]C! !!C!

`S
RVC!1C! 9
CAR1C! ]. WK!SC!
. 1 BASCS
C! !!C!`S RVC!1C! 9 is an anomaly in scvcral olvious
rcspccrs: r is rlc longcsr of any rrack on any Bcarlcs allum; ir las
no lyrics pcr sc; ir makcs rlc mosr cxrcnsivc usc of rapc loops anu cxrra-
musical sounus of any Bcarlcs song; ir`s nor cvcn a song in rlar ir las
no mclouy in rlc rrauirional scnsc. caring ir as an anomaly, many
Bcarlcs lisrcncrs camc quickly ro uisrcgaru rlc work as a poinrlcss collcc-
rion of ranuom noiscs wlcn ir appcarcu ar rlc rail cnu of Tlc 1cut!cs
(lcnccforrl !"# 1ltc .!hu).
1
1lc Bcarlcs lcrc lau ovcrsrcppcu rlc
cxpccrarions of rlcir fans. n rlc morc conscrvarivc cra rlar followcu rlc
lrcak-up of rlc Bcarlcs, rlc group`s mosr amlirious cfforrs camc ro lc
]
!"#$ &'$$"$() *+',"-./0"$ 12 313
sccn as rlc work of uruggcu-our parrycrs, ricl punks wirl roo mucl
rimc anu roo many lallucinogcns on rlcir lanus anu rlc kcys ro rlc
rccoruing sruuio, as my olucr lrorlcr pur ir.
2
Wirl rcgaru ro
Rcvolurion 9, rlar imprcssion rcmains firmly in placc, parricularly
among mcmlcrs of rlc gcncrarion wlo wcrc rlc Bcarlcs`s
conrcmporarics, wlcrc ir las rlc lallmarks of a rcligious convicrion.
Ians rcmain suspicious rlar Rcvolurion 9 miglr lavc lccn a mcaning-
lcss work of cynicism, uclilcrarcly making a mockcry of rlcir ucvorion.
Cr worsc, cnnon miglr lc purring on airs, raking limsclf roo scriously
anu lcrraying lis working class lackgrounu rlrougl prcrcnsions in a
ligl-lrow arr form. 1lcsc suspicions lavc somc valiuiry lur uo nor
ucrracr from rlc significancc anu arrisric succcss of Rcvolurion 9.
Cn irs own rcrms rlc work cxlilirs a vcry ucfinirc musical srrucrurc
anu a clariry of inrcnr rlar allows morc unliascu lisrcncrs ro casily finu
mcaning. Morcovcr, rlc work rcprcscnrs an inrcnscly suljccrivc cxprcs-
sivc rcnucncy rlar was ro lccomc rlc lallmark of cnnon`s solo work in
lorl arr anu music. 1lis papcr will arrcmpr ro auurcss rlcsc issucs
spccifically. Ior orlcr aspccrs of rlc uiscussion surrounuing Rcvolurion
9, can liglly rccommcnu rlrcc sourccs: Walrcr vcrcrr`s comprclcn-
sivc analysis of rlc Bcarlcs`s rccoruing rcclniqucs anu songwriring, Tlc
1cut!cs us Muscuns, wlicl incluucs a lricf lur insiglrful look ar Rcvo-
lurion 9, Mark cwisoln`s annorarcu Allcy Roau sruuio logs, anu an
ammonu`s scrics of sclf-pullislcu onlinc arriclcs, offcring wlar is
prolally rlc only ucrailcu asscssmcnr of Rcvolurion 9 currcnrly avail-
allc. My analysis was conuucrcu inucpcnucnrly, lur rcmain grarcful ro
ammonu for lis pionccring work on rlis piccc, wlicl las lclpcu mc
ro confirm anu slarpcn my own conclusions. Wlcrc consisrcnr wirl my
analysis, lavc rricu ro usc or corrclarc wirl ammonu`s rcrminology.
Wirl rcgaru ro rlc funuamcnral aspccrs of rlc srrucrurc anu rlc
imporrancc of rlc composirion, lclicvc lc anu arc in agrccmcnr.
Rcvolurion 9 was lorn in a Bcarlcs's jam scssion on May S0, 196S,
uuring rlc rccoruing of rlc cnnon song rlar lccamc Rcvolurion 1
(also incluucu on !"# 1ltc .!hu). Accoruing ro cwisoln, rlc
rccoruing scssion lasrcu ovcr rcn minurcs, of wlicl only a lirrlc ovcr four
minurcs rcmaincu in rlc final mix of Rcvolurion 1. (cwisoln, 15S)
1lc rcmaining six minurcs lccamc rlc lasis for rlc sounu collagc larcr
rirlcu Rcvolurion 9. n Rcvolurion 1, cnnon airs a conrrovcrsial
polirical posirion, a mcssagc cclocu anu ucvclopcu in rlc music of
Rcvolurion 9. 1lc lyrics of Rcvolurion 1 appcar ro mock rcvolurion
anu rcvolurionarics anu imply a prcfcrcncc ro work wirlin rlc sysrcm,
flawcu as ir is. 1lc singcr lclirrlcs rlrougl agrccmcnrwc all wanr ro
clangc rlc worluanu implics rlar rlc movcmcnr is pursuing
314 !"#$%"&'()"$ +, -". /0$(&
ucsrrucrion for irs own sakc. Pcrccivcu ar rlc rimc as an insulring
gcsrurc rowaru rlc !cw cfr, rlcrc's a qualiry of clilulikc raunring,
rcasing in lorl rlc mcssagc anu rlc mclouic srrucrurc as cnnon in rlc
rliru vcrsc uismisscs rlc rauical poliricians: carrying picrurcs of
Clairman Mao lc cliucs, ain`r gonna makc ir wirl anyonc anylow.
(Iagcn) Significanrly, lc opposcs clanging rlc Consrirurion, saying
you lcrrcr frcc your minu insrcau. 1lc wrircr lolus no lopc rlar a
ncw plan ro fix rlc ills of rlc worlu will rcprcscnr clangc for rlc lcrrcr
anu rcrrcars insrcau ro rlc worlu lc can conrrol: lis own arriruuc, lis
own lcau. Morcovcr, lc clarmingly, lur arroganrly, suggcsrs wc uo rlc
samc.
Voicing rlc rcacrion of rlc !cw cfr, conrcmporary crirics saw no
rauicalism in cnnon`s srancc, only cowaruicc anu lcrrayal. n
parricular, in an cxclangc wirl rlc cuirors of onuon`s Marxisr ncws-
papcr 1!uck 1u:J in ]anuary 1969, cnnon ucfcnucu rlc mcssagc of
Rcvolurion 1 againsr criricism pullislcu a fcw monrls carlicr:
`ll rcll you wlar`s wrong wirl rlc worlu: pcoplcso uo you wanr
ro ucsrroy rlcm? Rurllcssly? !nril wc clangc your/our lcaus
rlcrc`s no clancc. 1cll mc of onc succcssful rcvolurion. Wlo
fuckcu up communism, Clrisrianiry, capiralism, luuulism, crc.?
