Theories and Analyses of Twentieth-Century Music - Hardcover

Williams, J. Kent

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 015500316X ISBN 13: 9780155003163

Publisher: Cengage Learning, 1980

Synopsis

This introduction to the theories and analytical approaches of contemporary Western art music focuses primarily on pitch, but also treats rhythm and meter, texture, and form. Analyses of three songs exemplifying distinct modes of pitch organization (functional tonality, atonality, and neotonality) engage students, helping them understand the implications of what they have learned. Williams covers the fundamentals of set theory, and then expands on these fundamentals in chapters on diatonicism, symmetrical sets, neotonality, free atonality, and serialism. The author also explores more recent compositional techniques, such as chance and indeterminacy, minimalism, and eclecticism.

About this title

Review:

Part I: Pitch Organization: An Introduction. 1. Functional Tonality. Part II: Fundamentals of Set Theory. 2. Integer Representation. 3. Transposition. 4. Inversion. 5. Basic Operations with Unordered Sets. 6. The Universe of Set-Types. Part III: Other Aspects. 7. Rhythm and Meter. 8. Texture. 9. Form, Process, and Time. Part IV: Pitch Organization: A Closer Look. 10. Diatonicism and Pentatonicism. 11. Symmetrical Sets. 12. New Concepts of Tonality. 13. Neotonaltiy Analyzed. 14. Free Atonality. 15. Serialism. Part V: Recent Development. 16. Chance and Indeterminacy. 17. Minimalism. 18. Eclecticism and the Revival of Tonality Reference Material Table of Tn/TnI-Types. Glossary of Jazz Chord Symbols. Bibliography. Index of Topics and Names.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cengage Learning
• Publication date: 1980
• ISBN 10: 015500316X
• ISBN 13: 9780155003163
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 320