Serialism in the Works of Charles Ives

It has become a commonplace of musical historiography to point out that Charles Ives's experiments antedate the currency of most of the innovations of 20th-century compositional technique. But such a statement, when unsubstantiated by musical facts, understates the case, and leaves a vaguely derogatory impression of dilettantism. Ives accomplished more than merely experimenting with new techniques. He understood and assimilated the far-reaching implications of his innovations, saw their limitations and shortcomings, developed from them satisfactory and well-synthesized forms, and moulded them into a language to express his world view.