ABSTRACT

This chapter presents a graphic structural analysis of a symmetrical post-tonal piano piece by American composer George Crumb, A Prophecy of Nostradamus, from Book II of his Makrokosmos, no. 8 (1973). The analysis maps symmetry with form in this lesson plan for undergraduate post-tonal theory classes, with graduate extension work. Students should be familiar with pitch-class set nomenclature, Gregorian chant, harmonic analysis, content as form, C clefs, symmetrical pitch properties, prime numbers, and extended performance techniques. Students benefit from creation of a guided analytical template containing the sum of their answers, drawing together many weeks of post-tonal, theoretical learning into one clear pedagogical context.