Helmut May(1929-2013)
Seven violin duets on 12 notes
Little playbook introducing the latest music(1958)
Preface
These duets try to work against the ignorance and the resulting denial of the 12-tone-technique. The violinduets show the formal principles of the 12-tone-technique in the simplest way and in familiar forms, that an
understanding shouldn't be too difficult.
The 12-tone-technique is not the invention of a single person, but the insight of many musicians, which theyattained from the development of their art. The principles to operate with the 12 notes are maybe just atransition, but in any case a beginning to tame the tremendous expansion of the musical expressions and
put them in a comprehensible theoretical shape.
The developments continue and I wish contemporary composer would think more about the audience. ButI also wish the audience could provide more impartial understanding for the composer's train of thoughts:
The meaning of these duets is to lighten the music lover's understanding.
Helmut May(September 1958)
Formed of the Prime row (P):
The sign finishes the row, but does not imply any musical cut.
1. Canon
5
9
Violin
Vln.1
Violin
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.2
68
68
Cheerfully
P
P
P
P
P
P
cresc.
P
P
2
28
Formed of the Retrograde (R) of the Prime:
2. Melody
31
36
Vln.1
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.2
44
44
Moderately lively
P
P
R
pizz. R
R
(pizz.) R arco
cantabile
4
58
64
Formed of the Inversion (I) of the Prime:
71
3. Scherzo
Vln.1
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.2
44
34
44
38
34
38
Quick
R
dim.
arco
dim.
arco
I
R
dolce
pizz.
I
(pizz.)
I
6
107
113
121
129
Vln.1
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.1
Vln.2
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.2
Ipizz.
cresc.
cresc.I
arco
I
I
poco ritard.
cresc.
cresc.
8
136
144
Formed of the Retrograde-Inversion (RI):
146
4. Chaconne
Vln.1
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.2
44
44
Moderately lively
poco allargandoI
I
a tempopizz.
RI
pizz.RI RI
arco
9
152
155
159
163
Vln.1
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.1
Vln.2
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.2
3 3 3 3
3
RI
dolce
RI
RI (1.-2. notes)
(4.-12.)
RI
(1.-6.)RI
RI pizz.
(sonore)
(3.-9.)
(sequences)
cresc.
10
174
176
179
182
Vln.1
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.2
sempre
sempre
4
0
3 3 3
3
3
3
3
3
RI
RI
at the frog
RI
(spicc.)
RI
12
184
186
188
192
Vln.1
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.1
Vln.2
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.2
sempre
4
1
1
3
2 1
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
cresc.
RI poco ritard.
RI
cresc.
a tempo
RI
13
197
Formed of the Prime row and the Retrograde of the Prime row. From measure 12 everything is played backwards.
5. Song
202
208
Vln.1
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.2
68
68
24
24
24
24
3
Slow
Quick, grazioso
P
R
pizz.
14
213
219
Formed of all 4 possibilities: P, I, R, RI
224
6. Dance
Vln.1
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.2
68
68
38
38
3
Ruhig
Not too quick
P
rit. (lead over)R
ritard.
(1.-3. notes)P
(5.-6.)I
(10.-12.)RI
15
230
236
242
249
Vln.1
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.1
Vln.2
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.2
38
38
()
RI(1.-5.)
(6.-7.)I
pizz. arco (8.-12.)I
R
(1.-3.)P
(5.-6.)I
(8.-12.)
I
(1.-7.)R
pizz. arco(8.-12.)I
(3.-4.)RI
Fine
dolce
(1.-2.)RI
pizz.
dim.
(5.-8.)I
dim.
(7.-12.)
(6.-7.)
RI
(5.-6.)RI
16
256
262
266
270
Vln.1
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.1
Vln.2
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.2
48
38
48
48
48
38
sub.
sub.
cresc.
RI(6.-12.)
I(5.-6.)
R
(8.-11.)RI
(1.-10.)
(9.-11.)RI
R(10.-12.)
RI(9.-12.)
pizz.
(5.-6.)I
I(6.-10.)
R(10.-12.)
(9.-12.)RI
(1.-10.)R
P(1.-5.)
I(6.-12.)
17
276
282
288
289
Vln.1
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.1
Vln.2
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.2
Coda
cresc. molto
cresc. molto
RI(12.)
(10.-12.)RI
RI( )(1.-9.)
D.C. al Fine poi Coda
arco
(1.-9.)I
18
Formed of all 4 possibilities
292
7. Invention
295
298
300
Vln.1
Vln.2
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.1
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.2
44
44
3
3
33
33
3
3
33
3 3
3
3 3
3
Strongly, lively
19
313
316
318
320
Vln.1
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.1
Vln.2
Vln.2
Vln.1
Vln.2
34
34
3 3 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3 3
3 3 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3 3
3 3
cresc.
sim.
sim.
ritard.
cresc.
21