The Area Set Value Relationships in Atonal Music
Nikita Mamedov

Proceedings of Bridges 2018: Mathematics, Art, Music, Architecture, Education, Culture
Pages 407–410
Short Papers

Abstract

The Area Set Value analysis is based on works of Rappaport (2005 and 2007), allowing one to understand the mathematical connections that exist between set-classes in atonal music. While traditional music theory distinguishes between 216 prime forms in sets with cardinality of 3 or larger, the ASV analysis allows for 48 values. This technique groups unrelated prime forms according to mathematical properties. The application of ASV is employed in Arnold Schoenberg’s Suite for Piano, Op. 25, and String Quartet No. 4, Op. 37.

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