Tonality and Transformation (Oxford Studies in Music Theory)

Tonality And Transformation Is A Groundbreaking Study In The Analysis Of Tonal Music. Focusing On The Listener's Experience, Author Steven Rings Employs Transformational Music Theory To Illuminate Diverse Aspects Of Tonal Hearing - From The Infusion Of Sounding Pitches With Familiar Tonal Qualities To Sensations Of Directedness And Attraction. In The Process, Rings Introduces A Host Of New Analytical Techniques For The Study Of The Tonal Repertory, Demonstrating Their Application In Vivid Interpretive Set Pieces On Music From Bach To Mahler. The Analyses Place The Book's Novel Techniques In Dialogue With Existing Tonal Methodologies, Such As Schenkerian Theory, Avoiding Partisan Debate In Favor Of A Methodologically Careful, Pluralistic Approach. Rings Also Engages Neo-riemannian Theory-a Popular Branch Of Transformational Thought Focused On Chromatic Harmony-reanimating Its Basic Operations With Tonal Dynamism And Bringing Them Into Closer Rapprochement With Traditional Tonal Concepts. Written In A Direct And Engaging Style, With Lively Prose And Plain-english Descriptions Of All Technical Ideas, Tonality And Transformation Balances Theoretical Substance With Accessibility: It Will Appeal To Both Specialists And Non-specialists. It Is A Particularly Attractive Volume For Those New To Transformational Theory: In Addition To Its Original Theoretical Content, The Book Offers An Excellent Introduction To Transformational Thought, Including A Chapter That Outlines The Theory's Conceptual Foundations And Formal Apparatus, As Well As A Glossary Of Common Technical Terms. A Contribution To Our Understanding Of Tonal Phenomenology And A Landmark In The Analytical Application Of Transformational Techniques, Tonality And Transformation Is An Indispensible Work Of Music Theory [publisher Description]. Pt. 1. Theory And Methodology. Intervals, Transformations, And Tonal Analysis -- A Tonal Gis -- Oriented Networks -- Pt. 2. Analytical Essays. Bach, Fugue In E Major, Well-tempered Clavier, Book Ii, Bwv 878 -- Mozart, Un'aura Amorosa, From Così Fan Tutte -- Brahms, Intermezzo In A Major, Op. 118, No. 2 -- Brahms, String Quintet In G Major, Mvt. Ii, Adagio. Steven Rings. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This book employs transformational theory to illuminate the experience of tonal music. In addition to providing an accessible primer on transformational theory, the book introduces new theoretical constructs to model familiar tonal effects. Two effects are central: the infusion of sounding pitches with tonal qualities (or qualia) and the orientation of pitches toward a tonic. Tonal qualities are modeled via a Generalized Interval System (or GIS), while tonic directedness is modeled by oriented transformational networks. The arrows in such networks animate a special class of transformational action called tonal intention—the directing of the listener's awareness toward a tonal center. The book divides into two parts. Part I addresses theoretical and methodological issues, while Part II comprises four extended analytical chapters. The analytical chapters explore the E-major Fugue from Book II of the Well-Tempered Clavier; the aria “Un’aura amorosa” from Mozart's Così fan tutte; Brahms's A-major Intermezzo, op. 118, no. 2; and the slow movement from Brahms's String Quintet, op. 111. Analytical vignettes are present throughout Part I as well, demonstrating the efficacy of the book's theoretical ideas in music from Bach to Mahler. The analyses place the book's novel technologies in dialogue with existing methods for tonal analysis, including Schenkerian theory and neo-Riemannian theory Cover 1 Contents 6 Acknowledgments 8 Note to Readers 10 A Note on Orthography 12 Introduction 16 PART I: Theory and Methodology 22 Chapter 1: Intervals, Transformations, and Tonal Analysis 24 Chapter 2: A Tonal GIS 56 Chapter 3: Oriented Networks 116 PART II: Analytical Essays 164 Chapter 4: Bach, Fugue in E major, Well-Tempered Clavier , Book II, BWV 878 166 Chapter 5: Mozart, “Un’aura amorosa” from Così fan tutte 190 Chapter 6: Brahms, Intermezzo in A major, op. 118, no. 2 204 Chapter 7: Brahms, String Quintet in G major, mvt. ii, Adagio 224 Afterword 248 Glossary 250 A 250 B 250 C 250 D 251 F 252 G 252 H 254 I 254 L 255 M 255 N 255 O 255 R 255 S 256 T 257 U 257 Works Cited 258 Index 266 A 266 B 266 C 266 D 267 E 267 F 267 G 267 H 267 I 268 J 268 K 268 L 268 M 268 N 269 O 269 P 269 Q 269 R 269 S 269 T 270 U 270 V 270 W 270 Z 270 9780195384277 Oxford University Press Premium Tonality and Transformation employs transformational music theory to illuminate diverse aspects of tonal hearing-from the infusion of sounding pitches with familiar tonal qualities to sensations of directedness and attraction. The book introduces many new analytical techniques, which are employed in vivid interpretive set pieces treating music from Bach to Mahler.