Sick lcaus, anu norling clsc. (Ali, S59)
vcn as cnnon uisranccu limsclf from rlc aims of rlc !cw cfr`s pol-
irical lcaucrslip, lis worus anu rlc vcry acr of parriciparion in a uclarc
wirl 1!uck 1u:J ucmonsrrarcu a powcrful symparly. n rlc ycars rlar
followcu, cnnon allicu limsclf uirccrly wirl various rauical groups in
nglanu anu rlc !.S., lur ir is uoulrful lc cvcr rcally ovcrcamc rlis
anxicry. Cvcrall, ir sccms clcar rlar cnnon wanrcu ucspcrarcly ro
parriciparc in lringing alour clangc ro a worlu rlar was clcarly fuckcu
up. Bur lc coulu nor rrusr any lcaucrslip or movcmcnr ro aclicvc rlc
immcuiarc polirical anu social rcform rlar was ncccssary.
r is imporranr ro norc rlar cnnon`s lrcak wirl rlc Malarisli
occurrcu jusr prior ro rlcsc rccoruing scssions. n rlar rclarionslip, lc
was lcr uown ly rlc pcrccivcu impcrfccrions of a lcaucr lircrally
worslipcu ly lis crowu of followcrs. 1lis pcrsonal uisappoinrmcnr is
closcly rclarcu ro rlc uisrrusrful polirical scnrimcnr of Rcvolurion 1
(anu lcncc Rcvolurion 9) anu is auurcsscu lcau on in anorlcr angry
song on rlc samc allum, Scxy Sauic (Scxy Sauic lcing a playfully
sarcasric sulsrirurion for rlc woru Malarisli). (Spirz, 757)
n a mucl-uiscusscu inconsisrcncy in rlc rccoruing of Rcvolurion
1, cnnon`s amlivalcncc marcrializcs in ourriglr conrrauicrion: if you
!"#$ &'$$"$() *+',"-./0"$ 12 315
ralk alour ucsrrucrion/uon`r you know rlar you can counr mc our
(in). Cnly our is lisrcu in rlc prinrcu lyrics, lur rlc woru in is also
clcarly auuillc. (cnnon larcr rcpcars rlis conrrauicrion in a rapcu
promo of rlc singlc Rcvolurion rlar aircu on rlc Smorlcrs Brorlcrs
Slow, Ccrolcr 1S, 196S.) Wlilc rlis is rcvcaling of cnnon`s uccp
scnsc of confusion, in rlc largcr vicw ir is lasically irrclcvanr. Irom irs
laiu-lack llucs fccl ro irs signarurc, Don`r you know irs gonna lc all
riglr, Rcvolurion 1 calls for a policy of uiscngagcmcnra pcrsonal,
pacifisr rcsponsc. owcvcr lc inrcnucu ir, rlc woru "in" is an
inconsisrcnr, supcrfluous ucrail. n an inrcrvicw, cnnon auurcsscu rlc
counr mc our/in issuc anu, significanrly, links ir ro lis approacl ro
"Rcvolurion 9."
pur in lorl |in anu our| lccausc wasn`r surc. 1lcrc was a
rliru vcrsion |rlc orlcr rwo wcrc rlc singlc, Rcvolurion, anu rlc
original vcrsion from !"# 1ltc .!hu, Rcvolurion 1| rlar was
jusr alsrracr, usquc cvnc:ctc, kinu of loops anu rlar, pcoplc
scrcaming. rlouglr was painring in sounu a picrurc of a rcvolu-
rionlur mauc a misrakc, you know. 1lc misrakc was rlar ir was
anri-rcvolurion. (Ali, S6+ )
1lc rliru vcrsion is Rcvolurion 9. n rlis 1971 inrcrvicw (wirl
1ariq Ali, onc of rlc 1!uck 1u:J cuirors wlo lau cngagcu lim in rlc
pullicly pullislcu uclarc in 1969), cnnon sounus sclf-conscious, as if
lc is rrying awkwaruly ro fir Rcvolurion 9 inro lis growing polirical
acrivism. Bur rlcrc is no nccu. 1lc picrurcpainrcu as a collagc of
uispararc sourccsis rlar of a rcal rcvolurion in all irs violcncc anu
claos. cnnon`s opposirion is casy ro gucss wirl cvcn casual lisrcning,
wlilc a closcr rcauing rcvcals ir imlcuucu in rlc ucrail.
1 CRCWD
Mucl of wlar rlcrc is ro unucrsranu alour Rcvolurion 9 is alrcauy
rlcrc in rlc rirlc: A rcvolurion implics uplcaval, violcncc, masscs
moving againsr an csrallislcu sysrcmwc cxpccr promisc anu lopc for
rcncwal, ucsrrucrion anu ucarl, anu, mosr imporranrly, confusion anu
violcncc, as laws anu prcuicrallc parrcrns of lclavior arc rcmporarily scr
asiuc anu ncw oncs arc nor ycr in placc. 1lc 9 ucrivcs from a kcy
clcmcnr of rlc composirion, rlc loop of a voicc calling numlcr ninc.
As parr of rlc rirlc, ir implics a cynicism alour rcvolurion in gcncral:
1lis Rcvolurion is jusr onc in a rcvolving uoor of rcvolurions, cacl
316 !"#$%"&'()"$ +, -". /0$(&
rcplacing rlc orlcr, again rurning rcnucr uropian urcams inro lruiscu
anu impcrfccr rcaliry. 1lis cclocs rlc mocking ronc of rlc Rcvolurion
1 lyrics.
S
Bur Rcvolurion 9 coulu also lc a gcncric rirlc for any piccc of
usquc cvnc:ctca loosc pun on rcvolving rapcs anu Ps. 1lc Bcarlcs
in facr uscu rlis samc pun lcforc in rlc rirlc of rlc allum Rcvolvcr.
alcling rlis rrack as rlc ninrl wlcn no rruc scrics cxisrs woulu rlcn lc
sccn as uclilcrarcly alsurua rluml-rlc-nosc-ar-rrauirion srarcmcnr
wlicl las irs own rrauirion in Wcsrcrn music (rccall rik Saric`s T:vs
v:ccuu cn Jv:c uc v:c, a work of scvcn sccrions) anu irs own
prcccucnr in cnnon`s crcarivc work.
5
1lc numlcr ninc also las uccp pcrsonal significancc for cnnon,
parricularly wirl rcgaru ro momcnrs rlar rransformcu lis lifc. is
lirrluay was Ccrolcr 9, 19+0, anu significanr carccr-alrcring cncounrcrs
wirl rlc Bcarlcs` longrimc managcr Brian psrcin anu wirl Yoko Cno
lorl occurrcu on !ovcmlcr 91961 anu 1966, rcspccrivcly. 1lc
numlcr appcars clscwlcrc in lis songwriring, rcvcaling a conscious
fascinarion: Cnc Afrcr 909 (196S) anu !umlcr 9 Drcam (1975).
n nuc:stunung Mcuu, Marslall Mculan asscrrs rlar our conccpr
of numlcr is an cxrcnsion of our plysical scnsarion of roucl; lc rclarcs
rlc luman unucrsranuing of numlcrs ro cxpcricnccs wirl crowus anu
wcalrl. c auus, lowcvcr, rlar a ucvclopcu usc of numlcrs also plays a
uccisivc rolc in lrcaking rrilal uniry, inuiviuualizing mcmlcrs of
socicry, scpararing us from rlc crowu.
+
cnnon was almosr ccrrainly
awarc of Mculan`s iucas, lowcvcr a uiscussion of Mculan`s influcncc
on cnnon`s music anu polirics is lcyonu rlc scopc of rlis papcr.
Mcrcly using rlc psyclological rclarionslip lcrwccn numlcr anu crowu
ucscrilcu ly Mculan as a springloaru, wc arc lcu immcuiarcly ro a
riclcr rcauing of Rcvolurion 9: 1lc numlcr ninc voicc is lorl a
symlol of cnnon`s inuiviuualiry anu rlc rlrcar of rlc crowu ro
sulsumc rlar inuiviuualiry. lcmcnrs symlolizing pcrsonal cxpcricncc,
mosr norally Yoko Cno`s voicc lcrwccn rimc poinrs 6:5S anu 7:52, arc
placcu in opposirion ro crowu noisc anu sounus rclarcu ro mass cxpcr-
icncc. 1lis polariry is prcscnr in rlc porcnrial of any rcvolurionlcalrly
social rcform vcrsus violcnr uplcaval anu rlc suffcring of inuiviuuals.
