A Theory of Musical Narrative [Hardcover]

Byron Alm?n proposes an original synthesis of approaches to musical narrative from literary criticism, semiotics, historiography, musicology, and music theory, resulting in a significant critical reorientation of the field. This volume includes an extensive survey of traditional approaches to musical narrative illustrated by a wide variety of musical examples that highlight the range and applicability of the theoretical apparatus. Alm?n provides a careful delineation of the essential elements and preconditions of musical narrative organization, an eclectic analytical model applicable to a wide range of musical styles and repertoires, a classification scheme of narrative types and subtypes reflecting conceptually distinct narrative strategies, a wide array of interpretive categories, and a sensitivity to the dependence of narrative interpretation on the cultural milieu of the work, its various audiences, and the analyst.A Theory of Musical Narrativeprovides both an excellent introduction to an increasingly important conceptual domain and a complex reassessment of its possibilities and characteristics.

Byron Alm?n is Associate Professor of Music Theory at The University of Texas at Austin. He is editor (with Edward Pearsall) ofApproaches to Meaning in Musicand author (with Stefan Kostka and Dorothy Payne) ofTonal Harmony.

Alm?n's work is far reaching both for music theory and musicology and will make a substantial and timely contribution to the study of musical narrative.In this pathbreaking study, Byron Alm?n convincingly demonstrates that a piece of music can convey a narrative that is intrinsically musical, not added by a program or text.

Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments

Part 1. A Theory of Musical Narrative
1. An Introduction to Narrative Analysis: Chopin's Prelude in G Major, Op. 28, No. 3
2. Perspectives and Critiques
3. A Theory of Musical Narrative: Conceptual Considerations
4. A Theory of Musical NalÎ