Five Graphic Music Analyses

by Heinrich Schenker

The concepts of theorist Heinrich Schenker offer a unique method of structural analysis that differentiates between harmonic and contrapuntal functions of chords, emphasizing the relative significance of all tones in terms of motion and direction in the achievement of organic tonal unity.
These sketches study the musical architecture of five compositions from three stylistic periods: two compositions by Bach — " Ich bin's, ich sollte büssen" from the St. Matthew Passion and the Prelude No. 1 in C Major from Book I of The Well-Tempered Clavier ; the development section from the first movement of Haydn's Sonata for Piano in E-Flat Major; and two ètudes by Chopin — in F Major, Op. 10, No. 8, and in C Minor, Op. 10, No. 12. Each composition is analyzed in a series of sketches, with selective interpretations of chords, indications of voice leading, and other easily understood devices that demonstrate Schenker's theories and their expression.

Genres: Music

64 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1969

About the author

Heinrich Schenker (19 June 1868 – 14 January 1935) was an Austrian music theorist, composer, pianist, and editor whose reductive analytical method, now termed "Schenkerian analysis", elucidates the hierarchical structure of tonal music by tracing elaborations from surface details back to a fundamental Ursatz derived from linear progressions and triadic arpeggiations.

Reviews

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

My exposure to Schenkerian analysis was in a masters level music theory class. The class introduced us to the concept and technicalities of Schenker's analysis techniques. I found that this method of abstracting away from the detailed painted the picture of a piece in much broader and conceivable strokes. In fact, I found myself listening to tonal music with different ears: searching for the middleground and background structure. I bought this book at the time of the class because the analyses looked neat but never spent any time with it until several years later. I read the analyses while listening to recordings and trying (horribly) to follow along. I'd recommend others who want to see some first-class examples of Schenker's graphs purchase this book and study it from time to time.