The title "Inventions' has a double meaning. The first meaning
is that each movement represents a significant invention. The second
meaning is each movement has sections reminiscent of a musical
invention, a short contrapuntal composition that is usually based on a
single theme.
Movement 1 The Wheel This movement is a perpetual motion in triple meter.
Movement II The Metronome - The music in this movement represents a mechanical, wind-up
metronome.
Movement III The Periscope - The movement is in an ABA'B' form. The
A section, with its dark colors and slow 6/8 represents a submarine,
lurking under water. The B section begins with ominous sounds that
accompany the rising of the periscope and the scanning of the horizon
for destroyers and for prey.
Movement IV Morse Code The form of this movement is
ABABABACoda. The A section
rhythmically spells out the words "brass trio" in Morse code, first
homophonically and then
contrapuntally. The B sections spell out the names of the instruments
playing the musical line in Morse code. The Coda spells out the words
"the end" in Morse code.
Movement V The Airplane - This movement begins with a celebratory
section in 7/8 and 6/8
representing the success of the Wright Brothers. After this festive
beginning, a sustained melody
represents the first flight that lasted 12 seconds with Orville at the
controls. This melody also lasts 12 seconds. Accompanying the sustained
melody is the steady staccato eighth note rhythm representing the sound
of the motor. After a short celebratory interlude, another sustained
"melody of flight" occurs with Wilbur is at the controls. The staccato
eighth note "motor" accompaniment changes into a flowing triplet figure
during 59-second flight, the longest of 1903. The "flight" melody now
lasts 59 seconds as well. After a "soft" landing of the "flight" melody,
the "celebration" theme ends the movement in a festive and exciting
manner.