A non-definitive index documenting an attempt to find early and earliest notated instances of harmonies with 6 or more pitches

* indicates that the pitches in the example are arcitulated simultaneously.

Dates are approximate.

Please contact me if you know earlier or better examples.

Special thanks to Matthew Barber and Steve Beck for their help.







PCS Forte earliest found example earliest found simultaneous articulation (if different) other examples




6 pitches
012345 6-1 Babbitt: Composition for 12 instruments (1954)
012346 6-2 Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra no.4 (1909)* other examples
012356 6-z3 Webern: An Bachesranft (1909)
012456 6-z4 Ruggles: Angels (1960)
013456 6-z3b Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra no.4 (1909) other examples
023456 6-2b Babbitt: Composition for 12 instruments (1954) Babbitt: Relata II (1968)*
012347 6-Z36 Verdi: Otello (1885) other examples
012357 6-9 Babbitt: Relata II (1968)
012457 6-z11 Babbitt: Composition for 12 instruments (1954)
013457 6-z10 Webern: An Bachesranft (1909)*
023457 6-8 Tallis: Spem in alium (1570)
012367 6-5 Verdi: Otello (1885) other examples
012467 6-z12 Schoenberg: op. 19 no. 6 (1913)
013467 6-z13 Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra no.4 (1909) Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)* other examples
023467 6-z10b Berg: Lyric Suite (1926)*
012567 6-z6 Berg: Lyric Suite (1926)*
013567 6-z12b Bach: Brandenburg Concerto 3, i (1721)
023567 6-z11b Webern: An Bachesranft (1909) other examples
014567 6-z5b Verdi: Otello (1885) Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)*
024567 6-z9b Schoenberg: String Quartet 3 (1927)
034567 6-z36b Babbitt: Composition for 12 instruments (1954)
012348 6-z37 Berg: Lyric Suite (1926) other examples
012358 6-z40 Ives: The New River (1921) Babbitt: Relata II (1968)*
012458 6-15 Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra no.2 (1909)* other examples
013458 6-14 Webern: Im Morgentaun (1909)
023458 6-z39 Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)
012368 6-z41 Verdi: Otello (1885) other examples
012468 6-22 Berg: 4 Pieces for Clarinet and Piano no.2 (1913) Berg: Lyric Suite (1926)*
013468 6-z24 Bach: Brandenburg Concerto 1, ii (1721) Scarlatti: Sonata in a, k.175 (1750)* other examples
023468 6-21 Ives: The White Gulls (1921)*
012568 6-z43 Webern: An Bachesranft (1909)
013568 6-z25 Josquin: Qui habitat (1520) other examples
023568 6-z23 Webern: Kahl reckt der Baum (1909)*
014568 6-16 Berg: Lyric Suite (1926)*
024568 6-21b Biber: Battalia (1673)
034568 6-z39b Johnson: Chord Catalogue (1986)*
012378 6-z38 Webern: An Bachesranft (1909)
012478 6-z17 Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra no.4 (1909)* other examples
013478 6-z19 Webern: Kahl reckt der Baum (1909)*
023478 6-16b Berg: Lyric Suite (1926)*
012578 6-18 Babbitt: Composition for 12 instruments (1954)
013578 6-z26 Josquin: Qui habitat (1520) other examples
023578 6-z25b Josquin: Qui habitat (1520) other examples
014578 6-z19b Bach: Brandenburg Concerto 3, i (1721) Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra (1909)* other examples
024578 6-z24b Bach: Ricercar a 6 (1747) other examples
034578 6-z14b Ives: from Lincoln the Great Commoner (1921)*
012678 6-7 Berg: 4 Pieces for Clarinet and Piano no.2 (1913) Berg: Lyric Suite (1926)*
013678 6-18b Webern: op.7 no.2 (1914) Berg: Lyric Suite (1926)*
023678 6-z43b Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra no.4 (1909)* other examples
014678 6-z17b Berg: op. 2 no. 4 (1910)
024678 6-22b Berg: Lyric Suite (1926)*
034678 6-15b Webern: op.7 no.4 (1914) Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)*
025678 6-z41b Verdi: Otello (1885) Webern: op.7 no.2 (1914)*
035678 6-z40b Webern: op.7 no.4 (1914) Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)*
012369 6-z42 Ives: The White Gulls (1921)
012469 6-z46 Tallis: Spem in alium (1570) other examples
013469 6-27 Berg: op. 2 no. 4 (1910)*
023469 6-45 Bach: Brandenburg Concerto 5, i (1721) other examples
012569 6-z44 Berg: op. 2 no. 4 (1910)
013569 6-z28 Bach: Brandenburg Concerto 2, i (1721) Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (1892)* other examples
023569 6-27b Ravel: Miroirs ii (1905)*
014569 6-z44b Berg: 4 Pieces for Clarinet and Piano (1913) other examples
024569 6-z46b Tallis: Spem in alium (1570) other examples
012479 6-z47b Verdi: Otello (1885) other examples
013479 6-z49 Webern: An Bachesranft (1909) Ives: The White Gulls (1921)*
023479 6-z47b Verdi: Otello (1885)* other examples
012579 6-z48 Berg: Lyric Suite (1926)*
013579 6-34 Scriabin: Piano sonata no.5 (1907)* other examples
023579 6-33 Josquin: Qui habitat (1520) Debussy: Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune (1894)* other examples
014579 6-31 Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra no.4 (1909) Berg: Wozzeck (1922)*
024579 6-32 Ockeghem: Deo Gratia (1497) Schoenberg: Kammersymphonie 1 (1906)* other examples
013679 6-30 Crumb: Makrokosmos I: Primeval Sounds (1972)
023679 6-z29 Scarlatti: Sonata in a, k.175 (1750)* other examples
014679 6-z50 Berg: 4 Pieces for Clarinet and Piano no.2 (1913) other examples
024679 6-33b Ockeghem: Deo Gratia (1497) Rebel: Le elemens (1737)* other examples
014589 6-20 Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra (1909) Webern: Concerto for 9 instruments (1934)*
024589 6-31b Bach: Brandenburg Concerto 3, i (1721) Ives: Majority (1921)*
023689 6-30b Schumann: Soirees musicales no.4 (1836)* other examples
024689 6-34b Bach: Brandenburg Concerto 3, i (1721) Schoenberg: Kammersymphonie 1 (1906)* other examples
02468A 6-35 Schoenberg: Kammersymphonie 1 (1906)* other examples


