Music theory textbooks (Composition and Harmony)

[kghayesh]

I made this post in the theory thread but no one replied me for 1 whole week (Whose idea was this theory thread !!!)
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I don't study music at a music college or a conservatoire. But, I definitely love to be educated in music theory and all other music subjects to a level of education comparable to that of college students.

I decided to buy some books and try and work on my own. I am planning to do ABRSM theory grades 6-8, but I want to pursue it more than that.

I heard that concerning Harmony, the bible is the book called 'Tonal Harmony' by Kostka. It has a workbook and a CD. Are those necessary or The book can do the job without them ?? I want to get the most out of it but without paying much 

I don't know any good books about composition, so can anybody tell me any ideas?? I need something that gives me guidelines, but deep ones and that explains how everything came from not just give me the solution. It would be better if it contained something about composition styles through the ages.

Thanks

[persona]

I'd really like to know. ANSWER PLEASE!

[bernhard]

All right, all right.

Have a look here:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3034.msg26512.html#msg26512
(best theory books)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,5629.msg54681.html#msg54681
(intermediate and advanced theory books)

These should get you started.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[kghayesh]

All right, all right.

Have a look here:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3034.msg26512.html#msg26512
(best theory books)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,5629.msg54681.html#msg54681
(intermediate and advanced theory books)

These should get you started.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

Great. But what about Stefan Kostka's book 'Tonal Harmony'  ?? I heard it is like the bible textbook of Harmony in Music colleges.

[bernhard]

Great. But what about Stefan Kostka's book 'Tonal Harmony'  ?? I heard it is like the bible textbook of Harmony in Music colleges.

Academic, dry and boring (it is not for nothing it is called the bible ).

Most of these textbooks offer you solutions and never bother to explain what problem these solutions solve. I guess they take it for granted that you already know.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[kghayesh]

Thank you bernhard.

Anyone has any other opinions on proper textbooks ??

I saw these books
- Harmony by Walter Piston at https://www.amazon.com/Harmony-Fifth-Walter-Piston/dp/0393954803/sr=1-1/qid=1158064073/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-6578506-9156839?ie=UTF8&s=books
- Musical Composition by Reginald Smith Brindle at https://www.amazon.com/Musical-Composition-Reginald-Smith-Brindle/dp/0193171074/sr=1-2/qid=1158065282/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-6578506-9156839?ie=UTF8&s=books

So compared to Composing Music, A new approach by William Russo and Harmonic experience: Tonal harmony from its natural origins to its modern expression by W.A. Mathieu which is better ??

[bernhard]

Thank you bernhard.

Anyone has any other opinions on proper textbooks ??

I saw these books
- Harmony by Walter Piston at https://www.amazon.com/Harmony-Fifth-Walter-Piston/dp/0393954803/sr=1-1/qid=1158064073/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-6578506-9156839?ie=UTF8&s=books
- Musical Composition by Reginald Smith Brindle at https://www.amazon.com/Musical-Composition-Reginald-Smith-Brindle/dp/0193171074/sr=1-2/qid=1158065282/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-6578506-9156839?ie=UTF8&s=books

So compared to Composing Music, A new approach by William Russo and Harmonic experience: Tonal harmony from its natural origins to its modern expression by W.A. Mathieu which is better ??

You are welcome.

I do not know Brindle, so I cannot comment.

I do have Piston, however, and like Kotska, is a "classic" academic book. I much prefer Matthieu.

One important thing I perhaps should add is that Piston and Kotska can be read with great profit,

i. later on when you have read the other books and you realise what Harmony is all about and what problems they are trying to solve.

ii. if you are attending a course with a teacher who is using the book and complementing it in class (which you specifically said it was not your case, hence I suggested more appropriate alternatives to your case).

Finally two "textbooks" that are far more user freindly and that could be tackled even if you are not doing a course are:

Robert Gauldin - "Harmonic Practice in Tonal Music" (Norton)

Jane Clendinning & Elizabeth Marvin - "The Musician´s guide to theory and analysis" (Norton)

Clendinning and Marvin is a bit more superficial than Gauldin, but on the other hand, they give you extensive internet support.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[maestoso]

hey kyagesh, i go to a website called www.dolmetsch.com.  it has indepth music theory and history. it is an extremely valuable asset because it shows you the theory in use in compositions and how they used it.