Treatise on Harmony (Paperback)

by Jean-Philippe Rameau (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

One of most important books in Western music. Detailed explanation of principles of diatonic harmonic theory. New 1971 translation by Philip Gossett of 1722 edition. Many musical examples.

Language Notes
Text: English, French (translation)

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Product Details Paperback: 491 pages Publisher: Dover Publications (June 1, 1971) Language: English ISBN-10: 0486224619 ISBN-13: 978-0486224619 Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #123,324 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in these categories: (What's this?) #12 in  Books > Entertainment > Sheet Music & Scores > Historical Period > Baroque #61 in  Books > Entertainment > Music > Theory, Composition & Performance > Composition

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Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Flap | Back Cover

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Citations (learn more)

58 books cite this book:

• A History of 'Consonance' and 'Dissonance' by J. Tenney on 7 pages
• Bach's Works for Solo Violin: Style, Structure, Performance by Joel Lester on 5 pages
• Bach's Works for Solo Violin: Style, Structure, Performance by Joel Lester on 5 pages
• Harmonic Function in Chromatic Music: A Renewed Dualist Theory and an Account of Its Precedents by Daniel Harrison on 4 pages
• Music Analysis in the Nineteenth Century: Volume 1, Fugue, Form and Style (Cambridge Readings in the Literature of Music) by Ian Bent in Front Matter, page 26, and page 37

See all 58 books citing this book

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	65% buy the item featured on this page: Treatise on Harmony 4.0 out of 5 stars (5) $14.96
	14% buy Study of Counterpoint: From Johann Joseph Fux's Gradus Ad Parnassum 4.8 out of 5 stars (24) $12.21
	8% buy The Study of Fugue 5.0 out of 5 stars (5) $10.85
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5 Reviews 5 star:  (3) 4 star:  (1) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:  (1)           Average Customer Review 4.0 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 17 of 17 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars An especially imporant work in the history of music theory, December 2, 2005 By  Craig Matteson (Ann Arbor, MI) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    The importance of this work in the history of music would be hard to overestimate. While later music theorists and analysts, such as Schenker, find this emphasis on chords to be destructive to the horizontal considerations that make a great work hold together, this work has influence so many people that even those that do not even know his name but talk about root position chords and their inversions are invoking his concepts without realizing the source. No, this is not a textbook for students. It is a treatise that explains in depth aspects of music that Rameau felt important and that he felt were essential for him to impart to other musicians. Composers of all stripes have consulted this work as have performers. Rameau has great authority because he was also a significant (if not great) composer. The translation is quite good and easy to read. The concepts are not hard, but it helps to understand aspects of Baroque music such as figured bass and the types of pieces that were important in that era. Some grounding in species counterpoint would also make things easier, but is not absolutely necessary. This book is really something all serious musicians need to know. You can take from it what you want for your own musical practice, but it really is not possible to consider yourself musically informed without knowing this work directly. 41 of 50 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars recommended, September 14, 1999 By A Customer Jean-Phillipe Rameau is, of course, the most esteemed French composer of the late Baroque period (comparable in stature only to J.S. Bach, Vivaldi, and Handel). He is also quite possibly the most influential music theorist ever to have lived. His theory of root progression profoundly altered Western-European-derived music, for the better and for the worse (as his contemporary detractors warned it would--by greatly simplifying the study of harmony such that it could be easily abused). But Rameau's works have rarely been made available in English translation. This is book that belongs on every music theorist's, composer's, and music teacher's shelf. (I impatiently await further volumes of Rameau's works in English translation.) Also recommended: "Pentatonic Scales for the Jazz-Rock Keyboardist" by Jeff Burns 8 of 8 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A Tonal Harmony Classic, November 26, 2005 By  H. R. Barrionuevo "H.R.B." - See all my reviews This treatise constitutes a touchstone document in the theory of European art music, especially, that from ca. 1600-1850. It is a great tool, not only for historians of the music and music theory of the 17th- and 18th- centuries, but also, for historians of science interested in acoustics. Definite recommendation!		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 1.0 out of 5 stars Definitely too vague I bought this book because of the positive reviews it got from others but it definitely misses the point with me. Read more Published on August 22, 2005 by Witold Marton 5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book This is a great book but I wouldnt give it to a beginner a better book would be "Harmony and Voiceleading" by Schacter and Aldwell or "The Theory and Practice of Tone Relations"... Read more Published on May 9, 2004 Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 491 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (June 1, 1971)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486224619
• ISBN-13: 978-0486224619
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #123,324 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #12 in	Books > Entertainment > Sheet Music & Scores > Historical Period > Baroque
  #61 in	Books > Entertainment > Music > Theory, Composition & Performance > Composition

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An especially imporant work in the history of music theory, December 2, 2005

By	Craig Matteson (Ann Arbor, MI) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

The importance of this work in the history of music would be hard to overestimate. While later music theorists and analysts, such as Schenker, find this emphasis on chords to be destructive to the horizontal considerations that make a great work hold together, this work has influence so many people that even those that do not even know his name but talk about root position chords and their inversions are invoking his concepts without realizing the source.

No, this is not a textbook for students. It is a treatise that explains in depth aspects of music that Rameau felt important and that he felt were essential for him to impart to other musicians. Composers of all stripes have consulted this work as have performers. Rameau has great authority because he was also a significant (if not great) composer.

The translation is quite good and easy to read. The concepts are not hard, but it helps to understand aspects of Baroque music such as figured bass and the types of pieces that were important in that era. Some grounding in species counterpoint would also make things easier, but is not absolutely necessary.

This book is really something all serious musicians need to know. You can take from it what you want for your own musical practice, but it really is not possible to consider yourself musically informed without knowing this work directly.

41 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars recommended, September 14, 1999

By A Customer

Jean-Phillipe Rameau is, of course, the most esteemed French composer of the late Baroque period (comparable in stature only to J.S. Bach, Vivaldi, and Handel). He is also quite possibly the most influential music theorist ever to have lived. His theory of root progression profoundly altered Western-European-derived music, for the better and for the worse (as his contemporary detractors warned it would--by greatly simplifying the study of harmony such that it could be easily abused). But Rameau's works have rarely been made available in English translation. This is book that belongs on every music theorist's, composer's, and music teacher's shelf. (I impatiently await further volumes of Rameau's works in English translation.)

Also recommended: "Pentatonic Scales for the Jazz-Rock Keyboardist" by Jeff Burns

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Tonal Harmony Classic, November 26, 2005

By	H. R. Barrionuevo "H.R.B." - See all my reviews

This treatise constitutes a touchstone document in the theory of European art music, especially, that from ca. 1600-1850. It is a great tool, not only for historians of the music and music theory of the 17th- and 18th- centuries, but also, for historians of science interested in acoustics. Definite recommendation!