7 pitches
0123456 7-1 Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra no.4 (1909) other examples
0123457 7-2 Stravinsky: Rite of Spring (1913)*
0123467 7-4 Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra no.1 (1909) other examples
0123567 7-5 Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra no.1 (1909) other examples
0124567 7-5b Schoenberg: op.19 no.6 other examples
0134567 7-4b Webern: An Bachesranft (1909)
0234567 7-2b Ives: from Lincoln the Great Commoner (1921)*
0123458 7-3 Bartok: Music for Strings Percussion, and Celesta iv (1936)*
0123468 7-9 Bach: Brandenburg Concerto 1, ii (1721)
0123568 7-z36 Webern: An Bachesranft (1909)
0124568 7-13 Webern: op.7 no.2 (1914)
0134568 7-11 Verdi: Otello (1885) other examples
0234568 7-8 Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)*
0123478 7-6 Babbitt: Composition for 12 instruments (1954)
0123578 7-14 Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)
0124578 7-z38 Stravinsky: Rite of Spring (1913)
0134578 7-z37 Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra no.2 (1909) other examples
0234578 7-11b Berg: Lyric Suite (1926)
0123678 7-7 Berg: Lyric Suite (1926)*
0124678 7-15 Berg: Lyric Suite (1926)*
0134678 7-z38b Schoenberg: Five Pieces for Orchestra no.3 (1909) Webern: op.7 no.2 (1914)*
0234678 7-13b Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)*
0125678 7-7b Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra no.2 (1909)*
0135678 7-14b Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)
0235678 7-z36b Verdi: Otello (1885) Webern: An Bachesranft (1909)*
0145678 7-6b Schoenberg: op.19 no.6 (1913) other examples
0245678 7-9b Berg: Lyric Suite (1926)
0345678 7-3b Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)
0123469 7-10 Babbitt: Composition for 12 instruments (1954)
0123569 7-16 Webern: An Bachesranft (1909)
0124569 7-z17 Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)
0134569 7-16b Verdi: Otello (1885)
0234569 7-10b Verdi: Otello (1885) other examples
0123479 7-z12 Schoenberg: op.19 no.6 (1913) Messiaen: Turangalila Symphonie (1948)*
0123579 7-24 Schoenberg: op.19 no.6 (1913) other examples
0124579 7-27 Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps ii (1941)*
0134579 7-26 Berg: Dem Schmerz sein Recht (1910)* Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra (1909) other examples
0234579 7-23 Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)*
0123679 7-19 Babbitt: Composition for 12 instruments (1954)
0124679 7-29 Bach: Brandenburg Concerto 3, ii (1721)
0134679 7-31 Webern: Im Morgentaun (1909) Ives: The White Gulls (1921)*
0234679 7-25 Bach: Brandenburg Concerto 1, ii (1721)
0125679 7-20 Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)*
0135679 7-28 Berg: 4 Pieces for Clarinet and Piano (1913) other examples
0235679 7-25b Webern: An Bachesranft (1909)*
0145679 7-z18 Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra (1909) other examples
0245679 7-23b Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)
0124589 7-21 Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra no.2 (1909) other examples
0134589 7-21b Berg: Lyric Suite (1926)
0234589 7-z18b Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)
0123689 7-19b Babbitt: Composition for 12 instruments (1954)
0124689 7-30 Messiaen: Prelude (Cloches d'angoisses et larmes d'adieu) (1929)*
0134689 7-32 Rebel: Le elemens (1737)* other examples
0234689 7-28b Webern: An Bachesranft (1909) Berg: Dem Schmerz sein Recht (1910)*
0125689 7-22 Stravinsky: Rite of Spring (1913)* other examples
0135689 7-32b Bach: Brandenburg Concerto 3, ii (1721) Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring (1913)* other examples
0235689 7-31b Webern: op.7 no.4 (1914)
0245689 7-26b Ives: Majority (1921)*
0234789 7-20b Ives: The White Gulls (1921)*
0135789 7-30b Ives: Majority (1921)*
0235789 7-29b Ives: Majority (1921)*
0245789 7-27b Harbison: Concerto for Oboe, Clarinet, and Strings (1985)
0246789 7-24b Harbison: Concerto for Oboe, Clarinet, and Strings (1985)*
012468A 7-33 Schoenberg: Kammersymphonie 1 (1906)*
013468A 7-34 Bach: Brandenburg Concerto 2, i (1721) Stravinsky: Rite of Spring (1913)* other examples
013568A 7-35 Josquin: Qui habitat (1520) Stravinsky: Petrushka (1911)* other examples


