The Diapason Press

Corpus Microtonale

Adriaan Daniël Fokker

SELECTED
MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS
(1948–1972)

edited by Rudolf Rasch

CM 1

Instrumentation:
Euler organ; Fokker organ; archiphone; two violins

The Dutch physicist Adriaan Fokker (1887–1972) was the main advocate of 31-tone music in the Netherlands. Besides writing a good many texts about the subject, he composed quite a large oeuvre of music in the 31-tone systems, largely between 1944 and 1972, the year of his death. These compositions are intended for various instruments, such as the so-called Euler organ (a small 12-key just-intonation pipe organ), the Fokker organ (a large 31-tone pipe organ, with an enharmonic keyboard), the archiphone (an electronic variant of the pipe organ), or two violins. The present edition begins with a comprehensive introduction, dealing with Fokker’s biography, theoretical ideas and musical compositions. Then follow selections from Fokker’s musical oeuvre, together with 31 pieces, in the various microtonal media.

1987
ISBN 90-70907-11-9 (cloth)
217 pp.
21 x 30 cm
€47.50 or US$47.50

Contents

  Preface   7
       
Part One
Introduction
       
1 Adriaan Daniël Fokker (1887–1972)    
1.1 Short biography   15
1.2 Fokker’s writings on music   17
1.3 Fokker’s writings on non-musical subjects   21
1.4 List of musical compositions dedicated to, commissioned by, or otherwise connected with Fokker   26
       
2 The 31-tone scale    
2.1 Tones   27
2.2 Notation   28
2.3 Intervals   30
2.4 Instruments   31
       
3 Fokker’s theories of music    
3.1 Introduction   38
3.2 Music theory   39
3.2.1 Melodies and counterpoint   39
3.2.2 Chords   40
3.2.3 Harmony   42
3.2.4 The Euler-Fokker genera   48
3.2.5 Checklist of Euler-Fokker genera   51
3.2.6 Other subjects   59
3.3 Tuning theory   60
3.3.1 Just intonation   60
3.3.2 Multiple divisions   64
3.4 Fokker’s significance as a music theorist   66
       
4 Fokker’s musical compositions    
4.1 Overview   68
4.1.1 Fokker’s musical oeuvre   68
4.1.2 Fokker as a composer   73
4.2 Sources   75
4.2.1 Introduction   75
4.2.2 The sketchbooks   76
4.2.3 The fair copies   79
4.3 Fokker’s music-copying   80
4.4 Editorial policy   81
       
5 Notes and comments concerning the individual compositions    
5.1 Section 1: Compositions for Euler organ   83
5.2 Section 2: Compositions for Fokker organ   88
5.3 Section 3: Compositions for two violins   108
5.4 Section 4: Compositions 1970–1972   117
       
  References   123
       
Part Two
The music
       
    Comments Music
       
Section 1
Compositions for Euler organ
1948
1 Barcarolle (1948) 84 129
2 Tenacitas (1948) 84 129
3 Preludium (1948) 86 131
       
Section 2
Compositions for Fokker organ
1950–1961
4 Bagatelle "Zee en haven" (1950) 89 135
5 Bagatelle "Stad en land" (1950) 90 137
6 Bagatelle "Chinees" (1951) 91 139
7 Bagatelle "Moed en angst" (1951) 93 140
8 Bagatelle "De koekoeken" (1951) 93 142
9 Harmonische variaties (1952) 96 144
10 De harmonieke zesster (1952) 96 146
11 Kalenderblaadjes in de kringloop van acht (1953) 97 151
12 Passacaglia (1954) 100 158
13 Preludio-Barcarolle & Toccata (1956) 102 163
14 Toccata (1957) 102 168
15 Mordente & Toccata (1957) 103 170
16 Mosaico & Toccata (1957) 103 173
17 Jakobs droom (1959) 104 179
18 Bagatelle "Verstrengeling (1961) 106 186
       
Section 3
Compositions for two violins
1964–1967
19 Septimes in de Tatrabergen (1964) 108 191
20 Jantje Contrarie (1964) 108 192
21 Oer (1966) 109 193
22 De verstarde gewekt (1966) 109 194
23 Kibbelende gelieven (1966) 111 197
24 Naar Den Bosch toe (1966) 112 199
25 Sien! Sien! (1966) 113 200
26 Hotelkamer 225 (1967) 114 202
27 Hotelkamer 315 (1967) 115 203
       
Section 4
Compositions for archiphone
Compositions for two violins
1970–1972
28 De gedurige diëze (1970; archiphone) 118 207
29 Harmonische transformaties van kringspiegelingen (1970; two violins) 120 210
30 Kabbelende diëzegolven (1971; archiphone) 120 213
31 6 : 7 : 8 : 9 (1972; two violins) 122 214