Analysis of a piece of music: an example, theoretical foundations, analysis technique

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The word "analysis" in Greek means "decomposition", "dismemberment". Musical - theoretical analysis of a work is a scientific study of music, which includes:

1. Study of style and form.
2. Determining the musical language.
3. Studying how important these elements are for expressing the semantic content of the work and their interaction with each other.

An example of the analysis of a piece of music is a method that is based on the division of a single whole into small parts. In contrast to analysis, there is a synthesis - a technique that involves the combination of individual elements into a common one. These two concepts are closely related to each other, since only their combination leads to a deep understanding of a phenomenon.

This also applies to the analysis of a piece of music, which should eventually lead to a generalization and a clearer understanding of the object.

Meaning of term

There is a wide andnarrow usage of the term.

1. Analytical study of any musical phenomenon, patterns:

• major or minor structure;
• principle of the harmonic function;
• norms of the metro-rhythmic basis for a particular style;
• the laws of composition of a piece of music as a whole.

In this sense, musical analysis is combined with the concept of "theoretical musicology".

2. The study of any musical unit within the framework of one specific work. This is a narrow but more common definition.

Theoretical foundations

In the 19th century, this musical section was actively developing. Many musicologists with their literary works provoked the active development of the analysis of musical works:

1. A. B. Marx “Ludwig Beethoven. Life and creation . This creation, written in the first half of the 19th century, was one of the first examples of a monograph that included an analysis of musical works.

2. H. Riemann "Fugue Composition Manual", "Beethoven's Bow Quartets". This German musicologist created the doctrine of harmony, form and meter. Based on it, he deepened the theoretical methods of analyzing musical works. His analytical works were of great importance for the progress in this musical direction.

3. The work of G. Kretschmar "Guide to Concerts" helped develop theoretical and aesthetic methods of analysis in Western European musicology.

4. A. Schweitzer in his literary work “I. S. Bach consideredmusical works of composers in three common aspects of analysis:

• theoretical;
• performing;
• aesthetic.

5. In his three-volume monograph Beethoven, P. Becker analyzes the sonatas and symphonies of the greatest composer with the help of their poetic idea.

6. H. Leuchtentritt, "Teaching about Musical Form", "Analysis of Chopin's Piano Works". In the works, the authors carry out a competent combination of a high scientific and theoretical level of analysis and figurative characteristics with aesthetic assessments.

7. A. Lorenz "Secrets of form in Wagner." In this literary work, the writer conducts a study based on a detailed analysis of the operas by the German composer R. Wagner. Establishes new types and sections of the analysis of the forms of a musical work: synthesizing stage and musical patterns.

8. The most important example of the development of analysis in a piece of music are the works of the French musicologist and public figure R. Rolland. These include the work “Beethoven. Great creative epochs. Rolland analyzes the music of various genres in the composer's work: symphonies, sonatas and operas. Creates his own unique analytical method, which is based on poetic, literary metaphors and associations. This method goes beyond the strict boundaries of musical theory in favor of a free understanding of the semantic content of the art object.

Such a technique would subsequently have a great influence on the development of the analysis of musical works in the USSR and in the West.

Russian musicology

In XIXcentury, along with advanced trends in social thought, there was an intensive development in general in the field of musicology and in musical analysis in particular.

Russian musicologists and critics directed their efforts to confirm the thesis: a certain idea is expressed in each piece of music, some thoughts and feelings are transmitted. This is what all works of art are made for.

A. D. Ulybyshev

One of the first to prove himself was the first Russian music writer and activist AD Ulybyshev. Thanks to his works "Beethoven, His Critics and Interpreters", "A New Biography of Mozart", he left a noticeable mark on the history of critical thought.

Both of these literary creations include analysis with critical and aesthetic assessments of many musical works.

B. F. Odoevsky

Not being a theoretician, the Russian writer turned to the domestic musical art. His critical and journalistic works are filled with aesthetic analysis of many works - mainly operas written by M. I. Glinka.

A. N. Serov

Composer and critic gave rise to the method of thematic analysis in Russian music theory. His essay "The role of one motive in the whole opera "Life for the Tsar"" contains examples of musical text, with the help of which A. N. Serov studied the formation of the final choir, its themes. At the heart of its formation, according to the author, lies the maturation of the main patriotic idea of the opera.

Article “The theme of the overture"Leonora"" contains a study of the connection between the themes of the overture and the opera by L. Beethoven.

Other Russian progressive musicologists and critics are also known. For example, B. L. Yavorsky, who created the theory of modal rhythm and introduced many new ideas into complex analysis.