S1YS1C 1RA!SICRMA1C!
Cn rlc lccls of rlc Malarisli lcruown, cnnon lcgan a lovc affair wirl
conccprual arrisr Yoko Cno only wccks lcforc rlcsc rccoruing scssions.
n rlcir rclarionslip, wlicl from rlc lcginning involvcu arrisric
!"#$ &'$$"$() *+',"-./0"$ 12 317
collalorarion, anu in rlc mcuia frcnzy ir causcu, cnnon lcgan ro
cxplorc morc uccply rlc powcr of lis inuiviuualiry inucpcnucnr of rlc
Bcarlcs. Irom lis carlicsr songs, cnnon urcw frcqucnrly from pcrsonal
cxpcricncc in lis songwriring, lur suljccriviry was rypically maskcu ly
mcraplors anu rliru-parry narrarivcs in rlc lyrics anu srricr pop-song
formulas. 1lc song !owlcrc Man is a casc in poinr: wlilc ir sup-
posculy ucscrilcs cnnon`s uark frusrrarion ovcr a flccring lour of
wrircr`s llock, rlc srory unfolus in rlc rliru-pcrsonrlc sly isn`r lc a
lir likc you anu mc?, srarcu almosr as an afrcrrlouglr, makcs rlc
spcakcr appcar symparlcric, lur unrclarcu, ro rlc suljccr. 1lc music
larcly wavcrs from rlc opcning mclouic scqucncc, a working our of a
mcclanical clockwork formularlc mcssagc is couclcu in cool ucracl-
mcnr. n lis posr-Bcarlcs work on rlc orlcr lanu, cncouragcu ly Cno,
cnnon slcus arrificc anu placcs limsclf squarcly inro rlc arrisric framc,
crcaring an cxplicirly suljccrivc, uocumcnrary srylc rlar allows lim ro
cxplorc aspccrs of socicry anu rlc luman conuirion rlrougl rlc lcns of
lis own uirccr pcrsonal cxpcricncc. n rlis, lc llcnus lis rolc as a quasi-
myrlical pop icon wirl lis pcrsonal lisrory anu vcry pcrsonal parl
rowaru sclf-uiscovcry anu sclf-ucfinirion, wlilc ar rlc samc rimc ofrcn
prcscnring lis arrwork (conraining lirs of limsclf) as a social acrivism.
Cno lau ar rlis poinr alrcauy aclicvcu rccognirion for lcr own work
anu as a mcmlcr of rlc Iluxus movcmcnr. cr Cur Piccc pcrform-
ancc of 196+, in wlicl auuicncc mcmlcrs wcrc invircu ro snip away
parclcs of lcr clorling, is srill wiucly vicwcu as a grounulrcaking cvcnr
for rlc conccprual arr movcmcnr. rs mosr rcvolurionary claracrcrisric
was irs placcmcnr of rlc arrisr lcrsclf ar rlc ccnrcr of lcr work,
plysically anu cmorionally vulncrallc ro rlc uangcrs anu social
unorrlouoxics implicu in rlc group acr of rcmoving anu ucsrroying lcr
clorling. (Munroc) As slc cnrcrs cnnon`s lifc, wc immcuiarcly scc rlis
rcnucncy cmcrging in lis work, a uccisivc srylisric rransformarion. n
works from 196S anu 1969 likc ]ulia, 1lc Ballau of ]oln anu
Yoko, Colu 1urkcy anu Tv V:gns (wirl ]oln anu Yoko nuuc on
rlc covcr), rlc oncc-ucraclcu songwrircr can lc sccn raking largc,
uclilcrarc srcps rowaru a confcssional srylc rlar ovcrrly llcnus rlc
pcrsonal anu rlc polirical, purring all of limsclf in rlc framc; a social
icon anu a rcal man wirl rcal iucas, lc scrvcs as lorl arrisr anu arrisric
suljccr.
Rcvolurion 9 is onc of rlcsc srcps: a porrrair of rlc arrisr ar war
wirl limsclf, ar war wirl lis worlu, a worlu also ar war wirl irsclf anu ar
war wirl war. Projccring lis own cxpcricncc onro rlc scrccn of rlc
polirical uclarc swirling arounu lim, cnnon vicws rlc crowuviviuly
convcycu ly sounus rclarcu ro mass cxpcricnccwirl lorl longing anu
318 !"#$%"&'()"$ +, -". /0$(&
fcar. 1lc crowu is rlc caralysr, lorl nurruring woml anu crusling
lurial, rlc alpla anu rlc omcga of luman iucnriry; rccognirion of
pcrsonal inrimacy anu isolarion wirlin our own inuiviuual skins is an acr
of lcroism, opcning us ro rcrrifying vulncraliliry. Ar rlc samc rimc,
prolally morc our of lalir rlan inrcnrion, rlc songwrircr clooscs a
form anu srylc rlar allow lim ro prcscrvc lis arriruuc of ucraclmcnr
from rlc mcssagc. Soon, in lis posr-Bcarlcs rccoruings, lc will alanuon
sucl prcrcnsc, culminaring in an inrcnscly suljccrivc srylc in lis polirical
acrivism of rlc 1970s, a pcriou rlar incluucu Bagism anu orlcr
pcrformancc arr collalorarions wirl Yoko Cno. 1lougl ir loscs mucl of
irs uaring anu urama, rlis conrinucs ro lc an imporranr srylisric clcmcnr
ro varying ucgrccs rlrouglour lis rcmaining carccr, inclusivc of rlc
songs on lis 19S0 1vuh!c 1untusy.
. 1 S1R!C1!R CI RVC!1C! 9
Rcvolurion 9 is organizcu arounu significanr arricularions in rlc ovcr-
all rcxrurc, usually occurring ar approximarcly 60-scconu inrcrvals.
!sing rlc mosr pronounccu of rlc rcxrural arricularions as a guiuc, wc
can uiviuc rlc composirion ncarly inro rlrcc largc, wcll-rounucu scc-
rions: 0:00 ro 5:00, 5:00 ro 6:56 anu 6:56 ro rlc cnu, uclincarcu ly
slarp uiffcrcnccs in rcxrurc anu uiffcrcnriarcu ly rlc cloicc anu lan-
uling of raw marcrial.
Sccrion (fivc minurcs)
Sccrion (rwo minurcs)
Sccrion (onc anu a lalf minurcs)
1lc louucsr anu mosr cncrgcric momcnrs occur carly in Sccrion .
owcvcr, rlc uramaric climax of rlc composirion comcs almosr ar rlc
cnu, miuway rlrougl Sccrion . 1lcsc largc sccrions arc uiviucu inro
sulsccrions forming a rcgular plrasc srrucrurc, rlcmsclvcs anclorcu ly
rlc rcgular arricularions in rcxrurc. 1lis plrasc srrucrurc is alrcrcu ar rlc
lcginning of Sccrion , lur rcasscrrs irsclf ly rlc cnu of rlar sccrion.
Sccrion is rclarivcly lricf anu consisrs cnrircly of ncw marcrial.
owcvcr irs plrasc srrucrurc closcly rcscmllcs rlc Sccrion moucl.
Afrcr somc gcncral olscrvarions rcgaruing rlc composirion as a wlolc,
will lricfly uiscuss cacl sulsccrion wirl rlc aiu of rimclincs (scc
1imclincs, lclow).
