Highpoints: A Study of Melodic Peaks

by Zohar Eitan

Overview

In Highpoints Zoltan Eitan investigates a universal melodic phenomenon—the melodic peak—in Western repertories ranging from eighteenth-century Galant music to twentieth-century Expressionism. Using "hard" statistical analysis, Eitan examines the rhythmic, melodic, harmonic, and dynamic configurations associated with contour peaks in the music of Haydn, Chopin, and Berg, three composers of decidedly different t musical casts. This empirical examination serves as a starting point in Eitan's exploration of the structural and expressive functions of melodic shape in these diverse bodies of music.

Melodic contour has received increasing attention from psychologists, music theorists, and ethnomusicologists partially because, unlike functional tonal relationships, it is a universal facet of auditory patterning and may be strongly related to primeval, "natural" aspects of perception. By focusing on this elemental aspect, rather than on pitch syntax or conventional form, the author provides fresh insights into the work of the individual composers he discusses as well as an innovative approach to broad issues of musical style and style change. Highpoints concludes with a discussion, drawing on empirical findings, of melodic gesture and syntax as distinct, independent dimensions of style, style boundaries, and style change.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780812234053
Publisher:	University of Pennsylvania Press, Inc.
Publication date:	08/26/1997
Series:	Anniversary Collection
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.71(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Zohar Eitan is Professor of Music at Tel Aviv University.

Editorial Reviews

Investigates a universal melodic phenomenon<-->the melodic peak<-->in Western repertories ranging from 18th-century Galant music to 20th- century Expressionism. Using statistical analysis, Eihan (musicology, Tel Aviv U.) examines the rhythmic, melodic, harmonic, and dynamic configurations associated with contour peaks in the music of Haydn, Chopin, and Berg. He then explores the structural and expressive functions of melodic shape in these diverse bodies of music. Eihan provides fresh insights into the composers' works, as well as an innovative approach to broad issues of musical style and style change. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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