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  • Classical Form: A Theory of Formal Functions for the Instrumental Music of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven by William E. Caplin book cover
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Classical Form: A Theory of Formal Functions for the Instrumental Music of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven

by William E. Caplin

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A framework for analyzing form in the Classical instrumental repertory

$106.29 USD
$106.29 USD $106.29 USD

Paperback New English

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AlbakiReads Editorial

A framework for analyzing form in the Classical instrumental repertory

William E. Caplin presents a theory of formal function for instrumental works in the Classical style, building on concepts associated with Arnold Schoenberg and Erwin Ratz. The book moves across several levels of musical organization: individual ideas, phrases, and themes, through to the design of complete movements. Its central concern is the role each formal unit plays within a work’s larger structure, offering principles and a method for tracing how sections relate and operate. This revised paperback is positioned as a substantial analytical resource on the music of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Music students studying Classical-era form and analysis
  • Musicians and scholars interested in Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven
  • Readers seeking a systematic methodology for analyzing instrumental movements

Themes

Classical instrumental musicFormal functionMusical analysisPhrase and theme structureLarge-scale form

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

Building on ideas first advanced by Arnold Schoenberg and later developed by Erwin Ratz, this book introduces a new theory of form for instrumental music in the classical style. The theory provides a broad set of principles and a comprehensive methodology for the analysis of classical form, from individual ideas, phrases, and themes to the large-scale organization of complete movements. It emphasizes the notion of formal function, that is, the specific role a given formal unit plays in the structural organization of a classical work.
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