New Music Analysis

[Guest]

Hi,

I am in the process of researching certain compositions by Kaija Saariaho. Would anyone be able to suggest the more suitable method for analysing new music? I have been reading into Schenker, neo-schenkerian analysis and others, but would like to expand my horizons if possible.

any help would be very appreciated :)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Probably best for your purposes (and a very warm welcome to the Forum - I for one would be very interested to read your work on Saariaho) is this book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Analytical-Strategies-Musical-Nineteenth--Twentieth-Century/dp/0521543975/

Joel Lester's Analytic Approaches to Twentieth Century Music is a favoured text of mine - nothing dogmatic, suggestions rather than methodologies - but is currently rather expensive:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Analytic-Approaches-Twentieth-Century-Lester-1989-03-17/dp/B019NDYDAW/

A couple of others I've found useful to dip into:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Guide-Musical-Analysis-Nicholas-Cook/dp/0198165080/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Analysis-Theory-Practice-Jonathan-Dunsby/dp/0571100694/

None of which treat much repertoire written since 1980, however - and they're mainly pitch (harmony, melody, "tonalities") focussed. I think Ayrey/Everist will give you a greater range of possible approaches.

[The_Student]

Thank you so much for your suggestions! they all look very useful to me so I very much look forward to reading them! I would be happy to share my paper when it is completed :)

Many thanks!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

[The_Student]

Probably best for your purposes (and a very warm welcome to the Forum - I for one would be very interested to read your work on Saariaho) is this book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Analytical-Strategies-Musical-Nineteenth--Twentieth-Century/dp/0521543975/

Joel Lester's Analytic Approaches to Twentieth Century Music is a favoured text of mine - nothing dogmatic, suggestions rather than methodologies - but is currently rather expensive:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Analytic-Approaches-Twentieth-Century-Lester-1989-03-17/dp/B019NDYDAW/

A couple of others I've found useful to dip into:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Guide-Musical-Analysis-Nicholas-Cook/dp/0198165080/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Analysis-Theory-Practice-Jonathan-Dunsby/dp/0571100694/

None of which treat much repertoire written since 1980, however - and they're mainly pitch (harmony, melody, "tonalities") focussed. I think Ayrey/Everist will give you a greater range of possible approaches.

just had a look- I actually own own book 4 (also current read), currently have book 1 from the library and believe to have read book 3 also. but book 2 is new to me! ill have to see if I can order that in- agree though-very expensive!

thank you again!

[The_Student]

I am considering doing shoenberg topped with Meyer. How would I find out if this was the right way to analyse this style of music?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I am considering doing shoenberg topped with Meyer. How would I find out if this was the right way to analyse this style of music?

Are you attempting this as part of a University course, or as part of your own interest? (Not that the two necessarily contradict each other, but if your work is going to be "marked" and affect your collection of Qualifications then I'd have to be more circumspect in my reply.)

[The_Student]

Yes this research is for my final dissertation. Do you teach?

[teamsaint]

I am considering doing shoenberg topped with Meyer. How would I find out if this was the right way to analyse this style of music?

Krysztof ?

[The_Student]

Krysztof ?

Leonard B :)

[teamsaint]

Leonard B :)

there are plenty to choose from.

[The_Student]

there are plenty to choose from.

That's the problem!

[teamsaint]

That's the problem!

not the worst problem though.

Oh, and of course it is spelled Krzysztof , not as I copied and pasted earlier.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Yes this research is for my final dissertation. Do you teach?

No - not any more (and never at this level). I have never worked with or studied Meyer, but it occurs to me (although I stress, from my very limited knowledge of his work) that Schoenberg's astonishingly rich contrapuntal network of interacting lines might not best be suitable for attempting to "top" with analytical techniques unless you're very familiar with both those techniques and the Schoenberg you're thinking of analyzing. It depends, of course, on the level of detail you're planning to go into, and how this fits in with what your dissertation sets out to demonstrate/discuss.

[The_Student]

Hmm For me the first step I need to take is to define what it is I mean by feminity in the music. I am quite draw. To the idea of empowering the audience. Maybe that would be a good route to take. By looking at how phrases are introduced and maintained/ resolved. I felt, when I read about Meyer analysis this this would be a good route to take. I am far from being a music analyst so I don't want to tread into too deep water and drown in it all.