BookatlasPiano Rabbit Hole: Improvisation Theory & Practice
13152 / 18210 · Workshop 103 — From Arrangement to Original Composition: Building a New Piece from Motif, Bass, Harmonic Function, Form, and Constraints← prev⊞ allnext →

103.164Example abstraction from “Happy Birthday”

Do not copy pitches.

Take only:

  • four phrases
  • first two related
  • third is climax
  • fourth resolves
  • opening begins with repetition
  • final phrase descends toward home

Write an entirely new tune.

This demonstrates recomposition becoming original composition.