Techniques of Twentieth Century Composition, 2nd Edition

by Leon Dallin

Book Overview

The Author offers music techniques. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0697036103
• ISBN13: 9780697036100
• Release Date: January 1972
• Publisher: Wm. C. Brown Company Publishers
• Length: 242 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Excellent Guide for Music Composition with Examples

From Preface: "Techniques of 20th Century composition are surveyed and illustrated. The examples, chosen on the basis of illustrating clearly the point under consideration, are drawn exclusively from the works of recognized composers. The coverage is comprehensive rather than selective. All important styles and procedures are included, but it is not suggested that every significant work and composer are represented. The present volume evolved from efforts extending back to the 1940s to develop a logical systematic presentation of the techniques and materials of 20th century music to classes in composition and modern music." ****** CONTENTS: 1 - Introduction 2 - Melodic Contour and Organization 3 - Modal Melodic Resources 4 - Distinctive 20th Century Melodic Practices * Nonvocal Melodic Lines * Additional Scale Resources * Expanded Tonality * Contemporary Harmonic Influence * Melodic Doubling * Suggested Assignments 5 - Harmonic Structure * Superimposed Thirds * Chords of Addition and Omission * Polychords * Nontertial Sonorities 6 - Harmonic Progression * Modal Quality * Change of Mode -- Free Relation of Quality * Root Relationships * Parallelism 7 - Rhythm and Meter * Nonaccentual Rhythms * Shifted Accents * Asymmetric Divisions * Asymmetric Meters * Changing Meters 8 - Tonality * Free Relationships of Tonality * Shifted Tonality * Dual Modality * Polytonality * Pandiatonicism 9 - Cadences * Modified Dominants * Modified Tonics * Linear Cadences * Noncadential Endings 10 - Nonharmonic Materials 11 - Motivation of Harmony * Motivation of New Harmonic Resources * Contemporary Rhythm in Harmonic Motivation * Ostinato 12 - Thematic Metamorphosis * Transposition and Sequence * Systematic Modifications of Contour * Systematic Modifications of Rhythm * Other Modifications 13 - Imitative Procedures * Direct Imitation * Modified Imitation 14 - The Twelve-Tone Technique * Formation of the Series * 12-tone Lines * 12-tone Texture 15 - Experiments and Innovations * Microtones * Rhythmic Reading and Sprechstimme * Electronic Music * System and Chance Music * Suggested Assignments 16 - Digest of Forms * Part Forms * Rondo Forms * Sonata Forms * Contrapuntal Forms * Variation Forms * Multi-movement Forms * Vocal Forms * Program and Dramatic Music * Contemporary Adaptations 17 - Practical Suggestions

Best Music Theory Book I've Read

Having completed only one semester of music theory in college (decades ago), I could get lost pretty quickly in a book such as this. But I couldn't have found a more immediately useful resource. Dallin gives concise examples from works of the composers I've been especially focusing on: Bartok, Stravinsky, Ravel, Debussy, and many others. He wastes no words, giving explanations and examples that are as brief and simple as they could possibly be. And Dallin's common sense makes quick work of definitions and discussions that other authors would have labored over excessively.