Lessons · Showcase

Waltz in A♭

Brahms Op. 39 No. 15 — the lullaby waltz, thirds and sixths

% The gentlest waltz ever written. In meter 3 the grid groups by
% threes, and the left hand is the dance itself: root on ONE, chord
% on two and three:
 
bpm 116
meter 3
unit 1/4
key ab maj
 
Sway ::= .1 _4 {.3 _4, .5 _4, 1 _4} {.3 _4, .5 _4, 1 _4}
Sway Sway
 
 
% The tune floats in parallel THIRDS — one line, one interval
% glued to it. Write the melody once; the third rides along in the
% second field:
 
Tune ::= 3 _4 5 _2 3 _2 1 _4 3 _2 1 _2 .5 _8 .5 _4
 
{Tune, {Tune}@~-2}
 
 
% Brahms widens thirds into SIXTHS for the answering phrase —
% same trick, bigger warmth ('@~-5' is a diatonic sixth below):
 
Reply ::= 5 _4 6 _2 5 _2 3 _4 5 _2 3 _2 1 _8 1 _4
 
{Reply, {Reply}@~-5}
 
 
% The whole texture: melody in sixths over the swaying bass —
% one measure of lullaby per beat group:
 
{{Tune, {Tune}@~-2} {Reply, {Reply}@~-5}, Sway Sway Sway Sway}
 
 
% THE WALTZ ENTIRE — all 44 measures from the verified
% grammar.
 
bpm 116
meter 3
unit 1/4
key ab4 maj
mode diatonic
 
% The cast — every motif and chord the lead line uses:
 
M30 ::= {1, .3} _2
M24 ::= {3, .5} _6 M30 M30 {3, .5} _2
M36 ::= {..5, ..3} _4
M21 ::= {2, 1, .4} _4
M45 ::= M24 M24 M36@~10 .1Dia$5-1-3 _4 M21
M10 ::= .1Dia$5-1-3 _6 1 _2*2 {5, 3} _2
M33 ::= {.7, .5} _2
M15 ::= M33 M33
M12 ::= .6Dia$3-5-1 _6 M15@5 5 _2
S2 ::= M45 M10 M12 M12 {3, .7} _4 .3Dia$5-1-3 _4 .3bDim$5-1-3 _4 .3Dia$5-1-3 _6
M13 ::= .4Dia$5-1-3 _2 = 1Dia _2
M39 ::= 1Dom$1-3-5-7-1 _6 M13#2 M13#2 {'1, 7b} _2 .4Dia$5-1-3-5 _6
M48 ::= M36@~17 1Dia$5-1-3 _4
S3 ::= 5 _2 M39@-5 M15@5 5 _2 M39 M13 M13 '1 _2 .2Dom$7-1-3-5-1 _6 M13#2@2 M13#2@2 '1 _2 M48@-7 {5, 4, .7} _4
M23 ::= {1, .3} _4/3
M14 ::= - _4/3 M23
M1 ::= M23@~2 M23@~7 M23@~9
M31 ::= {'3, 5} _4 M14 M1 M23@~7
M7 ::= M1 {'3, 6} _16/3 M14
 
% mm.1-8 — built from S2; M15; S4 · 3 voices.
F1a ::= S2 M15 3 _2
F1a
 
% mm.1-8 — built from S2; M15; S4 · 3 voices.
F9a1 ::= S2 .3Dia$3-5-1 _2 .3Dia$3-5-1 _2 S3
F9a2 ::= M45 M10
F9a1 F9a2 M12
 
 
% ——— Part 2, from m.1 ———
 
% mm.1-8 — built from S2; M15; S4 · 3 voices.
M12
 
 
% ——— Part 3, from m.1 ———
 
% mm.1-8 — built from S2; M15; S4 · 3 voices.
F29a1 ::= | 1 _4 {4, .7} _4 {2, .5, .4} _4 |
F29a2 ::= .1Dia$3-5-1 _4 - _2 M13@-5 M13@-5 S3
F29a1 F29a2
 
% mm.1-8 — built from S2; M15; S4 · 3 voices.
F37a1 ::= M31 M31 M48 M21@12
F37a2 ::= 1Dia$5-1-3 _4 M14 M7 M7 M1 {'3, '1} _16/3 {'4, 7, 4} _4 {'2, 4, 2} _4
F37a1 F37a2
 
