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Revisiting Music Theory: A Guide to the Practice
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Revisiting Music Theory: A Guide to the Practice Hardcover - 2007 - 1st Edition

by Alfred Blatter


From the publisher

Revisiting Music Theory: A Guide to the Practice contains the basics of music theory with the vocabulary used in harmonic and formal analysis. The book assumes few music reading skills, and progresses to include the basic materials of music from J. S. Bach to the twentieth century. Based on Blatter's own three decades of teaching music theory, this book 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. Drawing examples from well-known classical works, as well as folk and popular music, the book shows how theory is applied to practice.

The book is divided into five parts. The first part introduces music notation, reviewing the basics of pitch, time, and dynamics as represented in written music. Part 2 introduces the concept of melody, covering modes, scales, scale degrees, and melodic form. Part 3 introduces harmony, dealing with harmonic progression, rhythm, and chord types. Part 4 addresses part writing and harmonic analysis. Finally, Part 5 addresses musical form, and how form is used to structure a composition.

Revisiting Music Theory will be a valuable textbook for students, professors, and professionals.

Details

  • Title Revisiting Music Theory: A Guide to the Practice
  • Author Alfred Blatter
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Edition number 1st
  • Edition 1
  • Pages 352
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Routledge
  • Date May 3, 2007
  • Illustrated Yes
  • ISBN 9780415974394 / 0415974399
  • Library of Congress subjects Music theory
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 2006031392
  • Dewey Decimal Code 781

Media reviews

Citations

  • Reference and Research Bk News, 11/01/2007, Page 232

About the author

Alfred Blatter is on the faculty of The Curtis Institute of Music. A professor emeritus and former head of the Department of Performing Arts at Drexel University, he is a composer, hornist, and conductor. His compositions are published by Tromba Press, BIM, and Media Press. Schirmer published his book, Instrumentation and Orchestration (2/e), in 1997.