Thesaurus of Abstract Musical Properties: A Theoretical and Compositional Resource (Music Reference Collection) [Hardcover]

Jeffrey Johnson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0313293929 | ISBN-13: 978-0313293924 | Publication Date: April 30, 1995

The discovery and application of abstract musical properties has had a prominent role in compositional and theoretical literature during the past 40 years, and an accumulation of source material has been produced that makes a single cross-referenced source essential for standard working procedures. Abstract musical properties, most often associated with analytical or compositional systems, are presented here in an unbiased context that allows the reader freedom of association and interpretation. This type of reference is an important tool for anyone who uses set-class analysis in coursework, or independent thesis research. This book is intended to help verify musical intuition and has an immediate practical application for composers and theorists curious about intervallic properties and transformational potentials of any pitch-class set. It can provide supplemental material for coursework involving theory, analysis, and stylistic awareness of compositional or analytical styles, and also for learning and confirming economical presentations characteristic of recent music-theoretical literature. Organized in two parts, the first is a profile of all set-classes in charts allowing quick comparisons among them, including set-class reference tables, set-classes arranged by ascending interval-class vectors, and a summary of transformational invariances. The second part focuses on individual set-classes, listing its contents, subsets, and significant references to the collection in musical or theoretical literature. Internal segmentations of each set-class that are more structurally informative and memorizable than prime-forms are offered. Three appendices, an extensive bibliography, an index of selected analytical viewpoint and styles, and an index of terms are also included.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“...an impressive resource on the set-theoretic approach to musical analysis. The author provides clear and concise explanations of the principles underlying set-theoretic approaches, with liberal references to an excellent 30-page bibliography. Upper-division undergraduate and above.”–Choice

“This base of information is informative to the serious musician both in the analysis of specific musical works as well as in the composition. ... The information is thorough and logically presented. this allows the researcher to move easily from one set to another. ... Advanced graduate students in theory, compostion, and analysis may find it useful. Acousticians, phsicists, and mathematicians may also find this sort of quantitative information valuable.”–ARBA

About the Author

JEFFREY JOHNSON is currently full-time instructor of Music Theory in the Choir Academy of the Boy's Choir of Harlem.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 344 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood Press (April 30, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313293929
• ISBN-13: 978-0313293924
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,303,905 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Reference, June 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Thesaurus of Abstract Musical Properties: A Theoretical and Compositional Resource (Music Reference Collection) (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful reference tool for a music theorists, or composer. Dedicated to the set-theoretic ideas in music this book contains a detailed listing of every set possible in music. The beggining of the book contains several useful set-theory charts. Each page thereafter contains a single set, it's normal order, and all of its permutations. Also a paragraph describes any mention of other theorists designations about that set, the tonal implications of that set, and pieces of music were that set is prominent. The end of the book contains a listing of every possible ascending order not combination... a quick reference guide to identify what set a collection of pitches is, without any calculation. This book is invaluable for theorists and composers both. This book is a must have for any serious music library.