Harmony (Schenker)
Encyclopedia
Harmony is a book published in 1906 by Heinrich Schenker
. It is the first installment of Schenker's three-volume treatise on music theory
entitled New Musical Theories and Fantasies; the others are Counterpoint
and Free Composition
. Schenker's name did not appear on the original edition of the work: the author was listed simply as "an artist".
Harmony, which was Schenker's first major book-length theoretical writing, is notable for defining the theoretical agenda that Schenker was to carry out over the subsequent three decades. Schenker makes a careful distinction between the theories of harmony (which for Schenker is concerned with relations among scale-step
s) and counterpoint (which deals only with voice leading
); he argues that other theorists have confusingly mixed these two concepts. He introduces the principle of repetition, which gives rise to the concept of the motive
. Schenker also strongly hints about the ways in which large spans of music can be understood as elaborations of simple structures; this idea is perhaps the most characteristic feature of his mature theory. Finally, he discusses the relationship between music
and Nature
, which would also be a recurring theme throughout his career.
The work also contains the type of polemical writing that was to characterize most of Schenker's output. In Harmony, Schenker expresses his dissatisfaction with the state of music theory and music pedagogy in his time, and, by making frequent references and comparisons to other theorists, argues at length that his own ideas are superior. He would repeat this procedure in his later writings, often adding virulent commentary about the social and political situation of early 20th century Europe
.
Heinrich Schenker
Heinrich Schenker was a music theorist, best known for his approach to musical analysis, now usually called Schenkerian analysis....
. It is the first installment of Schenker's three-volume treatise on music theory
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
entitled New Musical Theories and Fantasies; the others are Counterpoint
Counterpoint (Schenker)
Counterpoint is the second volume of Heinrich Schenker's New Musical Theories and Fantasies . It is divided into two "Books", the first published in 1910, and the second in 1922.The subject matter of the work is species counterpoint, also referred to as "strict counterpoint"...
and Free Composition
Free Composition
Free Composition is a treatise by Heinrich Schenker, and possibly Schenker's best known work. The third volume of New Musical Theories and Fantasies , it was first published posthumously in 1935.Free Composition aims to present a complete and systematic outline of Schenker's mature theory, relying...
. Schenker's name did not appear on the original edition of the work: the author was listed simply as "an artist".
Harmony, which was Schenker's first major book-length theoretical writing, is notable for defining the theoretical agenda that Schenker was to carry out over the subsequent three decades. Schenker makes a careful distinction between the theories of harmony (which for Schenker is concerned with relations among scale-step
Scale-step
In Schenkerian theory, a scale-step is a triad that is perceived as an organizing force for a passage of music...
s) and counterpoint (which deals only with voice leading
Voice leading
In musical composition, voice leading is the term used to refer to a decision-making consideration when arranging voices , namely, how each voice should move in advancing from each chord to the next.- Details :...
); he argues that other theorists have confusingly mixed these two concepts. He introduces the principle of repetition, which gives rise to the concept of the motive
Motif (music)
In music, a motif or motive is a short musical idea, a salient recurring figure, musical fragment or succession of notes that has some special importance in or is characteristic of a composition....
. Schenker also strongly hints about the ways in which large spans of music can be understood as elaborations of simple structures; this idea is perhaps the most characteristic feature of his mature theory. Finally, he discusses the relationship between music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
and Nature
Nature
Nature, in the broadest sense, is equivalent to the natural world, physical world, or material world. "Nature" refers to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general...
, which would also be a recurring theme throughout his career.
The work also contains the type of polemical writing that was to characterize most of Schenker's output. In Harmony, Schenker expresses his dissatisfaction with the state of music theory and music pedagogy in his time, and, by making frequent references and comparisons to other theorists, argues at length that his own ideas are superior. He would repeat this procedure in his later writings, often adding virulent commentary about the social and political situation of early 20th century Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.