La Chouette Hulotte by Olivier Messiaen : Set Theory Approach

Abstract

This independent study of “LA CHOUETTE HULOTTE BY OLIVIER MESSIAEN: SET THEORY APPROACH” aims to study the concepts and methods of composition, and to create an example of theoretical analysis for the study of music theory. However, the scope is limited to the concepts of 20th century music analysis based on set theory while using the study approaches of Wiboon Trakulhun and Robert Sherlaw Johnson. Moreover, traditional music approaches are needed in some cases.
The study shows that LA CHOUETTE HULOTTE consists of two parts: part A with polyphonic texture within the range of A0 to A4 and with clear specific pitch, duration and intensity; and part B with tritone, segmentation, symmetrical set, and pitch shift within the pitch class sets (016), (0123), and (0127) while using polyrhythmic techniques and bitonality of the white and black keys.