Motivic Transformation (rhythm alone) | Theory Things William Wieland |
I provided only one example of augmentation, diminution, extension and truncation. Many are possible. |
Original Motive: | (a musical word) | |
Augmentation: | (multiplication—in this case, twice as long) | |
Diminution: | (division—in this case, half as long) | |
Retrograde: | (backwards) | |
Extension: | (addition—Think hair extension. You have the original and you simply add a little more.) | |
Fragmentation: (or Truncation) | (subtraction) |
P.D.Q. Bach (Peter Schickele) - "New horizons in music appreciation" (Beethoven) (YouTube) 1:55 — Motif = Motive ( short–short–short—long ) 2:21 — The motive is extended. ( short–short–short—long—long—long ) 3:50 — The motive is truncated or fragmented (broken up into little pieces). |