By: Philip Stoecker, Hofstra University
Abstract:
The American composer George Perle composed nearly 130 works and wrote for chamber ensembles, solo instruments, voice, and orchestra. In 1940, Perle began composing works using his own unique “twelve-tone modal” system. In this video, I analyze the sixth and final prelude from his Six Preludes, op. 20B (1946), one of Perle’s early works based on his twelve-tone modal method. This analysis is based on the sketches for the op. 20B preludes in the George Perle Papers that are housed in the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.