C. (1959, January). John Coltrane. Jazz Review, p.34.

Weston, M. (n.d.). The Shape of Jazz To Come. Cecil Taylor Panel

Discussion (1964). November 3, 2012. http://www.mattweston.com/
cecilpanel.html.

Wikipedia, free encyclopedia. http://www.wikipedia.org.

Wehmeier, S., Ashby, M. (2000). Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of

Current English. New York: Oxford University Press.
 49

Discography:

Evans, G. (1961). Into the Hot. [CD ROM]. Santa Monica, California:
Impulse! Records.

Felver, C. (Producer & Director).(2005). All The Notes. [Documentary].

Redman, D., Taylor, C., Jones, E. (1998). Momentum Space. [CD ROM with
liner notes]. Santa Monica, California: Verve Records.

Taylor, C. (1956). Jazz Advance. [CD ROM]. Cambridge, Massachusetts:

Transition.

Taylor, C. (1957). At Newport. [CD ROM]. Santa Monica, California:

Verve.

Taylor, C. (1958). Coltrane Time. [CD ROM]. Hollywood: Blue Note.

Taylor, C. (1959). Love For Sale. [CD ROM]. New York: United Artists

Taylor, C. (1966). Unit Structures. [LP with liner notes]. New York:
Blue Note.

Taylor, C. (1966[2]). Conquistador!. [CD ROM]. New York: Blue Note.

Taylor, C. (1974). Silent Tongues. [CD ROM with liner notes]. Austin,
Texas: Freedom Records.

Taylor, C. (1984). Garden. [CD ROM]. Basel, Switzerland: Hat Hut

Taylor, C. (1986). For Olim. [CD ROM with liner notes]. Italy: Soul Note

Taylor, C. (1987). Chinampas. [CD ROM]. Newton Abbot, GB: Leo

Taylor, C. (1990). Nailed. [CD ROM]. Berlin, Germany: FMP

Taylor, C. (1991). The Tree of Life. [CD ROM]. Berlin, Germany: FMP
 50

Appendix

- Appendix A: A transcription of Life As... with explanatory notes

__________________________________________________________ A-1 to A-18

- Appendix B: A list of scales_______________________________ B-1 to B-5

- Appendix C: Harmony outline________________________________ C-1 to C-3

 A-1

Life As...
transcribed by Kaja Draksler

!
Cecil Taylor
from Redman, D., Taylor, C., Jones, E. (1999). Momentum Space. Verve
Quasi rubato
q=60 q=93

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Copyright © KajaDraksler2012
!
A-2

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!
A-3

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1 + 72 ++ 2 ++ +
2+ + + +; 22++ 2+ + + + $&
43 3 -

) #$ 1 + 1 +11 ++ +B 6 + + + + ' 22++- 7++ ++ 2+2 +

3
+ + ++ 0 $
+ < ; 2+ +
dolce 3 3 3 3 3
3
mp mf mp mp mf sub
mf
3 3 3
*# 1+ 1+ + 7+2+ . . +; $' + 2+ ++ &
3
9
3 3 3 3 3
$ 7+ < + + + $
1+ +1+ + + 1+ + + +
+ 2+ ++ +
1 + 7+ +

!
2+ 2 + '+ 7 '+' $3$
:++ 11 8++ +' + &
q=180
1
poco rit.
< 1
45
# 1 +< 11 ++< + :+
7

) $& 23 + + + $ 1+
+ 3 ""
$
2 + 2+ + + + 3 <
mp mf sub mp mf f

7
*& + 1+ + # 1 +< 1 + ""
$3 + + + + + 4 $1 + < 1 +< +< 1 + 4 $
< < 14
4
, 8
! ! !

!
& 1 + 1 + 11 +3'+
q=120

' 1+ + + '
8
47 poco rit. a tempo
""
) $ 1 +< 1+ + + 0 #
1+ 1+ 1+ + 1+ + $
1 +< 1 +< < +< +< 1 + +3 1+ 1 ++; 33
3 3
mp

'
* "" +
3
- #
0
3 3 3
$ +
1 + < +< 7+ $
+ + +%
+< 7 + 2+ 1 3 + 1+ 3
1+
! ! ! ! ! !

!
q=180
1+ + + 1 ++ + 8++
++ 2'+
poco accel.
1 +
48 3 3
# 1 +
) $ 1 + 11 ++ + + + + + + + ++ 6 0 ( 2+ "(
+ $7 + ;
0 $
3 3 3 3
3
mf sub mp

* # 1+ 1+ + 3 - 3 3 3
+- +
7+ 2+ 6 . . 7+ $( + "(
3

' +
0
3 3 3
$1 + + 1+ + 7+ + $
+ + + 7+
1 + + 7+ 1 + +8
 A-7

!
&
3'32"

1 + 11 ++ + + &
poco rit.
q=190
8+ + 8
poco accel.
50
+ 1 + 1 + + + +
"( 1 + + + +
3 3
1+ + + 1+ "$
3 3

)$ 1 + + 1 + + + 9 $
3 3
1+ + 7+ +
3

mf mp mf sub p f

* "( & 3
+
3
+ 1+ + +
3 3
+ +
3
& "$
$ 1+ + + + 9 $
1+ + + + + + + + + 1+ + +
+ CCC CCC
!