McCarrncy`s slorr, unrirlcu song fragmcnr can you rakc mc lack
wlcrc camc from . . . is a prcluuc, cnrircly scpararc from Rcvolurion
!"#$ &'$$"$() *+',"-./0"$ 12 319
9 anu largcly irrclcvanr ro any srrucrural analysis of rlc piccc. Supporr-
cu ly an osrinaro of acousric guirar anu lanu pcrcussioninsrrumcnrs
alscnr in rlc sulscqucnr composirionrlis rrack is furrlcr uisrincr from
Rcvolurion 9 in rlar ir las no rapc loops or rccoruing cffccrs. As a
rransirion, lowcvcr, ir scrvcs ro lcau rlc lisrcncr from rlc uark anu runc-
ful Cry Baly Cry inro rlc llack niglrmarc of cnnon`s Rcvolurion
9. r is a slorr incanrarion wirl a clcar aspccr of rirual anu inrrospcc-
rion, prcparing us for rlc journcy, urging rlc fairlful forwaru anu
warning off rlc fainr of lcarr.
Bcforc wc know ir, wc arc in rlar worlu. 1lc McCarrncy prcluuc is
cruucly cur off as ir is fauing our, inrcrruprcu ly a scconu inrrouucrion:
a ninc-scconu snippcr of convcrsarionlarcly auuillcolviously
lcrwccn Ccorgc Marrin anu anorlcr man in rlc rccoruing sruuio.
6
1lis
inrrouucrion is again cur off anu a ncw scgmcnr lcgins, markcu ly sofr
piano music anu rlc loop of a voicc spcaking numlcr ninc ovcr anu
ovcr, panncu lack anu forrl lcrwccn rlc srcrco spcakcrs. Sincc cacl P
siuc of !"# 1ltc .!hu is cnrircly wirlour lrcaks lcrwccn songs, rlc
uccision on wlcrc ro mark rlc zcro poinr for Rcvolurion 9 is
complcx. Docs ir lcgin wirl rlc McCarrncy song fragmcnr? Cr rlc
convcrsarion rlar follows? Cr rlc cnrrancc of rlc numlcr ninc voicc
rlar follows rlar? cxamincu cacl possililiry on irs own mcrirs anu
finally closc rlc lcginning of rlc convcrsarionrlc splicc rlar cnus rlc
McCarrncy prcluucas rlc zcro poinr.
7
Srarring rlc clock ar rlis poinr, rlc 60-scconu arricularions norcu
carlicr sccm ro occur in rlc viciniry of rlc rounu minurc, 1:00, 2:00,
S:00, crc., wirl rlc uivision lcrwccn rlc firsr rwo largc sccrions occur-
ring squarcly ar 5:00. 1lc sounu of Ccorgc Marrin`s voicc, fcarurcu in
rlc opcning convcrsarion, rcrurns, allcir in an cnrircly uiffcrcnr conrcxr,
as an osrinaro loop in Sccrion . Iurrlcr, somc of rlc moou anu
rcxrurc of rlc ninc-scconu convcrsarion arc prcscrvcu rlrouglour rlc
lulk of rlc composirion ly a scpararc pair of spcaking voiccsofrcn
uninrclligillcrlar lclps ro unify rlc rcxrurc anu uclincarc rlc ovcrall
form.
1lc numlcr ninc loop rlar immcuiarcly follows is rcpcarcu
pcriouically rlrouglour rlc firsr fivc minurcs of rlc composirion. 1lis
Can You 1akc Mc Back convcrsarion !umlcr 9 loop
[ [
0:00 0:09
XAMP 1
31: !"#$%"&'()"$ +, -". /0$(&
voicc coulu lc asking for rlc ninrl of anyrling, lur ir sccms mosr
familiar as a calling of somc pcrson wairing in linc. Civcn rlc rurmoil
ovcr rlc Vicrnam War ar rlc rimc (anu rlc Bcarlcs`s ncwly ucclarcu
opposirion ro rlc war), ir is compclling ro vicw rlis as an allusion ro a
urafr numlcr. Iurrlcr, givcn rlc pcrsonal narurc of rlc numlcr ninc in
rlc composcr`s own minu, wc arc rcmprcu ro vicw rlc numlcr as
rcprcscnrarivc of cnnon limsclf: rlc spcakcr is calling for cnnon; lis
numlcr is up. Bur sucl a spccific inrcrprcrarion ucnics a porcnrially
lroaucr significancc. r sufficcs ro know rlar rlcrc is a linc, numlcrcu
anu wairing; rlc voicc pans lack anu forrl lcrwccn rlc spcakcrs as if rlc
callcr is rurning lis lcau from siuc ro siuc, scarcling among rlc crowu.
By implicarion, wc arc in rlar lincnumlcrcu clcmcnrs of a lomo-
gcncous group. 1lc numlcring cffccrivcly srrips us of our inuiviuual
iucnrirics.
nrcrprcrivcly anu srrucrurally, rlis voicc is our guiuc for wlar is ro
comc. r puncruarcs rlc music in Sccrion ar kcy poinrs, lcraluing sul-
sccrions of conrrasring rcxrurc. 1lis Cuiuc Voicc faucs our for rlc firsr
rimc S1 scconus afrcr irs cnrrancc, rccurring again in slorrcr srarcmcnrs
in rlc ncigllorloou of rlc rwo-minurc mark, rlc rlrcc-minurc mark
(followcu ly a mufflcu rcappcarancc ar S:S7), rlc four-minurc mark,
again ar +:27, marking rlc rransirion inro Sccrion , anu onc lasr rimc
ar 6:S1.
A lisr of wlar lcar as rlc mosr significanr srrucrural rimc poinrs is
slown in xamplc 2. 1lc Cuiuc Voicc column slows rlc srarr rimcs
for rlis clcmcnr`s occurrcnccs, illusrraring low ir is mosr ofrcn uscu ro
liglliglr imporranr momcnrs in rlc srrucrurc uuring rlc firsr lalf of rlc
piccc.
Ar cacl locarion in rlc 1imc Poinr column wc lcar a slarp clangc
in rcxrurcrlar is, significanr forcgrounu marcrial is cur off, rcplaccu ly
orlcr marcrial. Sucl juxraposirions occur rouglly rlrcc or four rimcs in
cacl minurc of rlc piccc. n rlc Sccrions column, mark clrono-
logically wlar lcar as rlc mosr uramaric of rlcsc clangcs in rcxrurc,
anu finu rlar rlcy sccm ro ucnorc rlc lcginning or rlc cnu of a
musical proccss, falling rypically ar S0- or 60-scconu inrcrvals.
Somc of rlcsc arricularions arc morc accurarcly ucscrilcu as spliccs: all
prcvious sounu is cur off wirlour fauing anu rcplaccu insranrancously
wirl wlolly uiffcrcnr marcrial. 1lc cffccr is uscu juuiciously. 1lc mosr
olvious occurrcnccs arc inuicarcu in xamplc S, falling ar rlc lcginning
anu cnu of rlc inrrouucrory convcrsarion, ar rlc lcginning anu rlc cnu
of Sccrion (5:00 anu 6:52), oncc wirlin rlc four-scconu rransirion
inro rlc closing sccrion anu oncc morc ar irs cnu (6:5S anu 6:56) anu
again ar 7:56, uiviuing rlc closing sccrion inro rwo conrrasring parrs.
