A Theory of Harmony: With A New Introduction by Paul Wilkinson

The classic work on Levy's theory of negative harmony.

Ernst Levy was a visionary Swiss pianist, composer, and teacher who developed an approach to music theory that has come to be known as "negative harmony." Levy's theories have had a wide influence, from young British performer/composer Jacob Collier to jazz musicians like Steve Coleman. His posthumous text, A Theory of Harmony, summarizes his innovative ideas. A Theory of Harmony is a highly original explanation of the harmonic language of the modern era, illuminating the approaches of diverse styles of music. By breaking through age-old conceptions, Levy was able to reorient the way we experience musical harmony.

British composer/music pedagogue Paul Wilkinson has written a new introduction that offers multiple points of entry to Levy's work to make this text more accessible for a new generation of students, performers, and theorists. He relates Levy's work to innovations in improvisation, jazz, twentieth-century classical music, and the theoretical writings of a wide range of musical mavericks, including Harry Partch, Hugo Riemann, and David Lewin. Wilkinson shows how A Theory of Harmony continues to inspire original musical expression across multiple musical genres.

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A Theory of Harmony: With A New Introduction by Paul Wilkinson

The classic work on Levy's theory of negative harmony.

Ernst Levy was a visionary Swiss pianist, composer, and teacher who developed an approach to music theory that has come to be known as "negative harmony." Levy's theories have had a wide influence, from young British performer/composer Jacob Collier to jazz musicians like Steve Coleman. His posthumous text, A Theory of Harmony, summarizes his innovative ideas. A Theory of Harmony is a highly original explanation of the harmonic language of the modern era, illuminating the approaches of diverse styles of music. By breaking through age-old conceptions, Levy was able to reorient the way we experience musical harmony.

British composer/music pedagogue Paul Wilkinson has written a new introduction that offers multiple points of entry to Levy's work to make this text more accessible for a new generation of students, performers, and theorists. He relates Levy's work to innovations in improvisation, jazz, twentieth-century classical music, and the theoretical writings of a wide range of musical mavericks, including Harry Partch, Hugo Riemann, and David Lewin. Wilkinson shows how A Theory of Harmony continues to inspire original musical expression across multiple musical genres.

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A Theory of Harmony: With A New Introduction by Paul Wilkinson

A Theory of Harmony: With A New Introduction by Paul Wilkinson

A Theory of Harmony: With A New Introduction by Paul Wilkinson

A Theory of Harmony: With A New Introduction by Paul Wilkinson

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$32.95 

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Overview

The classic work on Levy's theory of negative harmony.

Ernst Levy was a visionary Swiss pianist, composer, and teacher who developed an approach to music theory that has come to be known as "negative harmony." Levy's theories have had a wide influence, from young British performer/composer Jacob Collier to jazz musicians like Steve Coleman. His posthumous text, A Theory of Harmony, summarizes his innovative ideas. A Theory of Harmony is a highly original explanation of the harmonic language of the modern era, illuminating the approaches of diverse styles of music. By breaking through age-old conceptions, Levy was able to reorient the way we experience musical harmony.

British composer/music pedagogue Paul Wilkinson has written a new introduction that offers multiple points of entry to Levy's work to make this text more accessible for a new generation of students, performers, and theorists. He relates Levy's work to innovations in improvisation, jazz, twentieth-century classical music, and the theoretical writings of a wide range of musical mavericks, including Harry Partch, Hugo Riemann, and David Lewin. Wilkinson shows how A Theory of Harmony continues to inspire original musical expression across multiple musical genres.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781438496320
Publisher: State University of New York Press
Publication date: 01/01/2024
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 132
File size: 4 MB
Age Range: 18 Years

About the Author

Ernst Levy (1895–1981) was a Swiss music theorist, composer, and conductor.

Table of Contents

New Introduction
Paul Wilkinson
Editor's Preface to the First Edition
Pitch Designations
Foreword to the First Edition

1. Tone Structure

2. Polarity

3. The Triad

4. Consonance-Dissonance

5. The Natural Seventh

6. Temperament

7. Tonal Functions of Intervals

8. Tonal Functions of Triads

9. Tonal Functions of Nontriadic and Compound Chords

Summary
Appendices
A. Examples to Chapter 8
B. Comments on the Text by Hugo Kauder

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