Constellations
1st. movement
Constellations
The constellation technique can be described as the joining together of metrically divergent elements to form organic sequences. In the first movement a theme is introduced, and later a cantus firmus with three ostinati elements (a flageolet on the note D, a rhythmic motif on the cello and a pizzicato element). The ostinati preserve their profile more or less, whilst the themes develop in a linear manner with the use of different contrapuntal techniques. The elements are apparently heterogeneous, but yet not impervious to each other. In the recapitulation, for example, the ostinati elements appear in 'borrowed plumes': the flageolet has become a low D, the rhythmic motif is played flageolet, and so on.
Sample score from the 1st. movement, bars 1-6:
Score sample © Edition WH