!
+ 1 + 1 + % 18+
q=160 q=100

) "$$ 1 + 1 +11 ++ 1 ++ +' + 1 + 1 + + 1 + 3 .%

1+
+ + + ' 14
51 3
7+ 7+
3
+ + + ( @#
3
9 $0
3 3

1+ < 1+ < 3 + 1 + 7+< 7 + 7+ $

8 3 sf <
mf sf mf f mp mp mf mp

* "$ 1 + 1 + 1 + + + + 1+1+ 9 ( 2+ 2+ 2+< 7+< #

$ 1+ 1+ + $ 2+ 2+< 0 2+ 7+ $
+ +' + < 8

"""""
+ 1+ 1 83 4

!
3 3 3
1+ 4
! ! 3
!
q=95 poco rit.

) $ 21 ++ 7++ +7++ + ++22++ ++ 233$$3 0 $ . ; + . . 6 +21 ++ +' +7++ + ++22++ 0 $ 9 %

' ,+ - +2+ +- 3
53 3 3 3 3 3

# + + + + # +< 2+< 22++ .

'
$
7 +< < ,+ 3
"""

D 8, <
mf mp mf

# 1 +1 +1 +7+ 7'+ #4
- , -
*# /
$ 9 .2+ $' 22++ .2+ 7733 9 $ 0 $'
2+< 2+<
! 3

!
4% & - 2+ + 3$3
56

) $' 4 % A . .3 7+-
$ . + .2+ + 3$ + 2++ + ++- 2+ ++ 0
3
. 0 0 23
3
$ + 2 +
+< ; ; + + 2+ 78+ + 2 +
mp sub
mp p mp
, <
mp mf mp

+< poco
< <accel.< +< < < 3<poco<rit. &
* ' + ++22++ 2+ . + ++ ++ . + . ++ 0 2+- & 7,+ . 0 0 % 2+ + + %
- -
1 +1 +7+ $A 3
2 ,+ ,+ ,+ %
$ 2+; ; +; ; 2,+ $ 7+; 0 0 0
1 8+ 73 73
3 3
!
!
 A-8

!
4'06"
q=160 q=200
59
+ 8+8 3
+ +8
))2*+ +2+< + + +
83 "$ #
+ ++ + +++ + + +
3

+ 6+ + + + 6 * + +; + 4
3 3 3 3 3 3 3

$ + + ) $
+< < +< < < +< < + + + 3 3
+ + 8
3

mf f f

* 3 3 3
"$ 3 3 3 3 3 3
6
3 3
#
+1 + + + 1 +1 + $ 7+ +7 + + + +2+ - $
+ + 1 + 783 + + ++ + + + +++ + + +
8 +++ 4
44
7+ 7 + + 8 + 8+ 8+ 4
! !

!
8+ + 8'
q=160
-8
++ + + + + ++' $' +< + + + +
61

0 2++ ++ ++
3 3
8+
) #$ 2+ &
3 3 3 3 3 3 3
$
+ 8+ +< + +< + ; +< < 8 < +< < + E + + ;
+< < +< +< 8+ 3 3 E< < 8 sf
f

< 8 < 18+ +

3

*# 3 3 3
' . < 1 +
1+ + < 3 3
0
3
;
3
3
&
$ + +< 2 + 2+< + 2+ 7 + + - $ 1+ + +< 1 + + + $
+ + 8 <
+ < < 8+ < 2 + < 8+ + 7 + + 7 ++
8
3 1 +<
8

!
! !

&- 18+ + 1 '

8+
q=180 q=100
+
- 1 + + .1 +; +1 ' . ) $A 2+- 7+ 7+ 6 0 7+ + ++ 2+- . '
3

+ ++++
63 3
+ + 7+ 7+
3 3 3

) $& +7+ 8+ + + * ++ -
3 3
.
3

7+ +
+ 8 8+ + , 7 +< 78+2+ < 8+ + + < 2 ,+ $
7+ +
3 3 3
mf f mf f mf f ff mf f p mf

