Theory Review

So in reviewing my theory book, I thought I'd start at the beginning, with "structural phenomena".

I really wanted to get to review form - things like binary form, rondo form, etc, but refreshing the prerequisite knowledge seemed like a good idea.

My book, "A Practical Approach to the Study of Form in Music" by Spencer & Temko, informs me that structural phenomena are the things you need to identify in order to break down a piece into small chunk (presumably to figure out what's going on muscially).

These structural phenomena include such things as:

Register changes
Dynamic changes
Cadences
Rhythmic changes
Motive activity (a motive is kind of a little melody fragment that keeps popping up)
Tempo changes
Texture changes

You get the idea. The exercise at the back of the chapter involves doing a little analysis of a movement from Schumann's Kinderszenen, the sixth movement, "An Important Event".

I spent two hours staring at the B section, trying to figure out if there is a cadence happening in the middle. I also found out that most people on youtube can't play this piece with any sense of phrasing or direction. They also seem to think that playing forte on the piano involves holding the pedal down the entire time...

Fortunately, I found the Horowitz recording, and this particular movement starts at 5:00 exactly.

I consulted my wife on what kind of cadence she thought was there (I think it's a half cadence (AKA imperfect cadence) that tonicizes G) but she didn't think there was any cadence at all.

The markings in my text seem to agree with her and not me, but hey it's subjective and I think I could make a good argument for it. The important thing was that she agreed with my analysis of the chords. The interpretation part I like, the analysis, well, that was never my strong point.

I'd probably make a good music theorist if I could analyze chords faster and more decisively.

On to the next chapter!

Check out Kinderszenen here!