BookatlasPiano Rabbit Hole: Improvisation Theory & Practice
8224 / 18210 · Workshop 65 — Motivic Development Across Harmony: Sequence, Inversion, Fragmentation, Rhythmic Mutation, and Making One Small Idea Survive an Entire Form← prev⊞ allnext →

65.93Mini-composition exercise

Write 32 bars from one three-note motif.

Requirements:

  • exact statement
  • sequence
  • fragmentation
  • inversion or contour reversal
  • augmentation
  • diminution
  • displacement
  • fixed-pitch reharmonization over at least three bass notes
  • functional transposition through at least three chords
  • one section where motif is absent
  • transformed return
  • final exact original motif

Restriction:

You may introduce no second primary melodic idea.

If the 32 bars remain interesting, you have understood motivic development.