* & .1 3+1 +18+ + + + 3 - -0 0 0 A 2+ 7+28+ 0 -

. + $'
$ 0 0
3 3 3 3
$ 1
1+ ++ 2+ 7+ 2+<
1+ 8 + + 1+1+
1+ 8 8+ +
3

!
&
q=65 q=60

( 0 77++ ++2+ 2+< + 3 %

q=115

+- +- . 6 2 ++ + +++ +27++ 2+ 0 <

65 3

2+2 + + 3 %
' .
)$ + ?
+ + 8+2+ + + +< 2 ,+ $ $
8< +< 8 8

8+ < 2 +< 8 +< < 8+ < +< & 8+ +< &-

3

1 +1 +7&
mf sf sf sf sf

- ,+
* ' 28+ . . 2+ 78+ . 0 + + +
$ 73 %
0 ( 2 +
+ G+ G 2+ G2+ 6 + G+ G + 6 + G + G+ + 622++ $?
$ 2+ 2+ 7+; 1+ BF BF BF ; BF BF B BF BF
; 8 8 ,
6 6 3
 A-9

!
4'33"

7 +< 7poco 2 +< < +< < +

q=90 q=100 q=180

2'+' . 0
8 <+ 2 +accel.
<
) $ 0 % + 62+
@ 2 + <
0 * $( . 7+; 7+ 2+ 0 $A +< + + +< ; . 0 0 $A
68

'
? - 2+ .
6 3

2 + 2 + + + 2 + 2+
+< + 2 + + + + 8+ + + 2 + +
8
3 3
mp

* ? 73 +% 1 +1 + 7+ % $( 3
3
. 2+ 2+ 3 0 $A A
+% +< + + +< - . 0 0 $
3 3
$ 73
2+ 3 1+ 783 +< < 2 +< < 2 +
! 8

!
2 +< +< +< +<
q=160 q=180
8+ + +
<+ +< +< +< +< +< +< +< . 3. +;
) $ ++ . - 2++ +' . $ 7++ +< +
-3
71
*A % ' 8 + + 7+ + + . 0 *#
33

$ 0 $
3 3 3 3 8 + +< < 3 3 3
mf p

*A 3 3 3 3
. . +-
3
% - 3. - ' 3 3 3 3
. .
3
- . . 3. - #$
$ 7+ + + + 2 + + $ + $ +< 2+ + 7+<+
< <
7 +< < 2 +< < 2 +< + 2 + + + + < < + +
8+++ ++ + 1 +<
8

!
+ 8+ q=130 rit.......... q=130 accel.... q=100 q=140
+ + +; . 0 - - . ++- . ++- 9
74 accel...
*# / ">
) $ .11 ++- . ++ . ++- . ++ . +- . +- '
$ $
3
< 8< < 8< 8+ < ,+ 8<
sub
mf

& ++< ++<

mf f ff
< < +8+ . +8+ +8,+ .
* # 3 1 +- . 3
/ "> ; . ; . ++; .
77 ++ 0 ; . ; . 0 . .3 - '
$ 1 +1 + 8 $ ; ; $
1+ +< + 1+
1+
8

!
7 8+ 78+ 2 q=180
+ 2 ++ 8+ + &8+ 8+
1 + 7
11 ++ 77 +++ 2
76
2+ + + + +
) $' ++ 2 + 7 3+ 2 + + * 7 + 7+ 0 $$ 2+ @ 6 . * $$
3

) + 2 + 2+2 + ++ 6
+ 3 2+ 2+2+ +2+
8
3 3
3 f ff mf f f p f p mf
8

* ' 1 + 3 7+ 8
. +- + 1 +- 1 + 0 $$ 6 2+7+ + 6 . $$
3 3 3 3 3 3
$ 2 + -
1 + 7 + 2 + 2+ 2+ + + 2+ + +
2 +
+2+ 2+ + + + + B
7+ +
8 + +
8 8 8
8+ +
!
A-10

5'00"

1 + + % 1 1 8'+ ++ 2 ,+++
7+ + % 11 7++' +++ 7+ + +<
$ 0%
1 +
q=120 q=100 q=90 poco rit.
1 + 2 . 22++- .
79
*$ 0 1 + ' * "%
$ 6 + +2 + + 2
. ) 2++
2 $
; 2 2 ++
,
f

- ,+
* $ 2+ 8+ ' 7++ 6 ) 77++++ . *77+++ - 2 2++ "%
m.d.

$ 2 + . 0 0 $ . ; . 77++++ 22,++ $
+ ; 2+ + B , ,
2 8+ 2 + + 8'
2 8+ separate each sub p
chord

!
2 8++< &
q=140

1+ 1 ++17++ ++ +++++ ++ . 0 7 + +<

*1 + 1 + 1 + +
<
q=120 q=100 poco accel.
7+ . 2+- .
81
* "% 0 2 + + 2
67+ + B 6 .) 2 2++ 0 0 ) "$$
"""""""
$ ;
; 222 +++

"""""
mf 8< sub mf
&
mp

* "% 2+ . - 77 7++,++ : &

$ . 0 . @6 . .) 777++++ """ .* 7 + . + 2+
; 777+++2 +< 0 0 "$$
2 8+ 2+78+< 2 +2 + + + , ,
2 8+ + ' ' 7 +1 +1 + +<

!
!8 8

82
"$
q=190
7+ 7
6 + +
78+ 7 ++ + +
7+ + +
3
+
3 3 2+
2 + 2 ,+ 8'+ &
33 %% '
2 + +
3

) $ 7+ 7+ + 7+ +6 6 8 + 7++ + + 2+ 8 + + 6
* 2+ ; )$
87 + 8 3 3 3 7 + 3
3
mp mf sub mf f mf f

+3 . + 2+3 + 2+ + + 6 -&
5
* "$ 2+ 2+
+ , 8+ 33 %%
'
'
3 3
6 6
33 3 3 3
$ 2 + $
2+ + 2 + + + 7 + 2+ 7 + + + + + + 2+ +
2+
+
2+ !