!"#$ &'$$"$() *+',"-./0"$ 12 311
1imc Poinr Cuiuc Voicc Sccrion Dcscriprion Srrucrurc
0:00 nrro -nrro Convcrsarion nrro
0:09 -A Bm Piano A
0:11 Cuiuc Voicc
0:S0 Backwaru Piano
0:5+ Cloir/Crclcsrra
1:00 Cloc, Crowu, Paircu Voiccs
1:10 Backwaru Piano, Bm Pno/Voiccs
1:S0 6/S Srrings, Paircu Voiccs
Clar. & Pizz. Bass, Rising Cloru
1:57 1:57 -B Baly, Paircu Voiccs, Cuiuc Voicc, lm Cloir B
2:11
2:26 Backwaru SA Cloir, Masscu oops, Crowu
2:+S Backwaru SA Cloir, cnnon Singing
S:00 S:00 -C 1raffic Backwaru SA Cloir, Cuiuc Voicc, Paircu Voiccs, Crowu C
S:S0 Clilurcn Playing, Rcwinuing 1apc
S:S7
S:+5 Crowu, Planc Buzz, Buglc Buzz
Bm Pno/Voiccs, Srruggling Voicc
S:57
+:00 -D Backwaru Piano, Bm Pno/Voiccs A'
+:1+ Crowu !oisc, cnnon: Alriglr
+:27 +:27 Masscu oop Crcsccnuo (rrans)
5:00 -A Rior Iirc oscs, Crowu anu Bass C'
5:S9 -B Ilamcs Ilamcs, Backwaru SA Cloir, Paircu Voiccs
5:5S -C Cuns C Major Crcl., Srruggling Voicc
Sci-Ii Cuns, Wilu Wcsr Cuns
6:17 Backwaru SA Cloir, Bm Pno/Voiccs A''
6:25 Masscu oops (ovcrlaiu) C''
6:S1
6:S9 -D Clilurcn Bm Piano/Voiccs, Clilurcn Playing A'''
6:52 Milirary Banu (rrans)
6:5S 1akc rlis, Brorlcr . . .
6:56 -A Piano, Rauio, Yoko`s Voicc D
7:56 -B Crowu Clccring (Block rlar Kick) C'''
S:21 cnu
XAMP 2
4;; !"#$%"&'()"$ +, -". /0$(&
1lis splicing carrics an implicir violcncc, lorl in rlc alrupr forccu
clangc wirlour rransirion anu in an implicir insraliliry, a lack of conrrol
or aliliry ro prcuicr wlar will lappcn ncxr. cnnon appcars complcrcly
awarc of rlcsc uramaric implicarions. 1lc inirial usc ar 0:09 unucrscorcs
rlc flip losriliry anu insraliliry of rlc prcccuing convcrsarion, scrring rlc
ronc for wlar follows. 1lc splicc ar 5:00 rlrows us succcssfully inro a
ncw lcvcl of susraincu rcnsion. 1lc cnu of rlc fivc-scconu rransirion inro
Sccrion (rakc rlis, lrorlcr . . .) is accompanicu ly rlc rcal-worlu
sounu of a mcclanical swircl lcing rlrowna sly rcinforccmcnr of rlc
launcling of a ncw iuca.
CYCCA ICRM
n lis analysis, ammonu finus a cyclical form akin ro :tv:nc!!v, wirl
rlc onc-minurc scgmcnrs (srrips in ammonu`s rcrminology) norcu
carlicr scrving as cnnon`s lasic composirional unir. n my analysis
lavc slown rlcsc scgmcnrs as clcar pcrious, rypically uiviuing inro rwo
conrrasring plrasc groups ar or ncar rlc S0-scconu mark. 1lc
anrcccucnr plrasc is always markcu ly an appcarancc of marcrial rlar
amounrs ro rlc main rlcmc of Rcvolurion 9, wlar ammonu rcrms
rlc lomc srarcmcnr. Cccurrcnccs of lomc fcarurc a small, sclccr
group of clcmcnrs, givcn lcrc wirl rlc riming of cacl clcmcnr`s firsr
clcar srarcmcnr: Bm Piano, 0:09; Cuiuc Voicc, 0:11; Paircu Voiccs,
1:00; Backwaru Piano, 1:06; Clar & Pizz Bass, 1:1S; anu Backwaru SA
Cloir, 2:26.
S
1lcsc clcmcnrs posscss significanr rclarionslips in rlc
pircl uomain, ro lc uiscusscu in morc ucrail larcr (scc Pircl, lclow).
Appcaranccs ly orlcr clcmcnrs may ovcrlap rlcsc, lur in gcncral
lomc clcmcnrs arc clcarly srarcu anu rcauily iucnrifiallc as anclors for
rlc plrasc srrucrurc. lomc srarcmcnrs usually occur in rlc anrcccucnr
plrasc group. 1lis marcrial is avoiucu or uownplaycu in rlc conscqucnr
plrasc group, rcplaccu ly morc volarilc-sounuing sourccs. 1cnsion-
fillcu clcmcnrs anu a rlcmc of crowu sounus prcscnr in mosr of
Rcvolurion 9 arc rypically cmplasizcu in rlcsc conscqucnr sccrions.
0:0009 5:00 6:5256 7:56
[ [ --[ [ - [--[ [
[ Sccrion [ Sccrion [ Sccrion
XAMP S
!"#$ &'$$"$() *+',"-./0"$ 12 4;3
ammonu rcfcrs ro appcaranccs of rlis opposing rlcmaric marcrial as
cpisoucs, anu inuccu rlcsc plrascs cxlilir spccific rcnucncics
rcflccrivc of rlc rcrm. 1lcsc rcrms of lomc anu cpisouc arc
parricularly uscful as rlcmaric iucnrificrs, allowing us ro rrack significanr
conrcnr wirlin rlc rcgular plrasc srrucrurc.
Cf rlc lomc clcmcnrs, rlc Cuiuc Voicc, rlc Bm Piano anu rlc
Paircu Voiccs arc of primary imporrancc; rlc orlcr rlrcc arc scconuary,
gaining rlcir significancc rlrougl associarion wirl rlcsc. 1lc Paircu
Voiccs clcmcnr in rlc lomc marcrial consisrs of a singlc conrinuous
(nonlooping) rccoruing of cnnon anu Ccorgc arrison spcaking
nonscnsc, appcaring anu uisappcaring in rlc mix lur lasring from 1:00
ro 6:52. !sually rlis clcmcnr appcars wirl rlc Bm Piano, forming a
srrong scnsc of rcrurn as a compounu clcmcnr anu rcfcrrcu ro in
xamplc 2 as rlc Bm Pno/Voiccs. 1lis spccial rrcarmcnr is rcscrvcu for
rlcsc rwo clcmcnrs; wlilc orlcrs may lc groupcu rogcrlcr on a local
lcvcl, rlc largcr rcnucncy is for rlcm ro cmcrgc anu rcccuc as
inucpcnucnr agcnrs.
1lc rclarivcly srricr plrasc srrucrurc of Rcvolurion 9 is uclincarcu in
parr ly rlc rcgulariry of rlc lomc srarcmcnrs. n rlc firsr rlrcc
minurcs of rlc piccc, cacl lomc srarcmcnr occurs rouglly rcn
scconus afrcr rlc rounu-minurc arricularion; in rlc firsr rwo minurcs, rlc
lomc arca lasrs for approximarcly rwcnry scconus, wlilc rlc rliru
(lcginning ar 2:10) lasrs alour fifrccn scconus. All sulscqucnr lomc
srarcmcnrs, unril 6:17, arc only alour rcn scconus cacl, anu lcss saris-
fying as poinrs of rcsr. A crossfauc ar 6:17 lrings lack rlc Bm
Pno/Voiccs couplcu wirl rlc Backwaru SA Cloir. Anorlcr cpisouc ar
6:22 ovcrlays rlc conrinuing lomc clcmcnrs, wlicl rc-cmcrgc ar 6:S9
anu rcmain prcscnr anu srallc unril rlc cnu of Sccrion ar 6:52.
lomc srarcmcnrs arc complcrcly alscnr from Sccrion .
