Books on Music Theory

[musik_man]

Yesterday I picked up Arnold Shoenberg's Theory of Harmony.  This summer I plan to bone up on my music theory, and I wonder if anyone can recommend more books on items such as harmony, counterpoint, form, and composition in general.  I'd prefer if they aren't textbooks because I don't have $60-100 to drop on a book.

Thanks for your help

BTW If anyone has links to public domain books such as Fux's or Rameau's online, I'd appreciate them greatly.

[Derek]

Yikes. That book is heavy going. I've tried to read bits in it and it just flies right over my head. Schoenburg was a nutcase.

I do have "the Craft of Tonal Counterpoint" by THomas Benjamin. Its essentially a shenkerian (the author's own take on shenkerian analysis/reduction) study of J.S. Bach's work. Basically the bottom line of the book is "play bach, imitate bach."  Sometimes I wonder what the point of a music theory book really is.

[pianonut]

universities often have used books for sale - where you can get a good price.  building up your own library is much easier than having to return one that you like to the library.  i read a bit of fux at wcu library.  it was interesting and fun to read (suppose that one is out of print? have to check that one out).

also, maybe you should consider subscribing to a music journal (even over books).  shenkerian analysis also appeals to me, but am really a novice at all of this.

for me, i would like to learn more about composition, so the computerized music analysis programs are interesting to me.  there's one under www.link.cs.cmu.edu/music-analysis/

[c18cont]

In addition to the well known Sessions and Piston harmony texts,

Let me suggest these not difficult college (and high school) Texts for general study, as I have used them with students in both high school and university, and found them effective...They are however, hard to find except in the mid-west and I don't know if they are out of print, but they likely are.

They were widely used in the 60 and 70's. There are simular texts in campus bookstores today, and I see many newer texts, in Florida school supply. I suspect they are likely very good as most university texts are in my experience..and they all can be found used....Try Univ. bookstores, as already suggested...

Essentials of Eighteenth Century Counterpoint....Neale B. Mason (Murray State)
Music For Study....Murphy,Melcher and Warch  (Oberlin)
Music For Score Reading....Melcher and Warch  (Oberlin)
Harmony and Ear Training....Stanley Shumway  (Univ. of Kansas)
Anthology of Musical Forms....Leon Stein  (De Paul Univ.)

Truth is, with a little effort all material you will need, can be found on-line, and I use such sources in my limited teaching today...as it is cheap and effective...

I also believe in listening with the text.."The Norton Scores"....(ed. by Roger Kamien), and "Masterpieces of Music Before 1750"....Parrish and Ohl  (Vasser..deceased)

All these are old... (I..am old...)  and around in used book stores. I still find many other useful texts in used book stores in my travels...for a few bucks a throw...always worth that if just for comparison...There are MANY fine texts available...

Best   John Cont