Symmetrical Inversion

& white ? # # # b w w b w black b b b ## # #

w b w w b

b
black

Piano

b b

white

b b # # n# n #

white

& b b b ? # # #

black

b b

# # # ## b b b

# n # b n b

b b

12

j &

(Bach invention)

. ? J #
(first Blanchet study w/right hand added)
16

## # # # # # # # . . . . . . . # # . & # b bb ? .. .. .. b b b b b b .. b b

b b (transposed)

# #
(Chopin etude)

b n b n

n#

nb

In all of these examples, the progression of black and white notes is identical for both hands. The "D" and "Ab" are the pivots. "Mirroring" complex guration can be revealing technically and sometimes interesting musically. I rst learned about symmetrical inversion from Stanley Cowell. In fact, Cowell's piece "Cal Massey" is based on this technique. Listen to Cowell's extraordinary two-handed entirely symmetrical improvisation on "Cal Massey" from Clifford Jordan's THE GLASS BEAD GAMES.