TH210: Music Analysis & Style Composition 3 Name: ___________________________________

HW7: Composing with pitch collections Marlowe–Spring 2024

This homework assignment is designed to help you gain experience composing with the new pitch
collections we have been discussing in TH210. Have fun and be creative!

You will compose FOUR (4) musical excerpts for this assignment. You can choose which of the
four pitch collections to use for each of the four activities (listed below), but you should use a
different pitch collection for each of the four excerpts. All pitches (melody + harmony) must be
derived exclusively from the pitch collection in use.

• Diatonic Modes
• Major/Minor Pentatonic
• Whole Tone
• Octatonic

Submit your responses on a separate sheet of paper. Label the pitch collection, include the your
selected source material, and provide a short explanation (1–2 sentences) for what you are trying
to convey (remember to cite your sources if the image/text you are using is not your original work):

1. Harmony + Mood/Feeling: Choose a source of inspiration (mood, feeling, etc.) and compose a
short chord progression for piano (approx. 4–8 measures) that you feel best conveys theat
mood/feeling (be sure to include a time signature so your harmonic rhythm is clear). Your
harmonic progression should be realized in four voices (either SATB or Keyboard style are
acceptable). *Remain sensitive to voice-leading principles, even when using these pitch
collections.

2. Melody + Mood/Imagery: Choose a second source of inspiration (mood, feeling, imagery) and
compose a short melody that you feel best describes it (remember to include rhythm/time
signature). You can compose the melody for your primary instrument/voice or for piano.

3. Text Expression: Choose a word from the following list (or supply your own term) and compose
a short musical excerpt (approx. 4–8 measures) that evokes the meaning/imagery of that term. It can
be a motivic pattern, an interesting gesture/flourish or timbral technique on your instrument/piano.

Bubbles Wind Rain Joy

Ice Storm Mud/Stuck Running/Skipping
Laughing Prickly Desert Grief
Sentimental Uneven River Bird

4. Text Setting: Choose a line of poetry or text that inspires you and compose a melody + harmonic
progression that conveys the feeling of the text (please cite your source—include the title and author
of the original source material).

Grading Rubric: This assignment will be graded based on completion and a good faith attempt to
engage with the activity. A complete submission will receive a grade of 100. Missing components
will result in a 25-point deduction per section.