Karel Janec ek's Foundations of Modern Harmony, translated into English for the first time, presents a theory of chord quality in atonal context. First published in 1965, it stands out among music theoretical publications with its balanced approach that combines systematics and empirical studies. Janec ek's systematics could be described as set theory, where simultaneities and their features are explored instead of abstract pitch-class sets. The plenitude of possible chords in chromatic tonal space is classified in this work, long before that of Forte, using the concept of "orientation scheme," an equivalent to prime form.

Systematic thoughts are checked from the point of view of compositional practice and cognitive processes. Chapters discussing different perceptions of dissonance depending on the voicing, or retention of heard sound in mind, explain many generally recognized rules for orchestration. The system characterizing chord qualities is complemented by a system of triadic combinations, illustrated by works of both Czech (Martinu , Krejc i , Nova k) and Western composers (Roussel, Hindemith, Honneger). After building solid building blocks, Janec ek develops his five-member dualist functional system that can be traced via Otakar S i n to Hugo Riemann. The top of the theory arch provides notions of harmonic coherence in atonal contexts, an exciting complement to those by Schoenberg and Hindemith.

About the Author
Karel Janecek (1903-1974), was a composer, music theorist, pedagogue, and a pupil of Vitezslav Novak. He taught at the Prague Conservatory and after 1945 was among the co-founders of the Musical Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, where he promoted music theory as a major. Between 1956 and 1968, he published a cycle of university-level textbooks: Musical Forms, Melodics, Tectonics: The Study of the Structure of Compositions, and Foundations of Music Harmony.


Book Information
ISBN 9781771124706
Author Karel Janecek
Format Paperback
Page Count 510
Imprint Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Publisher Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Weight(grams) 333g