Math, Music and Identity

Homework Assignment #1

Due Wednesday, Feb. 18, START of Class


Homework should be turned in at the BEGINNING OF CLASS. All problem numbers refer to A First Course in Math and Music, the primary text for the class (available on Moodle). You are encouraged to work on these problems with other classmates, and it is ok to use internet sources for help if it's absolutely necessary; however, the solutions you turn in should be YOUR OWN WORK and written in YOUR OWN WORDS. Be sure to cite any references, websites, Internet sources, etc. that you may have used for assistance with the assignment.

Important: Please list the names of any students you worked with on the top of your assignment.


Limerick - kciremiL

First, let me explain that I'm cursed;
I'm a poet whose time gets reversed.
Reversed gets time
Whose poet a I'm;
Cursed I'm that explain me let, first.

Section 5.1 (pages 180-182)
Problems:   1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8

Hints: For #2, follow the example shown in the text in Figure 5.3. The inversion should be tonal (stay in the given key), reflected about the starting pitch A. For #4, the opening note in the exact inversion is an A flat. This follows because the opening note of the Subject is a C, a whole step above B flat. To invert about B flat, we go down a whole step from B flat to A flat. For #6, the tonal inversion begins on a G (a third below B flat but still in the given key), while the exact inversion will begin on G flat (a major third below B flat).

In addition to the problems listed above, listen to CD #1: Symmetry in Music, available on Moodle and read the liner notes for the CD, available here. You will be tested on some of this music so be sure to read the liner notes and listen carefully, following along with the score to understand the symmetry. The music for many of the pieces is in the course textbook or included in the class handout on symmetry in music. One approach to effectively absorbing the music is to make brief notes about each piece, listing significant details as you listen.