Fives

Fives, a composition for strings, bass, piano and mallet instruments, is a work in five sections each with a different pentatonic mode that provides the notes for the section.
Each mode has five versions that start with the notes C, D#, F, G, A#.

The sections are played in sequence through all twenty-five modes. The Composition is written in a 5/4 time signature

Each mode version in the sections is arranged in a five measure set.
Only the notes contained in that version are used for all instrument harmonies.
Two measures with different note orders are repeated and the final measure states the mode in ascending or descending note order. The composition uses a serial form where from two to four voices play the mode in these note orders. The other voices add harmonies and motion using only the notes in the mode version.

All of the modes and versions are shown in the accompanying document FIVES-MODE STRUCTURE that, along with the complete score and parts, is available in downloadable PDF form below.

Fives is the second composition in a series exploring imperfect meters that I call "Numbers".

A complete score is available for download below.
Composition, performance (keyboard demo) and recording Thomas Parker Williams

Pinhole photograph - Mary Agnes Williams

Fives © 2026 by Thomas Parker Williams is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

SOUNDCLOUD - Complete Composition
Complete Score and Parts - PDF
Fives - Mode Structure - PDF