Lutoslawski´s Chain Form
Witold Lutoslawski defined his chain form with this words:
"[The Chain Form] consists of two structurally independent strands. Sections within each strand begin and end at different times."
I will use figures 29-31 of Lutoslawski´s Chain 2 for solo violin and orchestra to ilustrate this:
The violin part is one of the strands Lutoslawski talks about. The other strand is the orchestra part. In this example, both strands are in binary form. The first section of the violin part is written in green notes, and the second in blue notes. The first section of the orchestra part is written in black notes, and the second in red ones. As you can see, they begin and end at different times. The end of a section and the begining of a new one is defined by a change of the materials used. Look at the violin strand. The materials used to build the first section melodies are interval-classes 2 and 7. At figure 31 the materials used in the violin strand change. Now the violin plays chords built with interval-classes 1 and 6. Notice that the change of section happens not only because of the change of intervalic materials, but also because of the change of compositional materials (single-note melodies in figures 29 and 30, chords in figure 31). Notice also that both strands do not share compositional material. This feature is used to achive structural independency.
At some points of the composition the violin and the orchestra strands will end a section together (at figure 15, for instance). Those points divide mayor structural sections. The chain form does not imply both strands should never meet.
This form may give some "modern" air to your music. It can also be mixed with classical forms such as pasacaglia, rondó and even sonata form. Explore it and have fun!
"[The Chain Form] consists of two structurally independent strands. Sections within each strand begin and end at different times."
I will use figures 29-31 of Lutoslawski´s Chain 2 for solo violin and orchestra to ilustrate this:
The violin part is one of the strands Lutoslawski talks about. The other strand is the orchestra part. In this example, both strands are in binary form. The first section of the violin part is written in green notes, and the second in blue notes. The first section of the orchestra part is written in black notes, and the second in red ones. As you can see, they begin and end at different times. The end of a section and the begining of a new one is defined by a change of the materials used. Look at the violin strand. The materials used to build the first section melodies are interval-classes 2 and 7. At figure 31 the materials used in the violin strand change. Now the violin plays chords built with interval-classes 1 and 6. Notice that the change of section happens not only because of the change of intervalic materials, but also because of the change of compositional materials (single-note melodies in figures 29 and 30, chords in figure 31). Notice also that both strands do not share compositional material. This feature is used to achive structural independency.
At some points of the composition the violin and the orchestra strands will end a section together (at figure 15, for instance). Those points divide mayor structural sections. The chain form does not imply both strands should never meet.
This form may give some "modern" air to your music. It can also be mixed with classical forms such as pasacaglia, rondó and even sonata form. Explore it and have fun!
