An accessible exploration of an important and understudied music theory topic, Swain's book examines the dimensional technique of analyzing harmonic rhythm. Simply defined, harmonic rhythm is the relationship between changes in harmony and perceived changes in rhythm. This phenomenon plays a large role in shaping the texture and style of much of Western music, from Renaissance polyphonic pieces to the works of Debussy. Swain provides a clear and thorough discussion of how harmonic theory works, using a small core of repeated musical examples.
An accessible exploration of an important and understudied music theory topic, Swain's book examines the dimensional technique of analyzing harmonic rhythm. Simply defined, harmonic rhythm is the relationship between changes in harmony and perceived changes in rhythm. This phenomenon plays a large role in shaping the texture and style of much of Western music, from Renaissance polyphonic pieces to the works of Debussy. Swain provides a clear and thorough discussion of how harmonic theory works, using a small core of repeated musical examples.
Carl Dahlhaus was without doubt the premier musicologist of the postwar generation, a giant whose recent death was mourned the world over. Translated here for the first time, this fundamental work on the development of tonality shows his complete mastery of the theory of harmony. In it Dahlhaus explains the modern concepts of harmony and tonality, reviewing in the process the important theories of Rameau, Sechter, Ftis, Riemann, and Schenker. He contrasts the familiar premises of chordal composition with the lesser known precepts of intervallic composition, the basis for polyphonic music in the late Middle Ages and Renaissance. Numerous quotations from theoretical treatises document how early music was driven forward not by progressions of chords but by simple progressions of intervals. Exactly when did composers transform intervallic composition into chordal composition? Modality into tonality? Dahlhaus provides extensive analyses of motets by Josquin, frottole by Cara and Tromboncino, and madrigals by Monteverdi to demonstrate how, and to what degree, such questions can be answered. In his bold speculations, in his magisterial summaries, in his command of eight centuries of music and writings on music, and in his deep understanding of European history and culture, Carl Dahlhaus sets a standard that will seldom be equalled. Originally published in 1990. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.
Teaches the basics of music theory plus the vocabulary to use in harmonic and formal analysis. This book includes the basic materials of music from J S Bach to John Cage. It is aimed at a one or two year introductory course in music theory, can serve for individual study, or as a review for graduate students returning to school.
“A major contribution . . . not only to Puccini studies but also to the study of nineteenth-century Italian opera in general.” —Nineteenth-Century Music Review In this groundbreaking survey of the fundamentals, methods, and formulas that were taught at Italian music conservatories during the 19th Century, Nicholas Baragwanath explores the compositional significance of tradition in Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti, Verdi, Boito, and, most importantly, Puccini. Taking account of some 400 primary sources, Baragwanath explains the varying theories and practices of the period in light of current theoretical and analytical conceptions of this music. The Italian Traditions and Puccini offers a guide to an informed interpretation and appreciation of Italian opera by underscoring the proximity of archaic traditions to the music of Puccini. “Dense and challenging in its detail and analysis, this work is an important addition to the growing corpus of Puccini studies. . . . Highly recommended.” —Choice
he purpose of this book is to share my thoughts with all melodic instrumentalists, to suggest an avenue into chromatic jazz improvisation. The title Chromaticism in Jazz implies the coloristic, intervallic, non-diatonic, paratonal, and superimposition styles of jazz improvisation that may be represented by the mid-60 s Miles Davis Quintet and the 60 s John Coltrane Quartet (and later Coltrane groups). It must also be noted that the application of chromatic lines in improvisation should not overshadow the natural flow of ideas, but should be explored thoughtfully to create contrast and more lyrical, melodic playing. As the subject of dissonance versus consonance has shifted and evolved throughout the course of jazz history, chromaticism has been developed by later generations to stretch the boundaries of jazz improvisation. The use of superimposed lines against harmonic structures can often create an interesting deflection, in conjunction with more standard jazz language. This work will lay the structural guidelines of chromaticism and give some examples of how chromatic lines can be used in a jazz context. After learning the evolution of chromaticism in recorded jazz, you will then gain the knowledge and skill to explore further possibilities. I hope this book will offer a new treatment for the chromatic deficiency in American musical society at large.
Postbop Jazz in the 1960s shows innovations in postbop composition of the 1960s at the hands of jazz composers such as Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, among others. The book develops analytical pathways through a number of compositions, many of them well-known jazz compositions.
Music and Emotion: Connecting Through Melody delves into the profound relationship between music and our emotional lives. This comprehensive exploration takes you through the fundamental elements of music—melody, harmony, rhythm, timbre, and texture—and their powerful effects on our emotions. Discover how music influences emotional development, serves as a tool for healing, and shapes our experiences in media and culture. From the early pioneers of emotional music to the latest technological advancements, this book offers a deep dive into how music moves us. Whether you're a musician, therapist, or music lover, Music and Emotion: Connecting Through Melody provides valuable insights and practical knowledge to enhance your understanding of music's emotional power.
An exploration of musical harmony from its ancient fundamentals to its most complex modern progressions, addressing how and why it resonates emotionally and spiritually in the individual. W. A. Mathieu, an accomplished author and recording artist, presents a way of learning music that reconnects modern-day musicians with the source from which music was originally generated. As the author states, "The rules of music--including counterpoint and harmony--were not formed in our brains but in the resonance chambers of our bodies." His theory of music reconciles the ancient harmonic system of just intonation with the modern system of twelve-tone temperament. Saying that the way we think music is far from the way we do music, Mathieu explains why certain combinations of sounds are experienced by the listener as harmonious. His prose often resembles the rhythms and cadences of music itself, and his many musical examples allow readers to discover their own musical responses.
