Item 12 - Harmonic Analysis and the Understanding of Music

Identity area

Reference code

OTUFM 62-B-1-12

Title

Harmonic Analysis and the Understanding of Music

Date(s)

  • [early 1940s] (Creation)

Level of description

Item

Extent and medium

15 pages, typed, with graphs and musical examples in pencil and pen in Zuckerkandl's hand.

Context area

Name of creator

(1896-1965)

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Essay analyzing how current understandings of harmony as they are practiced do not contribute to an understanding of music's actual nature. Zuckerkandl states that harmonic analyses often fail to discern what is and is not a chord, and further fail to differentiate between degrees of modulation. Explains mechanical (understanding causes) and linguistic (understanding meaning) forms of understanding. Argues against the mechanical in favour of the linguistic, which is expressed in Ur-phenomena of music—a Schenkerian view which unites chordal function with movement of tones. When an analysis is unclear, we should trust our ear's understanding of a chord's function over how the chord appears in isolation. Includes Schenkerian graphs and musical examples.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Conditions governing reproduction

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

    Language and script notes

    Physical characteristics and technical requirements

    Finding aids

    Allied materials area

    Existence and location of originals

    ONB, Misc100_V_24a

    Existence and location of copies

    Related units of description

    Notes area

    Alternative identifier(s)

    Access points

    Subject access points

    Place access points

    Name access points

    Genre access points

    Description control area

    Description identifier

    Institution identifier

    Rules and/or conventions used

    Dates of creation revision deletion

    Language(s)

      Script(s)

        Sources

        Accession area