!
8+ 8+
1 +
1 ++ ++ 7 2 +7 + + 7+ + + 1 + + + 18+ 3-
7 + 1
83
8 8
' 1 H & <
+ + + + + *A
3 3

) $ 1 + 11 ++1 +1 + + 7+ 2 + + 7+ +
-
+7+; . $ 7+2+ 7+ . + + + . + ++ + +6 ; .1 + . 0 $
1+ ; ; ; 3 3
<
3 3 3 3 3 3
3
mf f sf f mf sub f sf sub
p

* ' 1 + 1 +1 +
3 3
- 3.7+- $& 3 +2+ 3
8+ 1 +3< 3 A
+ +1 + + + 1 +1 + + + ; . ; . . . - $
1 + 6
3 3 3 3 3 3
$ 7+ +1+ ++ 2+ + + 3
7+ 2+ 2+ + + D + 1+
8
7+
8
3
 A-11

!
5'23"

8 ,' '+
q=160
4 + + + 8+
* A 744 +++ A + + 8+ 8+ + + 28+ 2 +
85

+ + + 8$
3
+' '; . - $
3
4 # + 2+ 6 - 2+2++ @ 6 &
+ 2 +' + + +7 + 2+ + + +
$ $ 3 ) $ +2 + 2 +
3 3
; 7+
3 3 3
mp mf mp mf mf f mf f mp

28+ + @ 6 +
$ + + 2+ 2+ + '
* A 74 A # - 2 + . - $&
3
6 +
3 3 3 3 3

7 + + ' ' 7+
$ + $+ + +++ + 7+ + - -
8 8 + + + ' '% 8 +
+ 22 ,+'+ +'+
4 +
+8 + %
+
+
3

8
! ! !

!
& + 7 + 8+ 7+
q=120 q=170
+
+ + '% $
88

) $& - + 7+ 8+ 7+ + + 6 + #
3

+ 7+ 8 8 + %
+ 6 7+ + 6* )$
2 + ++ + ++ 3
< 3
3
mf f mf f mf f

+ 8+
*& 7+ + + 6 + 3
6
3
#
$ + + + $
+ + +< 7 + 8+ $ %%
+ + 8 + +
+ 3
3

!
!
q=190
8+ 2 8+ 2 + + +- q=150
+ + + + 2+ 2+ + +: - 2+ 28+ + :+ . 3. +- 2++ ++ + ++ "'
89

2+ 2+ '
3

) #$ + + ++ + + ; . 0 6
3 3
- 2+ $
+ 2 +' 2 + 2 +< <
<
3 3 3 3 3
3
mf f sub f sf mf f mp

* # +2 + + :-
- "'$
3 3
. . .+ + +< 2+ 6 - .. -
3 3 3 3 3 3
$+ + + + + 2+ 2+ + + + ; < 2 +
+ 2+ + < +2+2+ + + + + ++
3
8 +

!
&
- +-8+ 8+ + %
8+
q=170

*+B 6 7+ 7+' +'' + + 8+ + %

q=190
8
poco accel.

- + + 8+ 3
91

) "'$ . + 7+ + ' ' ' 8+ '

+ +6 + "(
3 marcato
+
3
+ $
3
+ 7+ + + 3

f f mf f

* "' . "(
3
6 2+ 7+ 2+ + + @ 6 2+ +
3 3
$ $
7+ + + + + 2+ + + + 8+ 3 4 4
3 3
! ! ! ! !
!
A-12

5'44"
-
7 8+ +<
accel.............................................

< 2 2+8++ ++ +8+<

q=120

2 + 7+ 2 +
. 2 2++- .
92
* "( 0 <
0 . 7 7++; ; . 0
+ +2 + 7+ 2+B 6 8 2+
$ 0 ) 777++++ 22 ++ . 0

""""
8 2 2 +++
8
3
mp mf f f ff

8
- *77++++ .77+8++2222++++
bouncing
* "( 2+ + :- . 9 0 . 7+ . .
2+2+ + '
3 3
$ + + - ; ; +; 8
2+
2+ + 778EEE EEE
8

!
f

8+ 8 ++8++++++++ +
++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++8++++8++++++++++8+ ++++++++++++++++++++++ +++8++++++++++++ +
q=100

+++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++ + 8 +++ +

93

) + ++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
*#
$
+ ++
ff

++++ +++ +++

chromatic clusters

+ ++ +++++++ +++++ +++++++ ++ + +

* + ++ +++ ++++++++ +++++++++ - . #$
+
27 ++

!
& &
8+ 8+
< 2 2+8++ 7+8+<
q=120 q=170

2 + 7 2 2 +
poco accel.
8 8
poco accel.

