[Smt-talk] Origin of Semper idem

[Nicolas Meeùs]

It first appears on the cover of Tonwille 1 (1921), but it probably 
originates in /Kontrapunkt /II (1922 but maybe written earlier), at the 
beginning of each of the sections: p. 1 (three-part counterpoint), 122 
(four parts), 164 (five parts and more), and 171 ("Bridges to free 
composition"). My page numbers refer to the German original, but the 
slogan appears also in the English translation. It aptly describes 
"prolongation" in its original meaning, the abandonment of strict 
counterpoint (which, for Schenker, can only be two-part counterpoint) 
for ever freer levels of writing.

I suppose Schenker coined it himself. At least, I found no trace of it 
anywhere else.
(He may not have been aware of the usages of "semper idem", "semper 
eadem" or "semper" described on http://www.thefleece.org/semper.html)

Nicolas

Nicolas Meeùs
Université Paris-Sorbonne



Le 15/11/2012 05:04, Frank Samarotto a écrit :
> Origin of Semper idem Dear list,
>
> I wonder if anyone knows the origin of Schenker's famous slogan, 
> /Semper idem sed non eodem modo. /(Feel free to respond privately or 
> to the list.)
>
> Frank
>
> Frank Samarotto
> Associate Professor of Music Theory
> Jacobs School of Music
> Indiana University Bloomington
>
>
>
>
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