The Shaping Forces in Music: An Enquiry into Harmony, Melody, Counterpoint, Form

by Ernst Toch, Lawrence Weschler (Introduction)

A masterful and original classical composer as well as a renowned composer of film scores, Ernst Toch (1887–1964) made a permanent contribution to music in this important and widely praised book. Based on a series of lectures given at Harvard in 1944 and first published in 1948, this book is a brilliant examination of the materials and concepts that are the basic building blocks of music — harmony, melody, counterpoint, and form.

An admirable reconciliation of traditional and modern (mainly 12-tone) trends in composition, this book shows all types of writing must respond to psychological wants of the listener and how similar goals may be achieved in seemingly opposed styles. Illustrating his discussion with 390 musical examples, Toch not only introduces new ideas and approaches, but examines many age-old problems with clarity and precision — consonance and dissonance, form versus number, and more. His analysis of the expanding harmonic universe, the wave line of melody, and the formative influence of movement are particularly penetrating.

New to this edition are a biographical introduction by Toch's grandson, Lawrence Weschler; a previously unpublished letter from Thomas Mann to Toch about this book (in English translation); and a complete checklist of Toch's compositions. Intended for all those who have a minimum understanding of musical notation and theory, this book will appeal to music lovers, practical musicians and amateurs, and incipient composers.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1948

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book last year and never gave it much thought. A teacher of mine recently recommended picking it up so I did. I'm glad. Toch's writing is gorgeous, and he makes fairly complicated musical ideas easy to grasp. Great book for aspiring composers, established musicians or anyone who'd would like to enderstand more about what makes music beautiful.

[Christopher Heckman · Rating 3 out of 5]

An idea book, showing examples but not application of the ideas.

[Starlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a musician and this was very accessible writing on some of the more "complicated" aspects of music. Great for anyone who wants a better grasp on the inner workings of music.