`vc ucscrilcu rlc organizarion of lomc anu cpisouc srarcmcnrs
in a simplc clarr (xamplc +), using Xs ro mark rlc lomc srarcmcnrs
anu Cs ro mark rlc cpisoucs. 1losc sccrions lcfr unmarkcu arc lcsr
iucnrificu as ncirlcr lomc nor cpisouc, lur as inrrouucrory, rrans-
irional or Coua marcrial.
1lc marcrial lcginning ar +:27 (markcu in xamplc + as an C in
parcnrlcscs) funcrions as a conrinuarion of rlc prcvious cpisouc anu
as a rransirion inro rlc ncxr sccrion. 1lc scgmcnrs from 5:00 ro 5:S9
anu ar 6:17 ro 6:22 offcr only linrs of lomc srarcmcnrs anu lcss clcar
uivision lcrwccn lomc anu cpisouc (again inuicarcu ly parcnrlcscs
alovc). 1lc minurc-long sulsccrions in Sccrion funcrion as
conrrasring srarcmcnrs in rlc way of rlc anrcccucnr anu conscqucnr
plrasc srrucrurc apparcnr in rlc opcning minurcs, lur -A uocs nor
4;4 !"#$%"&'()"$ +, -". /0$(&
conrain rlc ncccssary sounu sourccs ro csrallisl a scnsc of lomc; on
rlc orlcr lanu, rlc Clccring Crowu solo of -B is srrongly
rcminisccnr of prcvious cpisoucs.
Ar rlc cnu of cacl pcriou, wc rypically finu a slorr arca rlar funcrions
as a caucncc, somcrimcs incorporaring or followcu ly a rransirion inro
rlc ncxr sccrion. As will lc sccn lclow, caucnccs arc usually formcu ly a
suuucn incrcasc in rlc cncrgy lcvcl, ofrcn involving rlc inrrouucrion of
scvcral sounus ar oncc or a lursr of ncw inrcrplay lcrwccn cxisring
sounus rypically involving a pronounccu usc of faucrs.
ASSCCA1C!S A!D ICRSADCW!C
1lrouglour Sccrions anu , rlcrc is a markcu rcnucncy ro forc-
slauow rlc significanr srarcmcnr of a sounu sourccor comlinarion
using a slorrcr srarcmcnr ly rlc samc sourcc. crc arc a fcw cxamplcs
urawn from rlc firsr rlrcc minurcs:
1:00rlc Paircu Voiccs cnrcr in rlc forcgrounu anu urop ro
almosr complcrc inauuililiry inro rlc lackgrounu ar 1:0S, rcrurning
as a principal forcgrounu clcmcnr from 1:10 ro 1:S0.
1:+9rlc opcning of rlc
!
Minor Cloir loop is lcaru in a onc-
scconu appcarancc wirl a full-flcugcu forcgrounu srarcmcnr ar
2:00.
Sccrion A B C D
0:00 0:09 0:25 1:10 1:S0 2:10 2:22 S:00 S:11 +:00 +:11 +:27
X C X C X C X C X C (C)
Sccrion A - B - C - D
5:00 5:S9 5:+9 6:17 6:22 6:S9 6:52 6:5S
(X/C) X C (X C) X
Sccrion A B
6:56 7:56 S:21
(C) nu
XAMP +
!"#$ &'$$"$() *+',"-./0"$ 12 4;5
1:57rlc Cuiuc Voicc appcars lricfly in rlc forcgrounu alrcrnar-
ing wirl rlc Crowu Clccr; lorl urop our anu arc lrouglr lack in
rlc samc rclarionslip for an imporranr forcgrounu srarcmcnr ar
2:11 ro 2:20.
1lis consisrcnr forcslauowing rcnucncy cxplains rlc appcarancc of rlc
Bm Pno/Voiccs from S:+7 ro S:5+. Cn rlc surfacc, rlis sccms conrra-
uicrory ro rlc rlyrlm of rlc srrucrurc, lur ir anriciparcs an imporranr
lomc srarcmcnr commcncing wirl rlc Cuiuc Voicc ar S:5S (rlc Bm
Pno/Voiccs rcrurn ar +:0S).
Iorcslauowing gocs lanu-in-lanu wirl a rcnucncy ro associarc sounu
sourccs musically anu uramarically, simply ly sraring similar forms in
proximiry ro onc anorlcr, ly sraring rlcm as lalanccu poinrs wirlin a
plrasc srrucrurc, or ly rcpcaring parrcrns of clcmcnrs from plrasc ro
plrasc. Cn rlc lcvcl of local ucrail: 1lc lonc, unsusraincu clccrric guirar
norc I occurring ar +:20 is followcu ar +:2+ ly rlc samc norc in rlc
samc rcgisrcr playcu on rlc ccllo. 1lc Cloc`s laugling claracrcr (1:S7
52) is cclocu in a woman`s ncarly lysrcrical lauglrcr (1:525+); rlis
lauglrcr is rcplaccu ly rlc gurgling lauglrcr of a laly (1:572:11).
Similariry is somcrimcs aclicvcu ly rapc manipularion as in rlc Baly`s
firsr sounus ar 1:57, mcclanically pirclcu ar
!
, D
!
,
!
anriciparing rlc
firsr norcs in uppcr voicc of rlc ! Minor Cloir (
!
, D
!
,
!
) rlar follows
ar 2:00. r is also aclicvcu rlrougl rimlrcfor insrancc, rlc ncar-wlirc
noisc of rlc Masscu oops from +:27 ro 5:00 srrongly rcscmllcs rlar of
rlc Iirc oscs ar 5:00. 1lc Iirc oscs in rurn fauc inro rlc similar
rimlrc of rlc Clccring Crowu (olu rlar linc lcginning ar 5:12).
Ar rlc miuulcgrounu lcvcl, wc noricc parrcrns anu associarions also
lcrwccn plrasc groups anu sccrions. Cnc associarion linuing clcmcnrs
on rlis largcr scalc is rlc crcarion of uramaric sccncs using lorl rcal-
worlu sounus anu sounus manipularcu inro rcprcscnrarions of rcal-worlu
sounus. 1lcsc sccncs unify largc scgmcnrs of rlc composirion unucr
spccific uramaric rlcmcs: A car lonk, orclcsrral loops anu faucr
manipularion imirarc 1raffic noisc in -C; rlc rlumping lass sccms ro
cxcirc rlc rusling noisc of rlc Iirc oscs anu rlc Clccring Crowu rlar
rogcrlcr uominarc -A; rlc sounu of a Srruggling Voicc amiu Ilamcs in
-B givcs way ro rlc sounus of gunfirc in -C; rlc lappy sounu of
Clilurcn Playing accompanics rlc Bm Pno/Paircu Voiccs srarcmcnr in
-D. n xamplc 2 alovc, lavc givcn ucscriprivc namcs ro rlcsc
sccrions in rlc Sccrion column. 1lc Clilurcn Playing anu Crowu
clcmcnrs appcar as scconuary clcmcnrs clscwlcrc, lur cacl cmcrgcs
oncc as rlc ccnrral focus of a parricular passagc. Alrogcrlcr rlc namcu
sccncs accounr for rouglly a rliru of rlc composirion anu rcprcscnr rlc
4;6 !"#$%"&'()"$ +, -". /0$(&
principal rcclniquc of ucvclopmcnr. 1lc prcscnrarion of rlcsc uramaric
snapslors lcrwccn S:00 anu 7:00 lclps lolu rlc collagc rogcrlcr anu
crcarc forwaru momcnrum. Morc imporranrly, mosr of rlcsc sccncs
rcinforcc rlc rlcmc of mass cxpcricncc anu rlc rlrcar ro inuiviuualiry
ccnrral ro rlc composcr`s inrcnrion.
