1. Inertia and Action in Music
Autscape 2008
Katja Gottschewski

2. Inertia in Music
Minimalist music (examples: Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Terry Riley)
Silence (John Cage, 4’33’’)
Ostinato, bourdon
Loops
Active music that makes us feel inertial 
Inertial music that makes us feel agitated or active

3. Inertia in Music can be...
meditative (e.g. chanting, didgeridoo, Arvo Pärt’s “Fratres”)
calming
a source of stability (an inertial element in active music, e.g. “Bordone” from Britten’s 1st Suite for Cello)
an expression of tentativeness and uncertainty (e.g. group improvisation)
an expression of hopelessness and frustration (e.g. “Requiem for a Dream”)
a metaphor for death (e.g. Schubert lieder)

4. Action in Music Example: Astor Piazzolla, “Adios Nonino”
Change – rhythmically, harmonically, melodically, dynamically, tempo, character
Direction
Expectation
Structure
Tension and relaxation

5. Getting from inertia to action
Breaking a pattern
Gradual or sudden change
Harmonies that give direction and expectations
Rhythm as a driving force
Changing the dynamics
Changing the tempo – not necessarily getting faster
Changing the mood
Rests

6. Endings Endings as transitions from inertia to action and vice versa
Endings require action
The never-ending ending – getting stuck
Different types of endings:
Ebbing out
Ending on the point of culmination
Tension and relaxation

7. Taking it to other situations
“Listening” to our own inertia
Inertia as a stabilising element – helping us and others to survive in an overwhelming environment
Musical techniques to get out of inertia that may be useful in other situations:
Change the tempo
Find a rhythm / change of rhythm
Find a direction / goal
Use increased tension to be able to get out of “being stuck” and relax
Try to change the mood. Thinking of musical moods may help – e.g. changing from a minor key to a major key
Decide how to end an activity