. 6 + 2+ 7+ 2+ 6 ) $& 0222+++ 0 2+ + 0 *22++2++++ 0 0 0 ) $?

@ + + 2 +
94
*# 0 . + 7 7++ ; . 0
3

$ 22 ++2 + ++
8 8 3
mf f mf f f
:
7 ++8++ 2 + 8:+
& %
bouncing :
0%
* # 2+ + +@ 6 . - & 77 +
; 0 * ++ 2+; 0 :3 ?
$ -. 7+ 6
3
$ -0 : $
+ 77++++ 2+

!
+ 2+ + +
77 ,,, %%%
2+
2+ 2+ + 8
3 3

8 sf sf sf
8
! !
1 8+ 1 + 78+
q=180
96
7 + 2+ :
8+ - 0
) $? 1 + 1 + + 2 + + 7+ 7+ "%
3
2 +
3
+ 1+ + 2+ 2+ 2 ++ $
legato
1 + 1+ 3 3
3
3 7+ 3
2+
mf f

*? 28+ "%
3

$ 7+ 1 + 1 +
3
2 + + 0
3 3 3

+ + 1+ 2+ + 2 + ; $
+
7+ 1 + 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 3
!
A-13

6'05"

leggiero
7+ 7 + 3+ 2 8+ + +
2 +
97 3 3 3
"% 7+ + + + + + 2 + + 6 + 2+ + +@ 6 :@ 6 0 ?
3

) $ 7++ 6 + + 7+ 6 + ++ B 6 + 6 8 9 $
+ 3 3 2+ 8 2+
mf f

* "% 2+ 2+ 62+ + + 6 + 7+ 2+@ 63

3 3
2 + 28+ :@ : ?
6 + B 6+ 6 9
3 3
$ + + + 7+ + + + 2+ 2+ + 2+ + $
+ 2+ 2+ 8 +

!
8
3 3 sf
! ! !

+H 8+
q=140
98
? 22++< < 2 + ++
+ +< +;
7
3 3
2+< . 7+ 2 + 6
3 3
. + 622++ 2++ 6 78++77 ++ .
3
) $ 2+< 2 + 2 +
< 2 +
+< 22 +<+ <
3 3
7+
mf sf f

* ? 1 + 1 +< 1 + 3
3 3
- . . 2+ 6
3 3
6
3
2 + 6 28+ 7+ 7++ 6
$ 7+ < < + 1 + + + 2 + + + 7+ 2+
< < < < 2 +
7 +< < 2+ 8+
D
3

!
6
7 + +2+2 8+
q=170 q=180
99
8+ 7+ 2 +2 + 2+ 8
3
$ + 7++ + ++ 6 3 6 0 ?
3
+ + + 6 . . - $( + '- 7 3
3
++ + + 62+;
3 3
) 7 $ + $
+ 2 ++ ' 2 8$$
+ 2 +
+ 2 +< + 8 + + + 7+
3 3 3 3 +
f mf f mf mf

+2+ + -2+ +< 6 . . +- ( 3 -

$ 1 + 1+ $
* 6
3
$ 3 3
6
3
0 $?
7+ $
8+ +1 + + + 2+ 2+ 28+ 2 33 2+ 7+
3
3 + 2+
3 8
2 + + 3
2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ + + 7+
3 !

!
2+ +
' ' + + + 2+
2+22 ++ 6 + +
2+ 8+ 2 8+
102 3
? + + + +
+22 ++ 6 0 . .
3
) $ 2+ + + + + -
3
3
3 +
mp mf f

*? . - 8 + 28+ 6 0
7+ 2+ 6 . . -
3 3 3 3
$ + 2 + + + + 2+ 2+ 2+ + + + 7+
2+ + 3
 A-14

!
6'21"
q=150 q=120

@ 6 @ 6 7+@ 6 + 6 ++ 6 + 6 @ 6 @ 6 3 @ 6 - : . 0 $' + +6 2,+ - 2+ 6

103 3 poco accel.

