Diabelli Project 038 - Invention in B minor

The Diabelli Project is about offering my weekly flash-composition sketches freely to all. Like Antonio Diabelli's theme these sketches aren't great music. But perhaps (as in Diabelli's case) there's a Beethoven out there who can do great things with them.

A much shorter and simpler entry this week. I've said it's in B minor (two sharps), but it's really in Aeolian mode, as there's no leading tone (A-sharp). It's another sketch in 5/8. At some point I might revisit all of these Diabelli sketches in 5/8 -- perhaps I've been subconsciously writing a much larger work in installments! (click on image to enlarge)

As always, what happens next is up to you -- or anyone else who'd like to finish this piece. Just let me know what the results were.

Diabelli Project 036 - Invention in B-flat

The Diabelli Project is about offering my weekly flash-composition sketches freely to all. Like Antonio Diabelli's theme these sketches aren't great music. But perhaps (as in Diabelli's case) there's a Beethoven out there who can do great things with them.

The purpose of the Diabelli Project is to keep the creative juices flowing by dashing off these little flash compositions with nothing between thought and paper. So yes, I've done a lot of "inventions" in a row. That's alright. It's what I felt like at the time. I've also used a repeated note to start a motif before, too. But what happens next is a little different. And what I find interesting about this piece is how much farther along I got than before.

My very first attempt (001 Canon at the Octave) I wrote about half as much -- and it was a struggle to do so.

What happens next? That's up to you. With these Diabelli Project sketches, there's a standing invitation for anyone to finish them any way they'd like. Just let me know the results.

Diabelli Project 035 - Invention in A minor

The Diabelli Project is about offering my weekly flash-composition sketches freely to all. Like Antonio Diabelli's theme these sketches aren't great music. But perhaps (as in Diabelli's case) there's a Beethoven out there who can do great things with them.

This week's entry is just a little invention in A minor. Of course, it's a little unusual -- it's in 5/8 time, consistently broken down into a group of 3 followed by a group of 2. (click on image to enlarge)

 If I were to continue with this, I would probably break the motif apart, playing with groups of 2 over groups of 3. But that's just me. What would you do? As always, the invitation is open. Feel free to use this as you will -- just let me know the results!

Diabelli Project 032 - Invention in C major

The Diabelli Project is about offering my weekly flash-composition sketches freely to all. Like Antonio Diabelli's theme these sketches aren't great music. But perhaps (as in Diabelli's case) there's a Beethoven out there who can do great things with them.

The rules for the Diabelli Project's flash compositions are pretty simple. I have about five minutes to write music, and that's it. When the time's up, the pen (yes, pen not pencil) gets put away and the session is over. The goal is to short-circuit my inner critic and just let the music flow. And it's worked pretty well.

I mention the rules because this is the first time I failed to complete the final measure. (click on image to enlarge)

So what happens next? I was tempted when I made a fair copy of the sketch to complete the thought. But then I thought it might be more interesting if it was open-ended. And so it remains. If you're inspired to finish this up, please go ahead. Just let me know of the results!

Diabelli Project 031 - Invention in A Aeolian

The Diabelli Project is about offering my weekly flash-composition sketches freely to all. Like Antonio Diabelli's theme these sketches aren't great music. But perhaps (as in Diabelli's case) there's a Beethoven out there who can do great things with them.

This one's a bouncy little invention that has two things going for it, I think. First, it's in 5/8, giving it an off-balance feel that helps propel the music along. And that's good, because the second thing is that it's written in Aeolian mode, rather than minor, so there's no leading tone to pull things strongly towards the tonic. That means there's a little less sense of forward motion. So having the 5/8 push is a good thing. (click to enlarge)

So where does this little invention go next? That's up to you, if you're so inclined. Just let me know how it turns out. I'm curious to see how that greater/lesser momentum plays out.

Diabelli Project 030 - Invention in C major

The Diabelli Project is about offering my weekly flash-composition sketches freely to all. Like Antonio Diabelli's theme these sketches aren't great music. But perhaps (as in Diabelli's case) there's a Beethoven out there who can do great things with them.

Another day, another invention -- that's the way it seems to be this month. Today's installment started from a very simple idea. I just started with that whole step motif and followed it to wherever it lead me. (In the case of the first measure, it lead me down a scale!) 

Because my motif is rather busy -- and there are four full beats to a measure, I ran out of time before things really got going. But don't let that stop you. What happens next is completely free from my self-imposed rules for flash composition. Have fun, and be sure to share the results. I promise to do the same should I ever complete this idea.

