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Composition techniques

A whole movement can grow from one short motif. The classic ways to develop it are transformations: turn its intervals upside down (inversion), play it backwards (retrograde), do both at once, or stretch and squeeze its rhythm (augmentation and diminution). Build a motif below — nudge each note, hear it — then apply a transformation and compare. (The staff shows pitch; the rhythm row shows the durations, since augmentation changes duration, not notes.)

Your motif

Transform it