- %6 #
3

) + '-
3
6 + 2 +B + 2+ + 3
@6
3 3 3

2 ++ +'' +++ % 7 +++ + + + + $

+ %% 8+
B B B + + + ++ + +
3 + 3 2+
3
mp mf f mf f mf mp

* + 3 @6 +-% 6 + 63 @ 6 @ 6 3@ 6 @ 6 @ 6 @3 6 @ 6 @ 6 3 @ 6 - +3 . 0 ' + 2+ 62,+ - + 6+ @ 6

3
#
+ + 78+ $ + 2+ B + 2+ $
+ + + % 8 2+ + 2 + +
7+ 2+ 3
+ + + 3
+ !
3

!
3

+ + + 7&
q=150 q=100
+83
105
#
) $ + 7+ + + + + + + +
7+ & A ""
3

$9 . + + 1 + 3% $4 + $
+ 1 + + 3%
13
+ 3 + 11 ++ 3 4 +

@ 1 +- &
f mp

4%
poco rit.....a tempo
*# &
. - $ 7+ 6 3 A ""
4% $ 77++ + 11 ++ 1 + 7+ + 1 + 1 + $
3
$
)2* +
7+ 2+ 1 + 1 + 1 + + 3
1+ + + 13 7 + 78+ 1 8+ 3 , ,+ , 1 ,+ 7 ,+ ,+ 1 8+ 1 +
8
! ! !
sf sf f

!
& &
q=120 poco rit. q=90

) ""$ 9 %
poco accel.
108 3

4##4
3 3

+ 7+ 78+ + ++ 6 2+ ++ 6 2+ 24 & 0 . - 1 + 1 ' % #$

7 +< 11 ++ + ++ + + 11 +++ + 1 +'+ %%%
2+ $ 3333 1 + + +
+ 8 2 + 3
""

mf mp mf

* "" 73 % & & @ @ #

$ 4 4 $ + 6 + 611 5 $
783 % 4 4 + + 5
8
mp sub.
p

!
110 rit..........................

) #$ "( 7+ +78+ + + +2+ + + *A

3

)1*)1*)1* 4 %% $ 3% .6
3

44 %%%%%% 333 %%% 7+ 4 $

4 7+ 2 + + 8+ 2+ + 4
mf f sf mf p

&&
molto rit.........a tempo

*# 7+ + 1 + 1 + 7+ 7+ 1 + 1 + 7+ + 1 + 1 + "($ 74 . 2 +- $A
$ 7 ,+ ,+ 1 ,+ 1 ,+ 7 ,+ 7 ,+ 1 ,+ 1 ,+ 7 ,+ 4 4
8 ,+ 1 ,+ 1 ,+ 7 4, 4 4 2 +<
mp
! !
 A-15

!
7'04"

< < 2 + 7+'+ %%%% +'+'

* A . 2+ 77++ &
q=80

2+ ' ' 0 + + % + +'+ 3$3 %%%

112

+ +% + ' $ % $ 2+ ++'+ %% + + + 3$3 %% 3$$3

"> 0 ">
$ 2+ B 6
*
2 + ' %% + 8+ + $ %%
)$ ) $
;

""
""
mp sub mp

2+- ' 3 3%
$ 3% + % 2+< $ 3
*A "> ">
3% + 2+ $ 5 3 $
3% +% + 2+ 5 3

!
! ! ! ! !

33 %% &
++ 333 %%%
8 3
+++ +- + 3 3333
q=110 poco rit.

9%

"""
3
115

) ">$ 9 .+ 3
+' + 3%
"" / . + ++ ++ 0 +
++ +++
rit...................
$

"""
+++
'
+ +
++3

"""
p mp

24
4
44 &
* "> 3
$ 2+ 3 4 4
""
$24 74 443 % 3% )
2+ 3 4 4 24 74 3% 2 + 77 ++ 33 + 22 ++ 4
4 3%
!! ! ! ! ! !

!
118 q=180

+ + "%
) ++ ++ ++ ,+ ,+ ,++ ,+ ,++ ,+ $
, , , ,++ , ,++ ,++ ,++ ,++ ,++ ,++
mp out of time,

"%
arpeggiated at times

) + $
, ,+ ,+ ,+ ,+ ,+ ,+ 7 ,++ ,++ ,++ ,++ ,+ ,++
!

!
++,++ ++,++ ++,++ ++,++ ++,++ ++,++ ++,++ ++,++ ++,++ ++ ++ +5 + ++ ++ 3
accel.
119

) "% ,+ ,+ ,+ ,+ ,+ 8++++ ++++ ++++ +++++ +++++ ++++

+ + + + + $ ""
"""

$ $ $
8 +
)
3
mf quasi f
arpeggiated

+++++ ++++ +++ ++ +

(descend diatonically)

,+ %
8+ ++ 8+++ ++++ +++++ $$ ++++ +++ --- %%
, ,+ ,+
) "% . + 0 9 / ""
8 8 8+ ++ -- %
*
$ $
! mp ! ! 8 8
 A-16

!
8+ ++8++ %%%
8+ ++ ++ +8++ +++ ++++ ++8++ ++++ ++++ %%%
7'48"

+ ++
+ + +
+ +
+ +
? ++ ++ ++ ++++8++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ +++ + + ;
8
rit...................

+
rit...................

