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one motif, the transform algebra

29 s · 100 bpm · inverted, mirrored, rotated

one motif, the transform algebra 29 s · 100 bpm · inverted, mirrored, rotated
0:00 / 0:29
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A four-note motif, then the transform algebra reshaping it: inverted, so the rising shape turns over and falls; as a palindrome, played forward then back; rotated, the same cells shifted to start later. Each is a declarative variation pointing back at the one motif. A voice names each.

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One motif, the transform algebra

A four-note motif:

motif: 1 2 3 4

Every variation below is declared as an edit of that one line — never a new melody, just the motif read through a transformation:

inverted:   { op: invert, pivot: 3 }   # 1 2 3 4  →  5 4 3 2   (rising turns to falling)
palindrome: { op: palindrome }         # 1 2 3 4  →  1 2 3 4 4 3 2 1
rotated:    { op: rotate, by: 1 }       # 1 2 3 4  →  2 3 4 1

Each variation points back at the same source; change the motif and every variation follows. And the same algebra works on any line — a melody, a bass line, even the structure of a whole song.