Repetition in Music: Theoretical and Metatheoretical Perspectives

by Ockelford,Adam

• ISBN13: 9780754635734
• ISBN10: 0754635732
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-02-28
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

This monograph examines the place of repetition in perceived musical structure and in theories of music. Following a preface and introduction, there are four main chapters: 'Theory', 'Analysis', 'Metatheory and Meta-analysis', and 'Cognition and Metacognition'. Chapter 2 (Theory) sets out the principles underlying the creation and cognition of musical structure developed by the author in earlier studies, in the dual context of David Lewin's mathematically based theory of musical intervals and transformations and Gilles Fauconnier's concept of mental spaces (which was formulated in the context of cognitive science). Chapter 3 (Analysis) shows the theory in operation in relation to the first movement of Mozart's piano sonata, K.333. It indicates how structural issues may be related to considerations of aesthetic response and musical 'worth' through comparison with J.C. Bach's Sonata op. 5 no. 3. Chapter 4 (Metatheory and Meta-analysis) uses the new theory to interrogate the propositions underpinning set theory and transformations, offering a psychomusicological critique and potential development of, for example, the work of Forte, Morris, Isaacson and Straus. This enables issues raised earlier in relation to the work of Lewin to be addressed. In conclusion, in Chapter 5 (Cognition and Metacognition), the matter of cognitive preferences and constraints is considered in relation to repetition in music, which permits a final investigation of different approaches to musical analysis to be undertaken. In summary, by synthesising the findings of diverse earlier work in the context of the new theory, it proves possible to move thinking forward on a number of fronts, and to indicate potential directions for future empirical and analytical developments.

Table of Contents

List of Figures	ix
Preface	xiii
Acknowledgements	xv
Introduction	1	(6)
Theory	7	(28)
Introduction	7	(1)
On the nature of musical spaces and relationships	7	(11)
Zygonic theory-an introduction	18	(11)
On structure, content and aesthetic response	29	(4)
Conclusion	33	(2)
Analysis	35	(32)
Introduction	35	(1)
Theory in action: A zygonic approach to understanding musical structure in Mozart's Piano Sonata K.333, first movement	35	(29)
Conclusion	64	(3)
Metatheory and Meta-analysis	67	(53)
Introduction	67	(1)
Set theory	68	(30)
Transformations	98	(15)
Conclusion	113	(7)
Cognition and Metacognition	120	(19)
Introduction	120	(1)
The status of relationships; cognitive preferences and constraints	120	(18)
Conclusion	138	(1)
Conclusion	139	(2)
Bibliography	141	(7)
Index	148