+ + ++ +
) ""$ ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ 8++++++++ ++++ ++++ + + +
121 (diatonic clusters) accel......................................................
8
accel...........

; $ ++ ++ ++ ++
8 8
f ff f ff

++8++ ++++ ++++ ++++ 8+ + + ++8++ ++++ ++++ +8++ +++ ++ 8

+++ +++ +++ +++ +++ ++ - + + ++ ++++ ++++ -
+8 + ++ ++++ ++++ + % $ 9 +++
* "" 9 0 . ; ?
+++ %% 8+ 8++++ %%%
$
8

!
! ! !

123
+ + + q=200 8
+ 2+ + + ++ 3 3
"% 7+ (
3
* + + + 6 6
3 3 3
+ ; + + + +- +
) + + ) $ + + + 2 + 8+ + + 7 + + + 3---- $
+ + 3 3
+ ++ + 3
--
mf f

7 + 2 + 8+ +
++ ++ ++ 0 + + + %% 3 %% + 67+ 2+ + + + + 7+ 6
3 3
* "% + 3 3
+ + + + +; $(
3

2 ++ ++ 8++ % 33 %
+ $ -
8+ + 2 + + + + + 7+ + + + ; +
!
3 3
+
! !
3

!
- 3 + + 8+ 23+ . 0 0 ' 3 73333
125
( - .3 - 0 # 3 3
6
3
6
3
@ 6
3
*#
) $ 2 ++ ++ ++ $+
+ + + + ++
+
+ 8 $+
+ + + + + + $
8 8 + 3 ++ + ++
ff mf f mf sub mf

* ( + +++ ++ 0 # 31 +1 + + 6 - 2+ ' 37+ +3 6 #

3
. 0 0 6
3 3 3
$ $ ++ + + + +2 + 7 + + $ @ $
+ + + + + + + + 7+ 7 333

!
8
8+ 8
3
3

128 q=180
22+++ +
*#
$ + + 2+ 2+ + + '
$
)+ + + 7+ +
B
f

+
* # 1+
$1 + 8 + 8 '
$
+ +
1+ 3
8 ! 8
 A-17

!
8'08"

129
22 +++ 7 +7+++
) $' 22+++ * + 2+ + + *?
+ 2+ + $

1+
* ' 1+
$
8 + +% ?
$
1+ 8

!
+ +
8 +% +
! 8

130 rall.
*? + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
$
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

*? (
$
2+ + + + + + + + + + 2+ + + + + + 3 5
2+ + + + + + + + + + 25 5
ff mp
! !
 A-18

T ra n s c r i p t i o n E x p l a n a t o ry Notes

A bar’s length corresponds to the phrase’s length. The quarter note is

roughly the basic pulse of the phrase.

- short fermata, lengthens the value of the note for approximately

sixteen note.

- an arpeggio without an arrow indicates press the keys non-

simultaneously.

The notation is not always logical, there would need to be a completely

new way of notation with flexible tempo markings to show the logic of
the phrases completely.
Smaller note-heads are used with the tie, for the reason of visual
clarity. When they are not tied, it indicates a softer dynamics (usually
within a chord or interval).
 B-1

Note on scales

The scales are ordered chromatically based on the root of the scale.
Each scale has a name comprised by the root note and the order number of
appearance. You can find all the scales that appear in the piece on the
List of Scales on the following pages. Next to the scale name, there is
an indication of the bar numbers in which the scale appears.
When scales have an active function, discussed in the research (p.9),
they are labeled as:
•“es”- when a scale functions as an end or as a link leading to the end
of the phrase.
•“ts”- when a scale functions as a transition, either between two other
scales, or between two concrete phrases.
•“ss”- when a scale functions as a starting point of a phrase
When scales are similar to each other and/or have similar function
inside the form, they are connected with the line above (e.g. D1 and
D2).
In several cases it was hard to determine, weather two pitch-wise
similar arpeggiated figures should be analyzed as belonging to two
separate scales, or to one common (slightly chromatic) scale. My
decisions were based on weather the two arpeggiated figures had a
distinctive and dissimilar function within the structure, weather the
sonority of the two phrases was differing enough, etc. There are other
classifications possible.

Furthermore, I would like to mention additional correlations, not

discussed in the research:

1) There is a particular sonority that appears in several scales with

different roots. If we listen to the phrases constructed with scales C3,
D1, D#1, E2, F3, F#1, G#4, and A#2, we hear a similarity, that is based on
the fact, that these scales include four or five black keys (C#, D#, F#,
G#, A#).

2) D1 and D2 are in the same family, having the same left hand and two
notes of difference in total. They appear close to each other.

3) F1 and F2 are in the same family, having F and C# in the bottom and G,
A and D in the top voice. They appear in the Melodic motion 1 of [B]
part.

4) All the F# scales are transitory, with characteristic pitches F#, Bb,
C, and D.
 B- 2

5) A1 and A2 only differ in one note. However, they differ from each
other in sonority and the use of each scale is particular, which is the
reason for classifying them separately. They are both used in several
phrases.

