George Frederick McKay · section 51 of 111

Project 10

Write a page of score which will demonstrate effective use of pitch distribution. Illustrate: (a) sufficient use of middle register; (b) clarity of motival content through pitch differentiation of competing motives; (c) surprise, change and climax through alternation of high, low and middle register; and (d) limited use of extremes of high and low pitch.

The music of Debussy, Mozart, Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky shows evidence of conscious control of pitch distribution for clarity. Study the works of these masters for analysis of the relation of pitch locale to clarity (see the charts on pp. 219-220).