P1CS
acl loop posscsscs irs own inrcrnal rlyrlmic anu pircl srrucrurc; rlc
cloicc of loops anu rlc inrcrplay lcrwccn rlcm ucfincs rlc ovcrall
larmonic claracrcr of rlc largc sccrions as lasically rriauic, wirl onc
larmony scrving as rlc lasis for cacl largc sccrion anu juxraposcu
againsr orlcr larmonics. Sccrion is uominarcu ly rlc B minor ronaliry
supplicu ly rlc Bm Piano anu opposcu or complcmcnrcu ly larmonics
luilr on
!
, B
!
, C major, C
"
anu B
!
minor. Sccrion lcgins wirl a
susraincu D major fccl using a lass guirar pcual poinr on a low D anu a
rrumpcr-likc pcual on a
1
. Voiccs clanring from rlc Crowu in rlis
sccrion sccm ro imply an I
"
, filling in rlc D major larmony. 1lis movcs
lricfly ro a B
!
uominanr scvcnrl (from rlc Backwaru SA Cloir loop)
lcforc rcrurning ro B minor. Sccrion opcns wirl a Briglr Piano
playing an ocravc A anu a lass guirar alrcrnaring a low A wirl lowcr ;
rlis larmony is inrcrruprcu wirl morc amliguous marcrial anu larcr
rccsrallislcu via an A major mclouy in rlc scconu of rwo song cxccrprs
rccorucu from rauio lroaucasrs, followcu ly rlc samc Briglr Piano now
playing in ocravcs alrcrnaring wirl C
"
. (1lc Crowu clanring rlar cnus
rlc composirion las no clcar ronal implicarion of irs own; rlc main
voiccs rlar sccm ro lc slouring an I
"
conrrilurc ro rlc D major fccl of
Sccrion , lur arc insufficicnr ro csrallisl a rcrurn ro D in Sccrion .)
1lc larmonic conrour of rlc cnrirc composirion coulu rlus lc
ucscrilcu:
Sccrion B minor ronaliry wirl opposing clromaric inflccrions,
mosr norally from
!
major anu C major rriaus.
Sccrion a D major rriau followcu firsr ly B
!
uominanr scvcnrl
anu rlcn a rcrurn ro B minor.
Sccrion an A major rriau followcu ly rlc amliguously pirclcu,
unaccompanicu Clccring Crowu.
1lc pcrsisrcncc of rlc Bm Piano anu irs inrcrnally complcrc i-ii
o
6
5
-i-V-i
progrcssion sccm ro imply rlar rlc wlolc piccc may lcaru in B minor;
!"#$ &'$$"$() *+',"-./0"$ 12 4;7
lur rlc casc is ncvcr provcu conclusivcly, lcaving a larmonic amliguiry
in linc wirl rlc work`s uclilcrarcly unscrrlcu acsrlcric. Iurrlcr, rlc
juxraposirions of uisranr larmonics arc an ourgrowrl of rlc collagc
rcclniquc rlar guiucs Rcvolurion 9; rlus ucscriling rlcsc larmonics
as parr of a singlc scalc or kcy woulu conrrauicr rlc work`s vcry narurc.
Morc simply anu pcrlaps morc accurarcly, wc coulu say rlar B minor
rcprcscnrs rlc guiuing rlrcau ro wlicl all rlc orlcr larmonics arc
arraclcu.
Rcgaruing rlc orlcr lomc clcmcnrs, rlc Paircu Voiccs arc cnrircly
spokcn anu ncvcr imply any spccific pircl. 1lc Cuiuc Voicc is also
spcaking, lur, as a slorr unalrcrcu loop, ir always cmplasizcs a clcar
glissanuo figurc from l ro l
1

(a lirrlc flar). acl of rlc rcmaining
clcmcnrs cmplasizcs a uiffcrcnr larmony:
!
in rlc Clarincr & Pizzicaro
Bass, C
"
minor in rlc Backwaru Piano, anu a B
!
uominanr scvcnrl in rlc
Backwaru SA Cloir. 1lcsc larmonics all sranu in opposirion ro onc
anorlcr, lclping ro crcarc fcclings of rcnsion wirlin arcas of grcarcr
sraliliry anu ro proviuc a scnsc of morion wirlin orlcrwisc sraric
larmonic arcas.
A mclouic formula furrlcr links rlcsc lomc clcmcnrs, framcu ar rlc
ourscr in rlc Bm Piano as a larmonizcu mclouic ucsccnr, rlc rop linc in
rlc final caucncc filling in a minor rliru (scalc ucgrccs S21 in B
minor). 1lc Clar & Pizz Bass is a loop consisring of a similar lur
incxacr copy of rlc mclouic ucsccnr (scalc ucgrccs 5+S in
!
major).
1lc rop pirclcs of rlc Backwaru Piano loop asccnu anu ucsccnu
rlrougl a minor rliru (scalc ucgrccs 12S21 in C
"
minor). 1lc
Backwaru SA Cloir auus a lowcr ncigllor ro rlc final norc (assuming
rlc kcy is
!
, rlc soprano figurc is a ucsccnr rlrougl scalc ucgrccs 21
76, wlcrc scalc ucgrcc 6 is a lowcr ncigllor moving immcuiarcly lack
up ro scalc ucgrcc 7). All of rlcsc minor rlirus arc voiccu in rlc ocravc
arounu l
1
, a pircl rlar las consiucrallc significancc as a focal poinr for
rlc firsr lalf of rlc composirion.
1lc usc of similar mclouic rcgisrcr rlrouglour Rcvolurion 9 is
cxploircu ly rlc juxraposirion of larmonics rlar slarc a common ronc
lur arc orlcrwisc only uisranrly rclarcu. 1lis lclps mainrain rlc rcxrurc
XAMP 5
4;8 !"#$%"&'()"$ +, -". /0$(&
of uisconrinuiry ncccssary ro rlc work, wlilc also crcaring a fccling of
similariry lcrwccn rlc rransformarions rlcmsclvcs anu wirlin rlc
mclouic srrucrurc. A fairly consisrcnr voicc lcauing is cxlilircu, csral-
lisling rlc pircl l
1

as a mclouic founuarion rlar is rrcarcu ro various
opposirions anu uivcrgcnccs in Sccrion , uropping ro a
1
for rlc opcning
of Sccrion . 1lar pircl is rcircrarcu in rlc opcning of .
armonics wirl rlc mosr significanr ronal implicarions in Sccrion
arc lrokcn uown ly sulsccrion in xamplc 6. armonics arc srarcu in
orucr of appcarancc, alrlougl somc may appcar juxraposcu againsr
orlcrs.
1lc Bm Piano is a simplc larmonizcu mclouy rlar is rcpcarcu in rlrcc
spccific forms wirl only supcrficial uiffcrcnccs lcrwccn rlcm, slown in
xamplc 7.
