Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Work Overview

Six dimensions of seven uses as its pitch source the leitmotif known as the Tristan Chord from the Wagner opera Tristan and Isolde. The initial chord of this motif is somewhat ambiguous; however it is generally accepted that it is an F half diminished seventh chord that then resolves to an E dominant seventh chord.

These two chords are stated in the introduction of six dimensions of seven with each of these chords, as well as their regular resolutions used as source material in sections A and B. These chords are then altered in various ways to create every other form of seventh chord in the Major-Minor system during subsequent sections. These chords, plus their resolutions also form source pitch material. There are six different forms of seventh chord altogether utilised in this work, hence the title six dimensions of seven.

The source pitch material of each section is also developed by utilising every interval possibility between the two chords of each section in melodic passages. This is contrasted with various unusual arpeggiations using two pitches from each chord.

Work Details

Year: 2012

Instrumentation: Harp.

Duration: 9 min.

Difficulty: Medium — Some tricky arpeggiations, but suitable for high school students

Commission note: Commissioned by Ursula Caporali for the "Six Artists Seeking a Composer" Project.

First performance: by Alisa Bernhard at Six performers seeking a composer (Sydney Conservatorium of Music) on 26 Oct 2012