Harmony: Its Theory and Practice

by Ebenezer Prout

Discover the craft of harmony with practical guidance and real‑world examples. This classic text walks you through the theory and practice of harmony, from writing in multiple voices to analyzing the work of great masters. You’ll find clear rules, illustrated passages, and thoughtful advice that helps you understand how chords move, how auxiliary and passing notes behave, and how to manage voice leading in four parts and beyond. This edition presents concrete demonstrations of harmony in action, drawing on examples from Bach, Handel, Mendelssohn, Brahms, and Wagner. It explains how to approach five, six, seven, and even eight parts, while noting where the rules relax as the number of voices grows. The focus stays on usable skills for composing and analyzing, with emphasis on clean progression, proper handling of dissonance, and the aims of modern and past masters alike. - Learn how to construct and analyze chord progressions across multiple voices - See how auxiliary notes, passing notes, and chromatic touches function in real music - Explore the practical differences between two‑part, four‑part, and more elaborate polyphony - Understand common pitfalls and the stylistic choices used by master composers Ideal for students and composers who want a solid, hands‑on grounding in traditional harmony, and for readers seeking insight into the practice behind the rules.

262 pages, Paperback

Published August 24, 2018