Pitch-Specific Events of Novara

Abstract

This article centres on the analysis of individual events of Earle Brown's work Novara (1962). The analysis of the twenty events explains the internal pitch content as well as how specific events are related. Criteria are presented for the categorisation of pitch-specific events including pitch-class sets, identical pitch classes and interval relationships. Although Earle Brown stated that Novara is a work of ‘spontaneous decisions’, this analysis will show that the construction is extremely precise in choice of pitch content.

Keywords:

• Analysis
• Earle Brown
• Class
• Event
• Novara
• PCS
• Pitch
• Set

Notes

[1] A print source for this quote was impossible to find, so it could be spurious or taken out of context, but it was found on the website http://www.mathcats.com/explore/virtual/mobile.html

[2] All pitch-class sets will be discussed in prime form.