Density 21.5Density 21.5 by Edgard Varèse for solo flute was composed in 1936 (revised 1944) at the request of George Barrère for the premiere of his new platinum flute. Inspired by Having harnessed the capabilities of the flute, Varèse sought to showcase the full sonic range of the platinum instrument and explore its timbral capacity. Density is a monophonic work characterized by extreme dynamics, angular motifs, timbral variety and complex rhythms. In the span of sixty-one measures, Varèse exploits the entire range of sounds and colors of the flute and almost every pitch of the instrument is realized. The Density shape is divided into three sections: A measures 1 - 23, B measures 18 - 40, A1 measures 41 - fine. The first section A can be divided into two parts: Aa 1-14 mm and Ab 15-23 mm. The B section can be divided into two smaller parts, the first Ba from measures 24-29 and the second Bb from measures 32-36 with the omitted portions (mm. 29-32 and mm. 36-40) functioning as material of transition. The unmistakable return of A occurs in measure 41. Jonathan Bernard, in “Pitch/Register in the Music of Edgard Varèse,” notes the composer's fascination with crystals and their influence on his compositional method. Bernard rightly states that Varèse “emphasizes growth through the orderly expansion of a bare minimum of an idea that is cellular in nature.” In Density, Varèse explores the possibilities of a three-note semitone motif through repetition, expansion and elaboration. During an interview with Varèse, the composer explained an analogy with “crystallization” and its relationship with his compositions: Musical form, considered as the result of a process, suggests an analogy with the phenomenon of crystallization. The clearest answer I can give...... middle of paper ......hools of Music and Visual Arts, edited by Steven Johnson, 57 - 74. New York: Routledge, 2002.Perle, George. The composer listening. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1990. Prior, Irna. "Density 21.5." Talking Flute Magazine. 20.3 (2000): 20.Siddons, James. "On the nature of melody in the density of Varèse 21.5." Perspectives of New Music23.1 (1984): 298-316.Siddons, James “On the Nature of Melody in Varèse Density 21.5.” Perspectives of New Music, 23 1 (1984): 298-316.Spencer, Patricia. "Density 21.5: An Introductory Lesson." Varèse, Edgard and Lewis Alcopley. "Edgard Varèse on Music and Art: A Conversation Between Varèse and Alcopley." Leonardo,1.2 (1968): 187-195.Wen-Chung, Chou. “Open rather than delimited”. Perspectives on New Music, 5.1 (1966): 1-6.-- "Varèse: A Sketch of the Man and His Music." The musical quarterly, 52.2 (1996): 151-170.