retrograde inversion

noun

A technique where the composer will take the inversion of the tone row, and write that backwards, thus creating a retrograded inversion of the original note row.

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Meanings

nounretrograde inversion (countable and uncountable, plural retrograde inversions)

plural retrograde inversions

  1. countableuncountableentertainmentA technique where the composer will take the inversion of the tone row, and write that backwards, thus creating a retrograded inversion of the original note row.
  2. countableuncountableentertainmentA composition technique where the composer inverts the retrograde of a melody or makes the retrograde of the inversion of the melody, using only notes in the same key as the original melody.
Cite this entry
APA

retrograde inversion. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retrograde%20inversion

MLA

“retrograde inversion.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retrograde%20inversion. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “retrograde inversion,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retrograde%20inversion.

Source: retrograde inversion on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.