Other Sources

Internet Sources

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Introduction to Set Theory, by Larry Solomon (Pima College, Tucson, AZ)
includes a table of pc set classes. Note that Solomon's list of prime forms is based on transpositional but not inversional equivalence. He does, however, relate inversionally equivalent set classes in his application of Forte names. (His table lists, for instance, classes 4-27 (0258) and 4-27B (0368), a pair reduced to 4-27 (0258) in Forte's classification). Solomon's table also includes "descriptive names" for many set classes.

Set Helper, by James Halliday (Indiana University)
a Java applet set calculator, which yields normal form, prime form, Forte name, and interval-class vectors of sets.

Print Sources

Forte, Allen. The Structure of Atonal Music. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1973.
ML 3811 F66
An "Urtext" of pitch-class set analysis, by one of its chief developers. The book's focus is on analytical method.

Rahn, John. Basic Atonal Theory. New York: Longman, 1980.
MT 40 R2
One of the basic sources for the study of pitch structure in atonal music. The explanations are rather mathematical, but Rahn also attempts to address the listening experience.

Straus, Joseph N. Introduction to Post-Tonal Theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1990.
MT 40 S96 1990
An excellent introduction to both pitch-class set analysis and twelve-tone analysis. Straus takes a topic which often seems dauntingly mathematical and keeps its musical relevance clear. Includes analyses of twelve selected pieces.

Page last modified 3 October 2001 / GRT