6) A#2, A#3, and A#4 have a construction of A#-C#-F#-G#. They are all
motion scales, ending or connecting the phrases.
 C-1

Harmony outline

3 4 5

#& &#& $& #&

[A] 1-2
'
!
& #'
#&$& #& ! $& $& '
# & 8vb #& &
D7/A A(“4) D7/A
"
' ' ( #& ( #& '

6 7-8 9 10-13

$& & #& & & & & & &

! & )
) ) #' &&
)
(Gma) #& & & & &
A-dor.
" GŒ„!7 G% D7/A G/A F/A G7/A

#& $( $&#& ( ( #' (

16-17
14 15
' '
* #&) & & & #&
$ '' ##''
! #& & & & + +

B‹7(b5) C/G
" ( (
&#& #& $& #& & $( (

&
[A bis] 19-20 21

##
18
! &&& $&'&
&& # &&

" ''' '''' "" & & &

Dmin (low cluster)

Melodic motion 1 Melodic motion 2

22-26 31-33 27-30 34-41
[B1]

! !! !! ' !! !! , & !! !!
B‹7(b5) C(“4) F D7/F© G‹7 C(“4)
& , '
& & '
&
' ( ' ) (
3
1)B1 C1 F1 F#1 G1 A#1 C3
2)B1 C2 F1 F#2
3)B1 C1 F1 F2:F#2:F2 F#3

" !! !! !! !! !! !!
4)B1 C1 F2 F#3 F#3

' ' ( % #' % &

, '! -& ' ( #'
Fma: IV V I #I II V
 C-2

43-51
[B2]

!! - ' #( ! - & - & $& - & !!

42 E¨‹ C&/E C©7/F F©‹/E E¨‹ A¨/C B B¨‹7

! -' ( ' #( -' -' -&

D#1 E1 D#1 E1 F3 E2 D#1 C3 B2 A#2

" !! ( $( #' ' ' -( !!

-' $( -' $'
Ebm I #I I #I II bII I IV V

52-54
64-65

! !! , $& , - &) $& #' !!

55-58
&#& & (
&#& .
[C]
$&
Main motive 66-69
#& & #& $&$ & # &
)

" !! , !! - & $' ! & &#&#& & & & & &#& $& * . .
#&#& #& & #& & - & $'
A-dorian

59-60 70-73
GŒ„!7 E7/G© A(“4) 1. B¨7 2.

/ !! (
61-63 74

! #' ' ' / #' ' '

!! #(
G1 G#1 A1 G2 G#1 A1 A#1 A#1

"
G3 G#2 A1

' #' ' / ' #' ' #/

VII #VII I VII #VII I #I

[D]
75
! & & & & #(

- && $$ && $ &&

D1

-
" $&& - & $&
& #& $ (
 82-84 C-3
79-81
92-94 96-99

! !! !! !! #'
Gº(b6/b9) G©‹(b6) A7(“4) A©‹(b6) Gº(b6/b9) G©‹(b6) A7(“4) A©‹(b6)
#&
' #' ' #'
Main motive (a):
& #& $' #' '
-& & & -&
1) G#3 A1 A#3 G4 G#4 A2 A#3
2)G3 G#4 A3 A#3 G3 G#1.G#4.G#5A2 A#3
(2nd x, repetitions separated by clusters)

" !! !!#& & #& & #& !!

& ' #' ' #' $' #' $' #'
C#mi
#&
2nd time only
#IV V bVI VI #IV V bVI VI

85-87 88-91
100-102 F©7/E 103-105

!!
B‹7(b5) A(“4) F©7/A© B‹7(b5) A(“4) F©7/A© D(#11) C©‹7(b5)
#'
D(#11)
' & #&
! ' ' #' ' ' #& & & $& & &
1)B1 E2 A#4 D2 B1 A#4 D1 C#2

!!
2)B1 G#3..D3 A2 A#4 B1 B3 A1 A#4 D3 C#3
" ' '
#'& & ' #' '
' ' $& #& '
#'
VII IV/7 IV/3 II VII VI IV/3 II I

! !! &$&#&#& $$&&& !! $'

E1 106-111 112-115

- &- & ( #' #&$& $& ' & & & & & &
#& & &

" !! !! $' !
E¨‹ B‹

&- & ' $ & &- &- &$ &$ &- &- &$ ( #&
. '! #&
. '! &#& '!
Gma/
A-dorian

116-117 & && E2

118-122 '&'& ''
! ) & & ! '&& && '&'& '&'& '&'&
&& &
G D‹

$' !
" "
#' & #' !

& ! !!
'! !
123 124-127 128-129 130

! & & ' ' & '

F1 E3 F1 F4 E4 D#2 D4
$# && $$&&&
" && & ' !! #& !! &
& #& #' ' ' & '! ' -& &
# &# ' & #&