Music Analysis with Paul Dell Aquila
Assigned Reading, Homework Schedule, and Class Agenda (PDF)
Semester Topics
Analytical Methods, Procedures, and Symbols
Introduction to Music Analysis:
Restatement, Variation, and Contrast
Form versus Genre
Comprehensive Style Analysis:
Jan LaRue’s SHMRG Style Analysis
Top-Down Segmentation
Analytical Symbols:
Symbols for Graphic Representation of Form
Roman Numerals, Figured Bass, and Chord Symbols Review
Phrases
Phrases and Phrase Members
Phrase Contour
Important Events in the Phrase (Beginning, Ending, High, and Low Notes)
Periodic Phrases and Fortspinnung (Perpetuum Mobile Phrases)
Sentence Structure
Compound Melody
Cadences
Types of Cadences
Relative Strength of Cadences
Phrase Expansion, Development, and Connection
Function of Musical Units (Introductory, Expository, Transitional, Developmental, and Terminal)
Phrase Introduction (Prefix: Intros and Preludes)
Phrase Interpolation
Phrase Extension (Suffix: Codettas, Codas, and Postludes)
Phrase Connection Using Elision and Overlap
Motives and Motivic Variation
Single and Compound Motives
Rhythmic and Melodic Motives
Basic Motivic Variation Techniques
Symbolic Motives (Leitmotif)
Writing about Music
Writing Analytical Papers and Essays
Writing Program Notes
Phrase Structures (Phrases in Combination)
The Period:
Modulating and Non-modulating Periods
Symmetrical and Asymmetrical Periods
Parallel and Contrasting Periods
The Phase Group
The Phrase Chain
The Double Period
Binary Form
Sectional and Continuous Binary
Two-Reprise Binary
Simple Binary
Balanced Binary
Rounded Binary and Incipient Ternary
Bar Form
Binary Form and the Baroque Dance Suite
Ternary Form
Simple Ternary Form:
Sectional and Continuous Ternary
Full Sectional Ternary
AABA Popular Song Form
Composite (Compound) Ternary Form:
Composite Ternary Form in Instrumental Music (Minuet/Scherzo and Trio)
Composite Ternary Form in Vocal Music (Da Capo Aria)
Text and Music Relations
German Lieder:
Strophic Song
Through-Composed song
Text (Word) Painting
The Metrics of Prose and Music
The Rondo
Introduction to the Rondo
Early Development of the Rondo (The Rondeau)
Classical Rondo:
Short Rondo (Five-Part Rondo)
Long Rondo (Seven-Part Rondo)
Sonata Form (Sonata Principle)
Introduction to Sonata Form
Sonatina (Miniature Sonata)
Classical Sonata
Various Sonata Related Techniques:
Mono-Thematic Sonata
Sonata with Introduction
False Recapitulation
Sonata without Development
Sonata-Rondo Form
Sonata-Rondo Design
Assigned Reading, Homework Schedule, and Class Agenda (PDF)