 
% ——— Part 4, from m.1 ———
 
% mm.1-8 — built from S2; M15; S4 · 3 voices.
F44a ::= {'1, 3, 1} _4 - _4
F44a

% The gentlest waltz ever written. In meter 3 the grid groups by
% threes, and the left hand is the dance itself: root on ONE, chord
% on two and three:

bpm 116
meter 3
unit 1/4
key ab maj

Sway ::= .1 _4 {.3 _4, .5 _4, 1 _4} {.3 _4, .5 _4, 1 _4}
Sway Sway

% The tune floats in parallel THIRDS — one line, one interval
% glued to it. Write the melody once; the third rides along in the
% second field:

Tune ::= 3 _4 5 _2 3 _2 1 _4 3 _2 1 _2 .5 _8 .5 _4

{Tune, {Tune}@~-2}

% Brahms widens thirds into SIXTHS for the answering phrase —
% same trick, bigger warmth ('@~-5' is a diatonic sixth below):

Reply ::= 5 _4 6 _2 5 _2 3 _4 5 _2 3 _2 1 _8 1 _4

{Reply, {Reply}@~-5}

% The whole texture: melody in sixths over the swaying bass —
% one measure of lullaby per beat group:

{{Tune, {Tune}@~-2} {Reply, {Reply}@~-5}, Sway Sway Sway Sway}

% THE WALTZ ENTIRE — all 44 measures from the verified
% grammar.

bpm 116
meter 3
unit 1/4
key ab4 maj
mode diatonic

% The cast — every motif and chord the lead line uses:

M30 ::= {1, .3} _2
M24 ::= {3, .5} _6 M30 M30 {3, .5} _2
M36 ::= {..5, ..3} _4
M21 ::= {2, 1, .4} _4
M45 ::= M24 M24 M36@~10 .1Dia$5-1-3 _4 M21
M10 ::= .1Dia$5-1-3 _6 1 _2*2 {5, 3} _2
M33 ::= {.7, .5} _2
M15 ::= M33 M33
M12 ::= .6Dia$3-5-1 _6 M15@5 5 _2
S2 ::= M45 M10 M12 M12 {3, .7} _4 .3Dia$5-1-3 _4 .3bDim$5-1-3 _4 .3Dia$5-1-3 _6
M13 ::= .4Dia$5-1-3 _2 = 1Dia _2
M39 ::= 1Dom$1-3-5-7-1 _6 M13#2 M13#2 {'1, 7b} _2 .4Dia$5-1-3-5 _6
M48 ::= M36@~17 1Dia$5-1-3 _4
S3 ::= 5 _2 M39@-5 M15@5 5 _2 M39 M13 M13 '1 _2 .2Dom$7-1-3-5-1 _6 M13#2@2 M13#2@2 '1 _2 M48@-7 {5, 4, .7} _4
M23 ::= {1, .3} _4/3
M14 ::= - _4/3 M23
M1 ::= M23@~2 M23@~7 M23@~9
M31 ::= {'3, 5} _4 M14 M1 M23@~7
M7 ::= M1 {'3, 6} _16/3 M14

% mm.1-8 — built from S2; M15; S4 · 3 voices.
F1a ::= S2 M15 3 _2
F1a

% mm.1-8 — built from S2; M15; S4 · 3 voices.
F9a1 ::= S2 .3Dia$3-5-1 _2 .3Dia$3-5-1 _2 S3
F9a2 ::= M45 M10
F9a1 F9a2 M12

% ——— Part 2, from m.1 ———

% mm.1-8 — built from S2; M15; S4 · 3 voices.
M12

% ——— Part 3, from m.1 ———

% mm.1-8 — built from S2; M15; S4 · 3 voices.
F29a1 ::= | 1 _4 {4, .7} _4 {2, .5, .4} _4 |
F29a2 ::= .1Dia$3-5-1 _4 - _2 M13@-5 M13@-5 S3
F29a1 F29a2

% mm.1-8 — built from S2; M15; S4 · 3 voices.
F37a1 ::= M31 M31 M48 M21@12
F37a2 ::= 1Dia$5-1-3 _4 M14 M7 M7 M1 {'3, '1} _16/3 {'4, 7, 4} _4 {'2, 4, 2} _4
F37a1 F37a2

% ——— Part 4, from m.1 ———

% mm.1-8 — built from S2; M15; S4 · 3 voices.
F44a ::= {'1, 3, 1} _4 - _4
F44a

running…edit it — it re-runs as you type

Opening…

Waltz in A♭ · Pattern Engine