Dedication to Burdette Green
The Death and Resurrection of Function
Keywords: behavior, function, harmonic analysis, kinship, notation, province, quality, roman numerals, Gregory Proctor, Jean-Philippe Rameau, Hugo Riemann
Abstract: Although the impact and pervasiveness of function in tonal theory today is undeniable, a single, unambiguous definition of the term has yet to be agreed upon. This is because function comprises at least four distinct aspects, which, when all called by the same name (function), create ambiguity, confusion and contradiction. In a response to David Kopp's challenge to "more clearly articulate and differentiate the myriad concepts which function has come to represent," a solution to this problem of ambiguity is proposed: the elimination of the term function. In place of function, four new terms—kinship, quality, province and behavior—are invoked, each uniquely corresponding to one of the four aspects of function identified in the article. The meanings of these new terms are elucidated by such harmonic topics as secondary dominants and six-four paradigms. An analytic notation is developed for behavior, in particular, which is used in conjunction with two standard types of harmonic analysis to form a three-fold system of analysis that yields a broader range of explanations for harmony characteristics.
Vocal Health Issues Pertaining to High School Choral Conductors
Keywords: choral conductors, high school education, rehearsal techniques, vocal health, vocal modeling
Abstract: High school choral educators are prone to potential vocal fatigue and damage after rehearsing up to four hours each day. Through survey and research, the author focuses on three practices that may lead to problems in the vocal health of these conductors. This article provides suggestions for dealing with hydration, rehearsal space acoustics and vocal modeling.
Applications of Dalcroze Eurhythmics in Music Theory Education
Keywords: eurhythmics, movement, music classroom activities, music education, music education of young children, rhythm, Emile Jacques-Dalcroze
Abstract: This article explores Dalcroze Eurhythmics and its use in music theory education, both at a young age and at the college level. The author shares her own research and experiences as an instructor and presents Dalcroze activities that can be incorporated into the music classroom. The exercises discussed address visual, aural, and kinesthetic learning styles. Topics include solfege syllables, rhythmic solfege, interval training, active listening, phrasing, chord building and chord resolution.
Descriptive Terminology and Musical Elephants
Keywords: appoggiatura, embellishing tone, melodic embellishment, non-chord tone, non-harmonic tone, ornamentation, rhythmic embellishment, tone of figuration, Clendinning and Marvin, Kostka and Payne, Laitz, Piston, Ottman
Abstract: The labels used by textbook authors to describe non-harmonic tones, ornamentations, tone of figurations, etc. elevate a local description of a specific feature—rhythm, melody or harmony—to the status of a global descriptor in the same way that each blind man in the parable describes the whole elephant with an observation made upon a single body part. The labels non-chord tone and non-harmonic tone imply that elephants are harmonic events. Labels such as melodic embellishment or tone of figuration emphasize the melodic characteristics of elephants. The more obscure rhythmic embellishment elevates the rhythmic characteristics of an elephant. While these labels may function on a local level, their use as global labels for the totality of elephant behavior disregards two out of the following three musical frames: melody, harmony and rhythm. In this article I advance a methodology adapted from the approach to non-harmonic tones in Ottman's Elementary Harmony, in which elephants are discussed through a three-part framework of melody, harmony and rhythm.