Jia Guoping, Liqiu (2008) | Twelve-Tone and Serial Composition

The art song “Liqiu” (2008) by Chinese composer Jia Guoping (b. 1963) follows the structure of a standard twelve-tone composition. Every note in the piece can be understood as a reference to two series forms, P1 and I1, and their retrograde, R1 and RI1. Additionally, the series is based on pentatonic scales. As illustrated in Example 2, P1 and R1 contain five pentatonic scales: D♭ PENT, B♭ PENT, F PENT, D PENT, and G♭/F♯ PENT. Within the serial framework, the composer uses a Chinese music theory concept 同均三宫 [tongyun sangong] to create smooth transitions and establish relationships between the five pentatonic scales. Through this specific composition technique, Jia links the seemingly discrete 12 pitch classes with a continuous and closely associated pentatonic sonority.

Authored and Recorded by Tengyue Zhang, Ph.D. student at CUNY Graduate Center

For more information about the author and the bibliography: https://twelvetone100years.myportfolio.com/jia-guoping-liqiu-2008

Visit our website to learn more about our project: https://twelvetone100years.myportfolio.com/work