8 pitches
01234567 8-1 Babbitt: Composition for 12 instruments (1954)
01234568 8-2 Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra (1909)* other examples
01234578 8-4 Babbitt: Composition for 12 instruments (1954)
01234678 8-5 Berg: Lyric Suite (1926)*
01235678 8-6 Berg: Lyric Suite (1926)
01245678 8-5b Webern: op.7 no.2 (1914)
01345678 8-4b Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)
02345678 8-2b Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra no.4 (1909)* other examples
01234569 8-3 Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)
01234579 8-11 Babbitt: Composition for 12 instruments (1954)
01234679 8-13 Ives: The White Gulls (1921)*
01235679 8-z29 Johnson: Chord Catalogue (1986)*
01245679 8-14 Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra no.4 (1909)* other examples
01345679 8-12 Babbitt: Composition for 12 instruments (1954)
02345679 8-10 Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra no.4 (1909)* other examples
01234589 8-7 Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra (1909) other examples
01234689 8-z15 Debussy: Six epigraphes antiques no.2 (1914)
01235689 8-18 Babbitt: Composition for 12 instruments (1954)
01245689 8-19 Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)*
01345689 8-17 Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)*
02345689 8-12b Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)
01234789 8-8 Berg: Lyric Suite (1926)*
01235789 8-16 Schoenberg: Five Pieces for Orchestra no.3 (1909) other examples
01245789 8-20 Schoenberg: Five Pieces for Orchestra no.3 (1909) Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)*
01345789 8-19b Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra (1909)* other examples
02345789 8-14b Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra no.4 (1909)* other examples
01236789 8-9 Babbitt: Composition for 12 instruments (1954)
01246789 8-16b Schoenberg: Five Pieces for Orchestra no.3 (1909) Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)*
01346789 8-18b Schoenberg: Five Pieces for Orchestra no.3 (1909) Webern: op.7 no.2 (1914)*
02346789 8-z29b Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)
01356789 8-z15b Janacek: Glagolithic Mass VIII (1924)*
02356789 8-z13b Babbitt: Composition for 12 instruments (1954)
02456789 8-11b Johnson: Chord Catalogue (1986)*
0123468A 8-21 Ives: from Lincoln the Great Commoner (1921)
0123568A 8-22 Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)*
0124568A 8-24 Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra no.4 (1909)* other examples
0134568A 8-22b Ives: West London (1921)
0123578A 8-23 Biber: Battalia (1673)
0124578A 8-27 Berg: Lyric Suite (1926)
0134578A 8-26 Schoenberg: Five Pieces for Orchestra no.3 (1909) other examples
0124678A 8-25 Berg: Dem Schmerz sein Recht (1910)
0134678A 8-27b Berg: Lyric Suite (1926)
0134679A 8-28 Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring (1913) Klein: Die Maschine (1921)*


