The Power of Diatonic Harmony in 12 Tone Music

Even though the music uses a 12 tone row, it also does not specifically avoid diatonic harmonies. This brings up an important point that often gets lost in the rancor over 12 tone music. The other thing about this piece is the powerful connection with its text. As the trumpet sounds, the narrator recounts being hustled out of bed by the sound of a trumpet. In one of the most harrowing moments of the score, the lower strings play a plaintive fragment of a tone row while the bassoon quite literally moans in its upper register.