Diabelli Project 029 - Invention in E minor

The Diabelli Project is about offering my weekly flash-composition sketches freely to all. Like Antonio Diabelli's theme these sketches aren't great music. But perhaps (as in Diabelli's case) there's a Beethoven out there who can do great things with them.

Consider this a baby step from last week's entry. Instead of a major key, I wrote this in a minor key -- albeit one I don't normally use. Note that I didn't use the raised seventh anywhere. I wanted to see if I could clearly establish a key without it.

 So where does it go from here? That's up to you, if you're included to finish it. No strings attached -- just let me know how it ended, and your completed version is yours free and clear.

Diabelli project 028 - Invention in F

The Diabelli Project is about offering my weekly flash-composition sketches freely to all. Like Antonio Diabelli's theme these sketches aren't great music. But perhaps (as in Diabelli's case) there's a Beethoven out there who can do great things with them.

One thing to remember about these sketches -- there's virtually no critical filter in place. The goal for me is to keep the creative juices flowing, and so I have to write as fast as possible for about five minutes then stop. What you see in this series is the result. So why post them? Well, I've discovered that if I know they'll be shared, I tend invest a little bit more into them. And making them as good as I can while still writing as fast as possible has helped my development as a composer. Really.

This little fragment I offer to anyone who cares to finish it. Yes, it's in F, but not in F major. F lydian, perhaps? F mixolydian? Is it really in C? That's up to you. Just share your results is all I ask.

Diabelli Project 027 - Invention in C major

The Diabelli Project is about offering my weekly flash-composition sketches freely to all. Like Antonio Diabelli's theme these sketches aren't great music. But perhaps (as in Diabelli's case) there's a Beethoven out there who can do great things with them.

This week's installment is something of a return to basics. Just a very simple invention in C major. The first measure pretty firmly establishes C as the tonal center, and the second moves to G. 

As always, you're invited to provide your own ending. If this inspires you, all I ask is that you let me know how it turns out. 

Diabelli Project 024 - 2-Part Invention in E Aeolian

The Diabelli Project is about offering my weekly flash-composition sketches freely to all. Like Antonio Diabelli's theme these sketches aren't great music. But perhaps (as in Diabelli's case) there's a Beethoven out there who can do great things with them.

Another simple two-part invention this time, although there's a slight wrinkle. Instead of being in E minor, it's actually in E Aeolian mode. The tip-off is the lack of D-sharps that would give the piece a B major chord to act as the dominant.

How this invention unfolds is up to you, although this may be one I finish myself. All I ask is that if you decide to use this material, just share the results.

Diabelli Project 023 - 2-Part Invention

The Diabelli Project is about offering my weekly flash-composition sketches freely to all. Like Antonio Diabelli's theme these sketches aren't great music. But perhaps (as in Diabelli's case) there's a Beethoven out there who can do great things with them.

This time I was inspired to write something simple. And perhaps because it was so simple, I got further into the sketch than I usually do. This one's in C major, or perhaps C Ionian mode -- that's for you to decide. (click on image to enlarge)

As always, your feedback is most welcome. If you want to try your hand at finishing this work, please do so. I'd love to know what you made of it.

Diabelli Project 015 - 2-Part Invention

The Diabelli Project is about offering my weekly flash-composition sketches freely to all. Like Antonio Diabelli's theme these sketches aren't great music. But perhaps (as in Diabelli's case) there's a Beethoven out there who can do great things with them.

 Last week's entry was quite long -- and this week's is quite short. Although only three measures, there's enough there to give you a general idea where I was going. I was trying to write something in the Dorian mode, which is why there's no B-flat in the key signature to go with that D minor opening triad. Modes can be a little tricky, because they don't have the strong harmonic sense of direction that major and minor scales do.

So one must resort to other means.  In the third measure I was beginning some suspensions, which -- when resolved -- would have a strong sense of arrival.

What would you do with this idea? Keep in the Dorian mode? Modulate the tonal center, or perhaps to another mode -- or both? If inspiration strikes you and you finish this sketch, let me know! I'm not sure how this one turns out myself.

Diabelli Project 014 - 2-Part Invention

The Diabelli Project is about offering my weekly flash-composition sketches freely to all. Like Antonio Diabelli's theme these sketches aren't great music. But perhaps (as in Diabelli's case) there's a Beethoven out there who can do great things with them.

This week's entry is a little more ambitious than the previous offerings. I was quite surprised when I transcribed it and needed to use two systems. One of the things I enjoy about composing is the serendipity. The opening bar, for example, should begin on count 1 and have 4 eighth notes. Because of a simple error (the extra bar), it starts on count 2 and has 4 sixteenth notes.

The entry of the upper voice gives you an idea of what it should look like. No matter -- I think I like it better that way. And were I to write more, I'd explore the differences between the shortened 2-beat motive and the longer 3-beat version. (click on image to enlarge).

