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The University High School Band
The History and Theory of Music

Sequences

Sequencing involves taking a melody and transposing it by a particular interval over the course of a phrase.

The most common sequence is to move around the circle of fourths, or clockwise around the diagram below.

Due to the physical capabilities of the instruments of the period, their use of the Pythagorean tuning system, the patience of listeners, and the fact that it's just weird, composers generally do not work their way around all twelve tones of the circle of fourths. More often, a sequence will continue for 2-6 progressions and then return to the original key.

A sequence can be observed in this excerpt from Antonio Vivaldi's Bassoon Concerto in E minor.


Click to enlarge.