1lc music of rlc lasr rlrcc clorus of vcrsion 1 is liglliglrcu morc
promincnrly rlrouglour rlc piccc as rlis clcmcnr rccurs. !oring rlis,
wc arc allc ro usc rlc B minor anu I
"
major rriaus ro rcprcscnr rlc
prcvailing larmony in rlc sulsccrions of Sccrion anu rlc final rwo sul-
sccrions of Sccrion ; Sccrion -A anu B may lc rcprcscnrcu ly a D
major rriau anu Sccrion rcprcscnrcu ly an A major rriau. As rlc
1onncrz scrics in xamplc S slows, rlc principal pirclcu clcmcnrs in
cacl sccrion rypically slarc onc common ronc wirl rlc prcvailing
larmony in rlar sccrion.
1lcrc arc rwo clcar cxccprions slown in rlc xamplc S 1onncrz
scrics: n Sccrion -D, rlc isolarcu pirclcs a
!
1
anu f in comlinarion wirl
cnnon`s singing (rouglly c
!
1
ro a
!
) arc rcprcscnrcu lcrc ly a singlc
sonoriry (I-A
!
-
!
) rlar lics complcrcly oursiuc lorl rlc I
"
anu B minor
Sccrion -A Sccrion -B Sccrion -C Sccrion -D
B Minor
!
Major V7 of
!
C
"
Minor

!
major Major B Minor B Minor
C
"
Minor B Minor C
M7
B
!
Major C
M7
B
!
Minor
V7 of
!
C
!
Major
XAMP 6
!"#$ &'$$"$() *+',"-./0"$ 12 4;9
XAMP 7
4;: !"#$%"&'()"$ +, -". /0$(&
XAMP SA
!"#$ &'$$"$() *+',"-./0"$ 12 4;1
XAMP SB
XAMP SC
43; !"#$%"&'()"$ +, -". /0$(&
rriaus (alrlougl ir uocs lavc a C
"
/A
!
in common wirl rlc Backwaru
Piano). ikcwisc, in Sccrion -A anu B, rlc C major scvcnrl anu I
"
major larmonics lic oursiuc rlc principal rriau of D major. n rlc
scconu casc, lowcvcr, if wc rrcarcu rlc D major as an inflccrion on a
prolongcu B minor larmony (arricularcu ly rlc rcrurn of rlc Bm Piano
in Sccrion -C) rlc anomaly uisappcarsrlc ncw 1onncrz woulu slow
common roncs lcrwccn all rlc larmonics (xamplc 9). owcvcr, in
lorl cascs, rlc lciglrcncu rcnsion of rlc conrcxr crcarcs an appropriarc
plarform for rlc appcarancc of morc pronounccu opposirions.
1o rcircrarc, rlcsc common roncs arc mosr ofrcn founu in rlc samc
rcgisrcr, liglliglring rlcm as links in a larmonic clain. Somcrimcs rlc
common ronc is nor srarcu ly aujaccncy or supcrimposirion, lur is
noncrlclcss implicu in longcr rangc rclarionslips. 1lc majoriry of rlc
larmonics in xamplc 6 uo nor imply kcy ccnrcrs closcly rclarcu (in rlc
scnsc of aujaccncy wirlin rlc circlc of fifrls) ro rlc mosr significanr
rccurring pirclcu clcmcnr in rlc composirion, rlc Bm Piano. Rarlcr ir
appcars rlar common-ronc rclarionslips lcrwccn rlis clcmcnr anu morc
uisranr larmonics is rlc ucsircu cffccr. 1lc closcly rclarcu kcys of D
major, implicu in Sccrion , anu A major, in Sccrion , sranu our
morc srrongly as a rcsulr of rlis larmonic rcnucncy.
Cur of rlis clouu of larmonics, rlc pirclcs l
1
anu l
!
1
cmcrgc as a
mclouic focus of Sccrion , lcavily favorcu as common roncs lcrwccn
clcmcnrs. n Sccrion -A, loops of oloc anu lorn lcaping in fifrls anu
fourrls rcspccrivcly lricfly imply an amliguous wlirc-kcy larmony (B,
c, a, c
1
, u
1
, g
1
, a
1
, u
2
) rlar is nor slown lcrc; rlcsc loops inrcrsccr rlc
voicing of rlc B minor rriau wirl common pirclcs of B anu u
1
. As
mcnrioncu carlicr, B is also cmplasizcu ly an ocravc glissanuo (l ro l
1
)
in rlc Cuiuc Voicc. 1lis clcmcnr anu a fcw orlcrs rlar mcrcly rcircrarc
pirclcs alrcauy givcn, arc also nor uirccrly rcprcscnrcu in xamplcs S
XAMP 9
!"#$ &'$$"$() *+',"-./0"$ 12 433
anu 9. 1lc pircl a
1
, inrrouuccu in Sccrion , lccomcs a mclouic focus in
Sccrions anu .
1lc l
1
is supporrcu ly a low B in rlc Bm Piano as parr of a soliu B
minor larmony anu is rcircrarcu ly rlc Cuiuc Voicc anu larcr ly rlc C
Maj Crcl loop, wirl irs lcavy srarcmcnr of rlc C major lcauing ronc.
9
1lc B minor/C major juxraposirion is liglly significanr, as ir crcarcs rlc
cxpccrarion of rlc larmonic morion ucscrilcu alovc: opposirion wlilc
cmplasizing common roncs. 1lc firsr forcgrounu appcarancc of rlc C
Maj Crcl is accompanicu ly a fauc-in of rlc Bm Piano ar 2:1626,
liglliglring lorl rlc common ronc anu rlc clromaric opposirion
(xamplc 10).
Irom rlc ourscr, cnnon uscs rlis rcclniquc ro crcarc arcas imlucu
wirl larmonic rcnsion, giving jusr us cnougl music wirlin cacl loop ro
firmly csrallisl a scpararc ronal iucnriry. 1lc following passagc, slown
in xamplc 11 (1:171:S0), is a rclarivcly rransparcnr illusrrarion of rlis
rcnucncy, pairing rlc Bm Piano anu rlc Clarincr (in
!
). !orc rlar in
rlis cxamplc rlc pircl-classcs C anu A
"
/B
!
arc common roncs, srarcu in
a common rcgisrcr, wlilc rlc low I in pianissimo pizzicaro srrings
accompanying rlc clarincr figlrs againsr rlc piano`s I
"
, a clromaric
uissonancc rlar lclps ro mainrain rcnsion anu ro csrallisl rlc rwo
clcmcnrs as a scpararc ronal iucnrirics. (a similar lass norc clasl occurs
in rlc passagc circu in cxamplc 10.)
1lc l
!
1
, srarcu lcrc as a gracc norc, is rcircrarcu in rlc fanfarc (firsr
lcaru clcarly ar 0:5+), rlc Rising Cloru (0:S7), rlc Clar 2 (S:S9), anu
rlc 1rumpcr (2:2S) clcmcnrs.
10
1ypically, rlc l
!
1
is larmonizcu as rlc
roor of a B
!
cloru or rlc fifrl of
!
. As norcu in xamplc 11, ir also is
rcpcarculy linkcu ro irs cnlarmonic cquivalcnr in rlc Bm Piano, rlc a
"1
lcauing ronc in rlc V cloru.
XAMP 10
!"#$ &'$$"$() *+',"-./0"$ 12 457
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S6/S: 92.
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Macmillan.
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1oop. onuon: Ialcr anu Ialcr.
458 !"#$%"&'()"$ +, -". /0$(&
cwisoln, Mark. 19SS. Tlc 1cut!cs 1ccv:ung Scssvns: Tlc OJJcu!
.hhcy 1vuu Stuuv Scssvn 1vtcs, 1902-197. !cw York: armony.
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Guuc tv tlc 1cut!cs` 1nt:c Cu:cc:. onuon: Ccropus.
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