The Dynamics of Harmony

This is a readable and imaginative book presenting, with infectious enthusiasm, a sensible simplification of the main processes of classical harmony in the Bach-Schubert period. George Pratt's explanations of concepts such as 'real' and 'substitute' chords. of false distinctions between 'major' and 'minor' and of the simple basis of seemingly complex chromatic harmony enables readers to grasp the principles of harmonic progression, and to see most progressions as a form of 'dominant-powered' movement. He focuses his study on Bach chorales, Mozart piano sonatas, and a Schubert song cycle, thereby providing depth, variety and a realistic sense of a context of 'real music' to his explanations and to the exercises. But he also offers the reader an immediate invitation to apply the same principles to an immense range of musical literature from Monteverdi to Scott Joplin.

ISBN 0198790201   DEWEY edition DC21 ISBN13 9780198790204 (What's this?)   Pages 160 Publisher Oxford University Press   Volumes 000 Imprint Oxford University Press   Weight (grammes) 268 Format Paperback   Published in Oxford Publication date 10 Oct 1996   Height (mm) 234 Non-book description x, 148 p. :   Width (mm) 156 Library of Congress MT50.P913   Spine width (mm) 10 DEWEY 781.25   Academic level Professional / Scholarly

		Foreword
		Acknowledgements
		Introduction
Ch. 1		Static harmony, consonance and dissonance		2
Ch. 2		Dominant to tonic		9
Ch. 3		Interlude I: the major-minor misapprehension		24
Ch. 4		Second level dominants		30
Ch. 5		Third level dominants - and beyond		37
Ch. 6		Interlude II: a note on inversions		46
Ch. 7		Closing the circle		51
Ch. 8		Segments of the circle and excursions on the way round		60
Ch. 9		Interlude III: the linear flow of parts in chorales - and elsewhere		72
Ch. 10		Substitutes, thirds and steps		87
Ch. 11		More colourful dominants: diminished sevenths		98
Ch. 12		More colourful dominants: augmented and Neapolitan sixths		107
Ch. 13		Interlude IV: more on piano textures		116
Ch. 14		Irresolute progressions, episodic six-threes, reverse thrusts and pedals		122
Ch. 15		Harmonic puns and further modulation		133
Ch. 16		Further exploration		146
		Selected index		149

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