Of course, you can go in a completely different direction. That's up to you.

Diabelli Project 013 - 2-part Invention

The Diabelli Project is about offering my weekly flash-composition sketches freely to all. Like Antonio Diabelli's theme these sketches aren't great music. But perhaps (as in Diabelli's case) there's a Beethoven out there who can do great things with them.

This entry's pretty simple -- although there are some parts of it I like. The opening motive outlines the basic tonality, and the second voice continues the downward motion, liking the two. (click to enlarge)

Where does it go next? I'm thinking there should be more downward motion throughout the piece, and that dotted rhythm should turn in on itself about halfway through. But you may have different ideas.

Diabelli Project 011 - Two-part Invention

The Diabelli Project is about offering my weekly flash-composition sketches freely to all. Like Antonio Diabelli's theme these sketches aren't great music. But perhaps (as in Diabelli's case) there's a Beethoven out there who can do great things with them.

At this point I had been dashing off these little five-minute musical sketches for about two months. And the ideas were starting to flow. The original had all the notes squished together -- I was surprised when I copied it that the music expanded out to two staves. (click to enlarge)

Remember, you can use all, some, or even just a snippet of these sketches in your own music. What possibilities to do you hear in this?

Diabelli Project 010 - Two-part Invention

The Diabelli Project is about offering my weekly flash-composition sketches freely to all. Like Antonio Diabelli's theme these sketches aren't great music. But perhaps (as in Diabelli's case) there's a Beethoven out there who can do great things with them.

This sketch started with a triad, and sort of grew from there. The opening statement is pretty long -- four bars! Which means not much got going before I ran out of time. Still, there's a lot to work with here, I think. I might return to develop this further, someday.

In the meantime, though, you're welcome to develop this piece of music yourself. What happens next? Flex your compositional muscles and let me know what you come up with.

The Diabelli Project 009 - Two-Part Invention at the Fifth

The Diabelli Project is about offering my weekly flash-composition sketches freely to all. Like Antonio Diabelli's theme these sketches aren't great music. But perhaps (as in Diabelli's case) there's a Beethoven out there who can do great things with them.

Here's another two-part invention that I think might be rife with possibilities. The rhythmic motif that opens the piece (two 16ths and an 8th note) begin and end the four-bar statement. A simple reversal of an 8th note followed by two 16ths in the last measure spices up the interplay between the two voices. And although I've changed the pitches on the beat, there's no reason why that couldn't be shifted to provide a little bit of hemiola.

Well, that's what I would do if I wrote more of this out, but that's not the only solution. What would you do? As with the rest of the series, I invite you to take this idea and make it your own.

The Diabelli Project 008 - Two-part Invention at the Octave

The Diabelli Project is about offering my weekly flash-composition sketches freely to all. Like Antonio Diabelli's theme these sketches aren't great music. But perhaps (as in Diabelli's case) there's a Beethoven out there who can do great things with them.

This time, I thought I'd start with the most basic musical element -- the scale -- and see where it led. Of course, I didn't go with the most obvious choice (major or minor). I used the Dorian mode instead. In the third bar, I could already see some possibilities with breaking up the downward sequence into smaller units, and distorting the regularity of the motion somewhat. This is another sketch I might return to at some point. (click on image to enlarge) 

Which isn't to discourage anyone else from using it. What possibilities do you see (or hear) in the Dorian mode? Or should it stay in that mode at all? It's up to you!

Diabelli Project 005 - 2-Part Invention at the 5th

The Diabelli Project is about offering my flash-composition sketches freely to all. Like Antonio Diabelli,'s music these sketches aren't great. But perhaps there's a Beethoven out there who can do great things with them.

Well, it took a while, but I finally moved away from starting all my counterpoint at the octave. Not many of these little sketches are in 4/4. It makes the measures too long for my little five-minute exercises. (click on image to enlarge)

Using a single repeating note as a motif isn't anything new -- but it did give some idea on where this might go next. As I was copying this from the original sketch, I could remember -- even after two years -- where I wanted to go next. But you may have other ideas.

Diabelli Project 004 - 2-Part Invention

The Diabelli Project is about offering my flash-composition sketches freely to all. Like Antonio Diabelli,'s music these sketches aren't great. But perhaps there's a Beethoven out there who can do great things with them.

I admit I have a liking of odd meters. Perhaps it was my early exposure to Don Ellis. Whatever the reason, in my mind, odd meters (like 5/8 and 7/8) seem perfectly suited to counterpoint. (click on image to enlarge)

If you agree, you're welcome to take this snippet and run with it.