The infinity series (Danish: Uendelighedsrækken) is a musical composition method developed by the Danish composer Per Nørgård first for serializing melody, subsequently augmented with approaches to harmony, and rhythm.
Norgard discovered the melodic infinity series in 1959 and it provided an inspiration for many of his works during the 1960s. However, it was not until his Voyage into the Golden Screen for small ensemble (1968) and Symphony No. 2 (1970) that it appeared overtly. The harmonic and rhythmic infinity series were developed in the early 1970s and the three series were first integrated in Nørgård's Symphony No. 3.
The melodic infinity series (∞ M), the infinity series proper, is based on a series of interlocked intervals.
In the simplest infinity series, two pitches are given. The interval between pitch 1 and pitch 2 is protected in its original version at pitch 3, while the inversion is projected at pitch 4.
As Nørgård briefly summarized:
The rhythmic infinity series is based on the golden section.
The harmonic infinity series has its basis in the natural overtone and undertone series.