The Ohio State University Department of Dance
College of Arts & Sciences Professor Vera Blaine
Revised 2012
COMPOSITIONAL DEVICES FOR EXPLORING & STRUCTURING PHRASE
MATERIAL
NOTE: Definitions in quotes are musical definitions from the Harvard Dictionary of Music.
1. DEVELOPMENT/WORKING OUT/RESHAPING/TRANSFORMING
"The important technique of recent composition which consists in the 'unfolding' of the
thematic material. These devices are used in a manner designed to bring about a feeling
of evolution and growth, of increased intensity at higher 'temperature,' of dynamic stress
and climax."
to gradually carry the phrase to a new choreographic intention through repeating,
mirroring, augmenting, diminuting, isolating; the phrase evolves to a new physical
situation.
2. TRANSFORMATION
"The modification of a musical subject or motive made with a view to change its
personality."
to change the phrasing/organization of energy and time (re-phrase timing & energy)
to change the dynamic/character (change from resiliency to strength)
to explore nuance
3. TRANSPOSITION
"The rewriting or the ex tempore performance of a composition at another pitch, i.e., in
another key."
to change range or planel orientation of movement
to put the movement of one part of the body on another part
e.g., arms to legs, legs to arms
to change the level of the movement
e.g., put aerial or middle level phrase onto floor
to change the state of the rotation of body parts
e.g., change from turned-out to parallel
