A guide to a significant collection of music made from this unique library of scales, modes and patterns
The composer and lexicographer Nicholas Slonimsky (1894 – 1995) created this collection of nearly 2000 patterns to provide a comprehensive vocabulary of melodic phraseology for modern composers and performers. The contents, arranged in the form of a practical manual for pianists, can provide ample material for imaginative composition and improvisation. The materials are classified according to the division of the octave into two, three, four, six and 12 equal parts upon which highly ornamental designs are built.
(photo: Deborah O’Grady)
Symbolic Composer and Slonimsky’s Thesaurus
Just as John Adams devised his own Earbox module built into his MIDI-based composing environment, so has Nigel Morgan created a special library that can be read by the Symbolic Composer software, a Macintosh application he has been involved in developing since the early 1990s. By looking at some of the annotations that have been made by Phil Legard of the composer’s Symbolic Composer score-files it’s possible to gain an understanding of how the composing process can work directly from Slonimsky patterns.
Tocccata for solo piano
SL 1-4a
Conversation with Magic Stones for solo contrabass instrument with optional ensemble
SL 1-4a
Slonimsky Studies (Set 1) for solo piano
SL 1-5
Esther Dyson’s 12 Design Rules for choir (SATB) and keyboard
SL 1-5
Rising Falling for solo violin, viola or cello
SL 5
Rising Falling Hovering for solo piano
SL 5
Omphalos for keyboard and percussion quartet
SL 6
Interactions for piano (lh) and computer system
SL 27-31
Dreaming Aloud for solo guitar
SL 53-58
ARRAY: Compass for piano or keyboard with interactive system
SL 80-84
Studies in Movement for solo cello
SL 85-93
Vocalism for choir (SATB) and piano
SL 181-183
Schizophonia for three remote ensembles
Toccata I: The Universal Touring Machine
Toccata II: The Mobilisation of Sound
SL 186-192
SL 231-236
Stone and Flower song cycle for mezzo soprano and electric piano
SL 392-401
Nine Figures on a Hill choral songs for double choir (SSAATTBB)
SL 658-663