Analytical Techniques – MUSC 524

CG • Section 8WK • 11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 09/21/2023

Course Description

This course is a foundational course for graduate contemporary music theory practices. Systematic and empirical investigations into formal and compositional procedures of selected masterworks from the tonal repertoire. The study includes a thorough investigation of jazz and extended harmonies used in contemporary popular music. Students continue to learn and apply analytical technique to various music styles. Melodic concepts and music form are explored in the literature from historical music periods and compared to present popular music literature and practice. Lectures lead to individual analytical projects. Principles of harmonic function are taught and applied to representative historical and popular music forms.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

Music theory courses are often devoted to the study of traditional, classical theory, and aural skills. This course builds upon the traditional, common-practice approach but provides a much broader, practical, and immediate application of the skill. This practical approach presents material corresponding directly with current worship practices and industry-based concepts. This involves the study of popular genres including, but not limited to: rock, jazz, gospel, country, praise and worship, gospel song, and traditional hymn tunes. In addition, concepts of melodic construction are evaluated in classical, traditional, and popular music examples.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations/notes

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in Course Overview.

Discussions (3)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to create a thread in response to the provided prompt. Each thread must be 350 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be 150 words. 

The student will apply his/her understanding of chord construction, chord identification, and the evaluation of chords related to the harmonic context by investigating the harmony of a Bach chorale. The student will also apply the Nashville number system as a tool for musical analysis.

The student will apply his/her understanding of harmonic status and function, proper chord progression, and second-inversion paradigms. The student will employ various types of analysis, including Roman numerals, Nashville numbers, TSDT function, and figured bass. 

The student will apply his/her understanding of extensions in two ways. First, the student will realize music for two different textures from given chord symbols. Second, the student will analyze a brief excerpt of music using appropriate chord symbols showing extended harmony.

This assignment gives the student the opportunity to apply his/her understanding of extended harmonies. The student will realize extended harmony from chord symbols in two different textures for the same piece of music. This assignment will reinforce the student’s understanding of hierarchy of harmonies, as well as offer a creative solution to the musical harmonization.

The student will create charts for the common rhythm band and vocalist format that is common in contemporary worship music. The student will create two different types of charts that are similar but require slightly different processes to notate the same ideas.

The student will use principles of hymn harmonization to compose a 4-part hymn using a given melody. The student will also analyze existing hymns and songs to discover how melodies are harmonized in hymn and contemporary styles.

The student will practice labeling and translating various chromatic chords to and from Roman Numerals and Nashville numbers, as well as chord spelling. These chromatic chords include secondary leading-tone chords, borrowed chords, and augmented-sixth chords.

The student will combine their understanding of part-writing procedure with proper spelling of various chromatic chords. The student will also compose in power ballad style and translate harmonies using Roman numerals and Nashville numbers.

The student will analyze phrase structures and cadences in excerpts from various musical styles. The student will use harmonic and melodic analysis to synthesize understanding of larger musical structure.

The student will combine melodic, harmonic, and formal analytical considerations and synthesize them into graphs that attempt to explain musical and compositional structures that exist below the surface. The student will apply concepts of Schenkerian theory to understand and graph background, middleground, and foreground levels of musical structure.

The student will combine melodic, harmonic, and formal analytical considerations and synthesize them into an overall structural chart that attempts to explain melodic and harmonic structures that exist below the surface. The student will be looking for compositional, harmonic, and melodic structures and patterns, but will graph these as an overall reduction rather than the graded reductions which are characteristic of Schenker.

Rhythm Chart Project Assignment

The student will write an original song incorporating certain harmonic, formal, and stylistic elements discussed in the course. The song must also include some harmonic extensions beyond the seventh. The student will create a rhythm chart, will create a melody part in Finale, and will include praise team vocals. Harmonic originality is a key focus of this assignment utilizing the extended chordal vocabulary discussed during the course.

The student will combine melodic, harmonic, and formal analytical considerations, along with surface design concepts, phrase concepts, and linear ideas, and synthesize them into a graph that attempts to show melodic and harmonic features.