What Is Music Theory
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1music theory for musicians and normal people by toby w. rush
What is Music Theory?
so then the
bassoon choir
comes in like flaming
honeydew melons
Chances are there’s a piece of music
from on high
that moves you in a profound way ...
a way that is frustratingly difficult
to describe to someone else!
Like other forms of art, music often has the capability
to create emotional reactions in the listener that
please
transcends other forms of communication.
bradley
it’s late
though a single piece of music
may elicit different reactions
and if
i’m
from different listeners, any
almost
they’re real,
lover of music will tell you that
done
they’re worthy
those feelings are real!
of study .
one of the most valuable parts
coming up with terminology
of music theory is giving names to
doesn’t just help us talk to
musical structures and processes,
others about music, though...
which makes them easier to talk about!
it actually helps us learn!
but while it’s an important step , and a great place to start, music theory is
much more than just coming up with names for things!
when composers write music — whether it’s a classical-
era symphony or a bit of japanese post-shibuya-kei
glitch techno — they are not following a particular
set of rules. If anything they are often trying to
break them!
so while a lot of people think music theory is about
learning the rules for how to write music, that’s not
quite right. music theorists don’t create rules for
writing music; they look for patterns in music that is
already written.
composers
...theorists
create...
analyze!
which leads to the most important
why dissect music? what’s the
why?
why?
question... the one that, as you
point of figuring out rules
that composers themselves
study music theory, you should be
constantly asking yourself:
weren’t even worried about?
maybe it’s in the notes.
because somewhere
music theory is
maybe it’s in the silence.
in there is the reason
maybe it’s somewhere
why that piece of music
figuring out what
but
moves you.
in between.
music theorists
makes music work.
are going to
it may take a
the reason it
find it,
long time, or
makes you cry,
because...
And you just
even create
gives you chills,
joined the team.
more questions
reminds you of home.
grab your stuff ...
than answers.
let’s go!
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