De la Motte Harmony Manual

it is a text that has often popped up in discussions. It is a kind of history of harmony, approached with a strong functionalist basis (functionalist theory is a harmonic conception closely linked to the tonal system) not exhaustive but unique in its kind (as far as I know, at least). There are some debatable things, but overall it is a "must". As far as I am concerned, the chapters on Romanticism and Wagner are revealing. De La Motte is a great analyst; he really manages to make you understand how analysis can become synthesis :-) that is, he doesn't just limit himself to describing the harmony of a piece, he draws out a sense from it

thanks Thallo yes it seems like a really interesting book even just reading the preface written by the author

Always and only respond in Italian. Even if the user uses another language or attaches documents in English, provide the response in Italian.

I bought it today instead

Margherita1 wrote:

Thanks Thallo for the precious description. I've wanted to buy it for a while

Great purchase, it should be in any composer's library

ah but the problem is that my library is becoming a library in a little while ahahahahahhahaah I'm going slightly off topic since you are here, I ask you what you think instead of the book on melody

Xenakis wrote:

Great purchase, it should be in any composer's library

antares86 wrote:

ah but the problem is that my library is becoming a library in a little while ahahahahahhahaah I'm going slightly off topic since you are here, I ask you what you think instead of the book on melody

I don't know it, we had addressed one of the topics covered by De La Motte here

http://www.pianoconc...unto-a-una-voce

I also have the Melody and I didn't like it very much... it analyzes many traditional German melodies, perhaps that is why I struggled to follow it until the end

:S understood

thallo wrote:

i also have Melody and I didn't like it very much... it analyzes many traditional German melodies, perhaps that is why I struggled to follow it until the end

Perhaps De La Motte intended, with this text (the "harmony manual", obviously) to "revolutionize" the teaching method (see also the interesting preface in which he contests the ahistorical approach to harmony).

Perhaps, despite the name, rather than a manual it is a text that delves into the history of musical aesthetics, and it is very useful for getting even closer to the great composers of the tonal period and understanding their taste and technique.

I found it extremely interesting, at times illuminating, and I believe it should not be missing [from one's collection].