Theory IV Class Notes

Indeterminacy

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Indeterminacy, Chance, and Aleatory Music

The terms indeterminacy, chance, aleatoric, random, and improvisatory (total, controlled, or
otherwise) have been applied to music in which one or more aspect of a composition are left to
chance. One composer may use completely random operations, while another may use freedom
in only one parameter. Indeterminacy can be partial or total, and it can affect a small part of a
composition or the whole. Elements that can be indeterminate are pitch, note durations, form,
sound material, and expression (dynamics, timbre, etc.) We will give a few examples from
Reginald Smith Brindle The New Music (Oxford University Press, 1975).
An early example is Morton Feldmans Projection I for solo cello (1950). The timbre is indicated
(diamond = harmonic, P = pizzicato, and A = arco) and relative pitch is shown as a square or
rectangle in three relative ranges low, medium, or high.

In Stockhausens Zeitmasse (tempi), written for wind quintet in 1956, the flute and bassoon
play in exact time (eighth = 112) while the oboe plays as slow as possible, the English horn
slow quickening, and the clarinet begins after a pause of imprecise duration.

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Indeterminacy

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In this example from Sylvano Bussottis Sette Foglie (for flute and piano), the pitches are notated
using traditional symbols, but in reality note-durations depend on the space occupied on the
written page. This is sometimes called proportional notation.

Berios Circles uses indeterminate notation to indicate rapid cascades of sounds for marimba
and xylophone.

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Indeterminacy

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Composers have also used graphic scores to suggest directions for improvisation by the
performer. In these cases much of the final result is left to chance. Two examples are shown
below.

A large number of works are based merely on successions of sounds of imprecise duration,
where instruments begin together and then play on in their own time. An example is Morton
Feldmans Durations.

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Indeterminacy

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An example of indeterminate or open form can be found in Earle Browns Four Systems and
various pieces in Folio (1952). The music can be played forwards or backwards, or upside down,
or on designs that can be played in any position, by any number of players.
Compositions heard in class.

Excerpts from Folio When the Spirit Catches You (2003)

John Cage Aria with Fontana Mix (performance directions attached).

Excerpts from John Cages Indeterminacy. This consists of 90 short stories narrated by
the composer and accompanied by David Tudor on synthesizer and piano. Each story is
told in one minute, so the speed of delivery depends on the length of the story. The
complete texts can be seen on the web site
< http://www.lcdf.org/indeterminacy/index.cgi >

The performance directions and first page of the score for Cages Aria are reproduced below.

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Indeterminacy

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Theory IV Class Notes

Indeterminacy

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