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I am wondering if someone could explain the makeup of this run of notes. It is from Canzone by Barber for flute, and occurs in the fourth to last measure. The piece has a key signature of E Major. Here is the run: F♮, G#, B♮, C#, E♮, G♮, A#, E#, A♮, B#, E

enter image description here

I'm pretty sure it's a combination of different scales, but I can't really figure out how to describe it. There's no normal scale with F♮ & G#, or G♮ & A#, let alone all 4.

Are there any particular terms that could be used to describe the pitch collection used in this passage? Is there a particular combination of known, named scales that comprise this passage?

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It would be easier if you could show the actual music. Seeing which notes lie on the downbeats will change the analysis. It would also be helpful to see any accompaniment part, if there is one. – Reina Abolofia Feb 8 '12 at 1:27
s14.postimage.org/4atldismp/… Does that help? – Evan Feb 8 '12 at 1:41
It almost looks like a 12-tone row to me. – Reina Abolofia Feb 8 '12 at 2:35
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There comes a point in neotonality where this kind of analysis becomes more and more useless. I like Barber just fine, but you'll get much more out of analyzing the larger structure of the piece's harmony and thematic development. Now, if this is a composition question, you'll need to be a little more specific and in-depth than just "what is this?" – NReilingh♦ Feb 8 '12 at 3:11
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I think this question is salvageable if we can make it a little more specific. Whether the particular analytical technique used is ultimately useful depends on the purpose behind the question. The poster may at this point simply want to know about the pitch collection presented, while someone else (say @NReilingh) may want to know about larger structures. I see no reason that we cannot accommodate both types of analysis here, as each would be useful for different purposes. – Andrew Feb 8 '12 at 16:18
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closed as not a real question by Matthew Read♦ Feb 8 '12 at 3:07

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