Schizophrenia in a Box

I used the first 40 nucleotides of the schizophrenia gene for my theme. For my theme, A =A, C=C, G=G, and I set T = Eb to get the desired mode (A,C,Eb, and G make up an A diminished 7th chord). The right hand of the piano plays 40 consecutive eighth notes (both the Watson and Crick strand are played)—i.e. CG, CG, etc. There are three variations played by the left hand while the right hand vamps on the theme. The first variation is the last 20 or so nucleotides of the schizophrenia gene sequence (from the website), played retrograde (backward) with quarter notes. The second variation is what I call the “helical” theme, a winding theme meant to represent the helix. The third variation is the first and second variations combined. I call it “Schizophrenia in a box” because of the regular square structure (40 x 4). I ended the piece on a major triad a la J.S. Bach.

Schizophrenia in a Box