Rational Melodies
Twenty-one pieces for any instrument
The Rational Melodies may be played by any instrument,
in any octave or transposition. It is not necessary to play the whole set, and
performers are welcome to group selected melodies into suites however thy like.
The pieces are intended primarily for soloists, though thy may also be performed
by groups of instruments, playing in unison or alternating in antiphonal patterns.
Rationality, or more precisely, deductive logic, has seldom been the controlling
factor in musical composition. Composers are usually more interested in inspiration,
intuition, feelings, self-expression. Lately, however, there has been a tendency
for composers to give up individual control over every note, and rely on factors
outside themselves. Pieces have been controlled by the wind, by chance, by the
idiosyncrasies of tape recorders, or by unpredictable variations in electronic
circuity, for example, and it seems to me that composing by rigorous adherence
to logical premises involves a similar way of thinking.
Sound files in MP3 format
Requires
QuickTime 5