Tonality as Drama : Closure and Interruption in Four Twentieth-Century American Operas

This is an analytical monograph by a Schenkerian music theorist, but it is also written by one performer and enthusiast for another. Tonality as Drama draws on the fields of dramaturgy, music theory, and historical musicology to answer a fundamental question regarding twentieth-century music: why do...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author Latham, Edward D
Format eBook
LanguageEnglish
Published Denton, Texas, USA University of North Texas Press 2008
Edition1
Subjects
1868-1917
1898-1937
1900-1950
1900-1990
20th century
Analysis, appreciation
Book Industry Communication
Cadence
Copland, Aaron
Genres & Styles
George Gershwin
Gershwin, George
History & Criticism
Joplin, Scott
Konstantin Stanislavski
Kurt Weill
MUSIC
Opera
Operas
Porgy and Bess
Primary tone
Street scene
Tender land
The Arts
thema EDItEUR
Tonic (music)
Treemonisha
United States
Voice leading
Weill, Kurt
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Summary:This is an analytical monograph by a Schenkerian music theorist, but it is also written by one performer and enthusiast for another. Tonality as Drama draws on the fields of dramaturgy, music theory, and historical musicology to answer a fundamental question regarding twentieth-century music: why does the use of tonality persist in opera, even after it has been abandoned in other genres? Combining the analytical approaches of the leading music and dramatic theorists of the twentieth century— Austrian music theorist Heinrich Schenker (1868–1935) and Russian director Constantin Stanislavsky (1863–1938)— Edward D. Latham reveals insights into works by Scott Joplin, George Gershwin, Kurt Weill, and Aaron Copland that are relevant to analysts, opera directors, and performers alike. Latham reveals a strategic use of tonality in that repertoire as a means of amplifying or undercutting the success or failure of dramatic characters.
Bibliography:MODID-67cf9159534:University of North Texas Press
MODID-5bfd471c321:KU Select 2016 Backlist Collection
MODID-00000000488:Knowledge Unlatched
Relevant Wikipedia pages: Cadence - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadence; George Gershwin - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Gershwin; Konstantin Stanislavski - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konstantin_Stanislavski; Kurt Weill - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Weill; Primary tone - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_tone; Tonic (music) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonic_(music); Treemonisha - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treemonisha; Voice leading - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_leading
ISBN:9781574413717
1574413716
9781574412499
1574412493
DOI:10.26530/oapen_625265