Techniques and Materials of Music: From the Common Practice Period Through the Twentieth Century

New edition of a text intended for the first two years of college theory courses, not including ear training and sight-singing. Benjamin (Peabody Conservatory), and Michael Horvit and Robert Nelson of the Moores School of Music cover the rudiments of music (although the entering student lacking a strong background might need a preliminary, more fundamental course); the harmonic, melodic, rhythmic, and basic formal elements; and an introduction to compositional techniques developed during the 20th century. A final section summarizes topics introduced throughout the text such as doubling, voice leading, chord-choice criteria, textures, formal structures, analytical procedures, and others. The authors suggest that the text be used together with an anthology of musical examples in order to focus on the music itself. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR