Structural functions of harmony (Unknown Binding)

by Arnold Schoenberg (Author) "A TRIAD standing alone is entirely indefinite in its harmonic meaning; it may be the tonic of one tonality or one degree of several others..." (more)
Key Phrases: roving harmony, vagrant harmonies, substitute tones, String Quartet, Arnold Schoenberg, Piano Quintet (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This book is Schoenberg's last completed theoretical work and represents his final thoughts on the subject of classical and romantic harmony. The earlier chapters recapitulate in condensed form the principles laid down in his Theory of Harmony; the later chapters break entirely new ground, for they analyze the system of key relationships within the structure of whole movements and affirm the principle of "monotonality," showing how all modulations within a movement are merely deviations from, and not negations of, its main tonality.

Schoenberg's argument is supported by music examples, which range from entire development sections of classical symphonies to analyses of the experimental harmonic progressions of Strauss, Debussy, Reger, and Schoenberg's own early music. The final chapter, "Apollonian Evaluation of a Dionysian Epoch," discusses the music of our time, with particular reference to the possibility of new methods of harmonic analysis.

Structural Functions of Harmony is a standard work on its subject and provides an invaluable key to the development of musical structure during the last two hundred and fifty years. This new edition, with corrections, a new preface, and an index of subject headings, has been prepared under the editorial supervision of Leonard Stein. . --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Unknown Binding: 203 pages
• Publisher: Benn; 2nd (revised) ed.; edition (1969)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0510359108
• ISBN-13: 978-0510359102
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,603,161 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Important book, but make sure you have a solid background before you take this on., November 29, 2005

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

This review is from: Structural Functions of Harmony (Revised Edition) (Paperback)

This is an important book because it is a document written by Arnold Schoenberg. He wrote it from the way he taught his students harmony. If you know Schoenberg's tonal music you know how highly chromatic it is. It moves from tonal center to tonal center almost without the listener understanding how far they are traveling. This book uses his concept of region and that is not something taught in your freshman - sophomore theory courses.

If you want to read this book, make SURE you have a strong grounding in traditional theory first. Then ground yourself in Schoenberg's treatise on harmony. Then take on this little book. Otherwise it will be opaque to you.

However, just because you can't understand what the composer wrote, don't suppose that it is nonsense or dismiss it because of your own lack of comprehension. Schoenberg was a very important composer and understood the methods of composition very well. He certainly had his own views, however idiosyncratic they may be. It is simply that when you are Schoenberg you can do things lesser musicians cannot.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars not for beginners, January 2, 2007

By	Nico "Composer, Conductor and Pianist" (Italy) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Structural Functions of Harmony (Revised Edition) (Paperback)

Well it looks like naj "jak" here is almost as clueless as he thinks the book is. He should know that Theory of Harmony is not a book to LEARN harmony, its a book that teaches you in detail the purposes and most advanced properties of such. If you're looking to begin music, do not buy this book. If you are a musician looking for a (in my opinion) genius's perspective on one of the most fundamental elements of music...then thats the book for you.

25 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Advanced harmony theory concerning mainly on Region concept., January 19, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Structural Functions of Harmony (Revised Edition) (Paperback)

It deals with advanced harmony theory based on traditional theory. This book introduces Region concept of harmony. It is eccential concept for understanding the structure of harmony progression related with modulation. But I was able to find it only from this text, any other books of harmony do not deal with such concept.