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Treatise on Harmony (Dover Books On Music: Analysis)

  • Based on 39 reviews
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Description

The Traité de l'harmonie of Jen-Philippe Rameau is one of the most important books in the history of Western music. Written while Rameau was still a relatively obscure organist and music master at Clermont-Ferrand, the book received but one printing during Rameau's life, in 1722, shortly before he settled in Paris. The Traité was immediately recognized as a profound advance in musical theory, however, and it established Rameau's reputation as a theorist. His book was the first to codify those principles of tonality that were to dominate the music of the West for almost two centuries. Even today the theories of Rameau remain the basis for the study of harmony.Rameau's Traité de l'harmonie is divided into four books, the first of which presents the mathematical basis from which Rameau sought to derive his theories. Book Two may be considered the most important section of the Traité; in it Rameau generates his entire harmonic system from fundamental principles, explaining intervals, chords, and modes — everything, in fact, essential to musical composition in tonal style. Working from the principles developed in Books One and Two, Book Three treats the practical rules of composition, including such topics as harmonic modulation and chord progressions. Book Four concerns the practical art of accompaniment on harpsichord or organ, including the realization of a figured bass. Corrections added by Rameau in a supplement are included in the text, and all the musical examples have been reset in modern musical notation. In addition, two pages from a unique copy of the first issue of the first edition are given in facsimile. The translator's introduction discusses the history of the work, Rameau's mathematics, and his place in the history of music theory. Read more


Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dover Publications; Revised ed. edition (June 1, 1971)


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Paperback ‏ : ‎ 512 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0486224619


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 19


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.64 pounds


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.13 x 1.01 x 9.23 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #807,230 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #500 in Music Composition (Books) #958 in Music Encyclopedias #998 in Music Theory (Books)


#500 in Music Composition (Books):


#958 in Music Encyclopedias:


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Top Amazon Reviews


  • but overall very good. Note
Translation is a bit clunky at times, but overall very good. Note: this should be read as a music theoretical-historical document. For those wishing to to study tonal harmony, consider a modern undergraduate textbook such as Steven G. Laitz's "The Complete Musician," or Miguel Roig-Francoli's "Harmony in Context." ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2016 by Owen B.

  • Title said "very good condition" - and for me it was in that condition
I bought a used book, that said it was in very good condition. The book cover had top tear as you can see it on the image, but for me, that's no problem, I expect such thing on a used book that says very good condition. overall, the book quality was very high, papers were straight and tight. I am satisfied. P.S I GOT IT FOR 8$ ONLY, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD PRICE!!! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2021 by Tornike Tornike

  • Arrived on time n condition was good
Arrived on time n condition was good
Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2021 by george b

  • Interesting study in the evolution of music theory
Study.
Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2021 by disilver

  • a difficult read
It is like reading an engineering text book, but written long ago.
Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2019 by Mike

  • Brilliant
Utilizing Rameau's principles produced immediate improvements in my compositions. He provides the most thorough explanation of how to figure a bass line--i.e, how to construct harmonies over it. Mastery of this aspect of composition is the inherent result of a true knowledge and understanding of harmony. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2015 by Garvin

  • Very good
This book contains not only the translation of Rameau's "Traité de l'harmonie réduite à ses principes naturels: divisé en quatre livres" but also the necessary comments en analysis to grasp the whole meaning of Rameau's book. If you want to learn about harmony, this is a good starting point.
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2013 by Jean Lammertyn

  • Confused,
That the translator must spend footnote after footnote explaining the errors and confused prose in just the opening section on intervals by string division is not a good sign. Subsequent chapters only confirm this pattern. While this text may perhaps benefit the music historian, students of music theory would do well to steer well clear of this work. Instead, consider Essay on the True Art of Playing Keyboard Instruments by C.P.E. Bach and Study of Counterpoint: From Johann Joseph Fux's Gradus Ad Parnassum or from more modern works such as Theory of Harmony: 100th Anniversary Edition or Harmony by Schenker and Counterpoint in Composition: The Study of Voice Leading . But panning this work is nothing new. Here's Rousseau in 1752: "The study of composition, which used to require about twenty years, now can be completed in a couple of months; musicians are devouring the theories of Rameau, and the number of students has multiplied. ... France has been inundated by bad music and bad musicians; everybody thinks he has understood the finesses of art before having learned as much as the rudiments ..." ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2012 by Jeremy Mates

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