Basic Forms In Music

Musical forms are illustrated through representative literature of all periods. Includes complete examples as well as suggestions for further listening and analytical experiences.

"This text is intended primarily for students of college level who have had at least one year of theory: in most colleges and universities this means two semesters or the equivalent. A modest knowledge of harmony, extending to the more common altered chords such as augmented sixths and diminished sevenths, is assumed. Also, the student should understand the forms and functions of ordinary cadences. An attempt has been made here to bring some order to the study of subphrase units, especially motives. This and the subsequent study of phrases and phrase-groups are the two most important steps in any approach to musical form. They are fundamental to all styles and types of music. The story of the elementary forms and how they grew is a sort of capsule history of music. The subject is pursued in this book beyond the traditional classical forms in order to investigate certain adaptations of these old forms. Some of the miscellaneous studies in Chapter 12 are concerned with definite hybrid types. Great emphasis is placed on student participation. Modest opportunities for original composition (a most valuable instructional techniqe) are included as optional assignments in the early chapters. The instructor can, at his discretion, add to these or omit them. The making of graphs compels a student to analyze the formal details of a composition and reduce them to a visible form on paper in a manner permitting easy correction. Here, again, the instructor can determine subject matter for such analyses according to his own preferences and experience. The final chapter devoted to recent music touches on what appears to the author to be the more important advances or developments in compositional techniques affecting form in our time." --Preface.

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900's and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

Analyzing Classical Form offers an approach to the analysis of musical form that is especially suited for classroom use at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Students will learn how to make complete harmonic and formal analyses of music drawn from the instrumental works of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.

Clear, elementary explanation of basic forms, Renaissance to 1900, with many works analyzed. Nature and function of concerto, sonata, etc., clarified with nonmusical analogies; illustrated in detailed analysis of specific piece of music.

This practical, easy-to-use, self-study course is perfect for pianists, guitarists, instrumentalists, vocalists, songwriters, arrangers and composers, and includes ear training CDs to help develop your musical ear. In this all-in-one theory course, you will learn the essentials of music through 75 concise lessons, practice your music reading and writing skills in the exercises, improve your listening skills with the enclosed ear training CDs, and test your knowledge with a review that completes each of the 18 units. Answers are included in the back of the book for all exercises, ear training and review.

Understanding the way music unfolds to the listener is a major key for unlocking the secrets of the composer’s art. Musical Form and Analysis, highly regarded and widely used for two decades, provides a balanced theoretical and philosophical approach that helps upper-level undergraduate music majors understand the structures and constructions of major musical forms. Spring and Hutcheson present all of the standard topics expected in such a text, but their approach offers a unique conceptual thrust that takes readers beyond mere analytical terminology and facts. Evocative rather than encyclopedic, the text is organized around three elements at work at all levels of music: time, pattern, and proportion. Well-chosen examples and direct, well-crafted assignments reinforce techniques. A 140-page anthology of music for in-depth analysis provides a wide range of carefully selected works.