Types of analysis

The most important thing in analysis is to establish the patterns of development of the work. After all, music is a temporary phenomenon, reflecting the events that occur in the course of its development.

Types of analysis of a piece of music:

1. Themed.

Musical theme is one of the most important forms of artistic image embodiment. This type of analysis is a comparison, the study of topics and the entire thematic development.

In addition, it helps to determine the genre origins of each topic, since each separate genre implies an individual range of expressive means. By determining which genre underlies, you can more accurately understand the semantic content of the work.

2. Analysis of individual elements that are used in this work:

• meter;
• rhythm;
• lad;
• timbre;
• dynamics;

3. Harmonic analysis of a piece of music (examples and a more detailed description will be given below).

4. Polyphonic.

This view implies:

• consideration of musical texture as a certain way of presentation;
• analysis of the melody - the simplest single category, which contains the primary unity of artisticmeans of expression.

5. Performing.

6. Analysis of the compositional form. It consists in the search for type and form, as well as in the study of comparisons of themes and development.

7. Complex. Also, this example of the analysis of a musical work is called holistic. It is produced on the basis of an analysis of the form of the composition, and is combined with an analysis of all components, their interaction and development as a whole. The highest goal of this type of analysis is the study of the work as a socio-ideological phenomenon, coupled with all historical connections. He is on the verge of theory and history of musicology.

Regardless of what kind of analysis is performed, it is necessary to find out the historical, stylistic and genre prerequisites.

All types of analysis involve temporary, artificial abstraction, separating a particular element from others. This must be done in order to conduct an objective study.

Why do we need music analysis?

It can serve different purposes. For example:

1. The study of the individual elements of the work, the musical language is used in textbooks and theoretical works. In scientific research, such components of music and patterns of compositional form are subjected to comprehensive analysis.
2. Excerpts from music analysis examples can serve as evidence when presenting general theoretical problems (deductive method) or leading viewers to generalizing conclusions(inductive method).
3. As part of a monographic study dedicated to a specific composer. This concerns a compressed form of a holistic analysis of a musical work according to a plan with examples, which is an integral part of historical and stylistic research.

Plan

1. Preliminary general inspection. Includes:

a) observation of the type of form (three-part, sonata, etc.);

b) drawing up a digital scheme of the form in general terms, without details, but with the name of the main topics or parts and their location;

c) analysis of a piece of music according to plan with examples of all the main parts;

d) defining the functions of each part in the form (middle, period, etc.);

e) the study of which elements are given special attention to the development, in what way they develop (repeated, compared, varied, etc.);

e) search for answers to questions, where is the climax (if any), in what ways is it achieved;

g) determination of the thematic composition, its uniformity or contrast; what is its character, by what means is it achieved;

h) study of tonal structure and cadences with their correlation, closedness or openness;

i) defining the type of presentation;

k) drawing up a detailed digital diagram with a characteristic of the structure, the most important moments of summation and crushing, the length of the breath (long or short), the properties of proportions.

2. Matching the main parts specifically in:

• tempo uniformity orcontrast;
• altitude profile in general terms, the ratio of climaxes with a dynamic scheme;
• characterization of general proportions;
• thematic subordination, uniformity and contrast;
• tonal subordination;
• characteristics of the whole, the degree of typicality of the form, in the basics of its structure.

Harmonic analysis of a piece of music

As mentioned above, this type of analysis is one of the most important.

To understand how to analyze a piece of music (using an example), you need to have certain skills and abilities. Namely:

• understanding and ability to harmoniously generalize a specific passage according to the logic of functional movement and harmony;
• the ability to connect the properties of the harmonic warehouse with the nature of the music and the individual characteristics of a given work or composer;
• correct explanation of all harmonic facts: chord, cadence, voice leading.

Performance Analysis

This type of analysis includes:

1. Search for information about the author and the piece of music.
2. Style representations.
3. Definition of artistic content and character, images and associations.

Strokes, playing techniques and means of articulation are also an important part of the above example of performing analysis of a piece of music.

Vocal music

Musical works in the vocal genre require a special method of analysis, whichdifferent from instrumental forms. How is the musical-theoretical analysis of a choral work different? An example plan is shown below. Vocal musical forms require their own method of analysis, different from the approach to instrumental forms.

Required:

1. Determine the genre of the literary source and the musical work itself.
2. Explore the expressive and pictorial details of the choir part and instrumental accompaniment and literary text.
3. Study the differences between original words in stanzas and restructured lines in music.
4. Determine the musical meter and rhythm, observing the rules of alternance (alternating rhymes) and squareness (non-squareness).
5. Draw conclusions.