9 pitches
012345678 9-1 Babbitt: Composition for 12 instruments (1954)
012345679 9-2 Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)
012345689 9-3 Babbitt: Composition for 12 instruments (1954)
012345789 9-4 Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)*
012346789 9-5 Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring (1913)
012356789 9-5b Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)
012456789 9-4b Babbitt: Composition for 12 instruments (1954)
013456789 9-3b Webern: op.7 no.2 (1914)
023456789 9-2b Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra (1909)* other examples
01234568A 9-6 Berg: 4 Pieces for Clarinet and Piano (1913) other examples
01234578A 9-7 Babbitt: Relata II (1968)
01234678A 9-8 Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps ii (1941)*
01235678A 9-9 Schoenberg: Five Pieces for Orchestra no.3 (1909) Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)* other examples
01245678A 9-8b Mahler: Symphony 10 (1910)*
01345678A 9-7b Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)
01234679A 9-10 Babbitt: Composition for 12 instruments (1954)
01235679A 9-11 Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring (1913)
01245679A 9-11b Berg: op. 2 no. 4 (1910) other examples
01245689A 9-12 Berg: Violin Concerto (1935)

10 pitches
0123456789 10-1 Babbitt: Composition for 12 instruments (1954)
012345678A 10-2 Berg: 4 Pieces for Clarinet and Piano no.1 (1913) other examples
012345679A 10-3 Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra no.4 (1909)* other examples
012345689A 10-4 Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)
012345789A 10-5 Schoenberg: Five Pieces for Orchestra no.3 (1909) Messiaen: La Fauvette des jardins (1970)* other examples
012346789A 10-6 Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps i (1941)


11 pitches
0123456789A 11-1 Babbitt: Composition for 12 instruments (1954) Messiaen: La Fauvette des jardins (1970)*


12 pitches
0123456789AB 12-1 Webern: 6 Pieces for Orchestra, no. 5 (1909) Berg: Altenberg Lieder (1912)* other examples