Relationship to Other Chapters

This chapter functions as an overture, previewing techniques developed in detail later:

• Chapter II (Hindu Rhythm): First instance of historical synthesis, introducing non-Western temporal organization
• Chapter III (Added Values): First rhythmic technique, extended analogically in Chapter XIII (Added Notes)
• Chapter V (Nonretrogradable Rhythms): First impossibility—temporal symmetry and retrograde invariance
• Chapter VI (Polyrhythm): Temporal layering, analogous to Chapter XIX (Polymodality)
• Chapter XIII (Debussy, Added Notes): Harmonic techniques, continuing historical synthesis
• Chapter XVI (Modes of Limited Transposition): Second impossibility—pitch-class symmetry and transpositional limitation
• Chapter XIX (Polymodality): Pitch layering, completing the analogical system

The chapter's roadmap structure means it must be understood retrospectively—its full significance emerges only after studying the techniques it previews.