Lessons in Music Form: A Manuel of Analysis of All the Structural Factors and Designs Employed in Musical Composition

by Percy Goetschius

The present aim is to enable the student to recognize and trace the mental process of the composer in executing his task; to define each factor of the structural design, and its relation to every other factor and to the whole; to determine thus the synthetic meaning of the work, and thereby to increase not only his own appreciation, interest, and enjoyment of the very real beauties of good music, but also his power to interpret, intelligently and adequately, the works that engage his attention.from the author's preface

Genres: Music

156 pages, Hardcover

Published October 29, 1970

Reviews

[Blake Walcott · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an introduction to fundamentals the book is kind of mid, but for someone just trying to suck in as much information, and understand how they can organize music for their songs, or just why songs are organized the way they are it’s very helpful and explanatory.

[Dimitris · Rating 4 out of 5]

My hopes for understanding this book, being a layman as far as music composition is concerned, were a bit misguided. I was expecting a book requesting less intense and careful study but instead I found a book that does Music a great service. If I am to understand music form better according to the author's recommendations, I have to sit down and listen, grab a piece of paper and pen and analyse numerous pieces and I have not done that to the extent I would like. However, having finished the book, I can only say it was well worth the first read and the second (maybe third?) could be around the corner. It is not really great as introduction but it is accessible to ones interested in gathering information and knowledge from different writers. The book length makes for a relaxed approach, had this been 500 pages I would not feel like finishing it.