Music Theory and Natural Order from the Renaissance to the Early Twentieth Century

Alexander Rehding editor Suzannah Clark editor

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Cambridge University Press

Published:19th Jan '06

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Music Theory and Natural Order from the Renaissance to the Early Twentieth Century cover

Explores the ways music theory has represented and employed natural order since the scientific revolution.

In exploring ways in which music theory has represented and employed natural order since the scientific revolution, this volume asks some fundamental questions not only about nature in music theory, but also the nature of music theory.Music theory of almost all ages has relied on nature in its attempts to explain music. The understanding of what 'nature' is, however, is subject to cultural and historical differences. In exploring ways in which music theory has represented and employed natural order since the scientific revolution, this volume asks some fundamental questions not only about nature in music theory, but also the nature of music theory. In an array of different approaches, ranging from physical acoustics to theology and Lacanian psychoanalysis, these essays examine how the multifarious conceptions of nature, located variously between scientific reason and divine power, are brought to bear on music theory. They probe the changing representations and functions of nature in the service of music theory and highlight the ever-changing configurations of nature and music, as mediated by the music-theoretical discourse.

"...the variety and high-quality of the nine articles in this volume are impressive indeed...The excellent essays which form this volume, although focused specifically on music and music theory, are case studies of the universal tendency to substantiate ideology by means of appeals to "nature" and "natural order" and, as such, are certainly of general interest." Renaissance Quarterly

ISBN: 9780521023924

Dimensions: 245mm x 170mm x 15mm

Weight: 409g

256 pages