Music Composition Text Now Available In English!
Convertible Counterpoint Serge Ivanovich Taneyev Strict Style published in 1909 is now available for the first time in English! The English translation of the treaty’s most distinguished ever written about music composition. G. Ackley Brower translated the book, known as the greatest ever written in the area. As a textbook on composition, was highly recommended by Dr. Serge Koussevitzky, who wrote the introduction, Serge Rachmaninov, Leopold Godowsky, Piatigorsky, and others. Reading the list of those authorities would in itself confirm that any individual who is a serious scholar of music education should take this new opportunity to acquire the text.
I quickly said that the book takes note of simple counterpoint to the reader. “The study of the vertical-shifting counterpoint consists of an examination of these combinations of derivatives obtained by moving the vote up or down.” (P. 25) Taneyev has developed a method by which the study of counterpoint is placed on a basis of pure mathematics, namely an algebraic basis for a theory of complex counterpoint. Rimsky-Korsakov wrote that it seems that his method should lead to a dry and academic composition, without a shadow of inspiration. In reality, however, “his Oresteia was exactly the opposite – for all its strict premeditation, the opera was striking about the wealth of beauty and expressiveness. “(P. 1) Indeed, added Igor Stravinsky,” Taneyev was a good teacher, and his treatise on counterpoint – one of the best books of its kind – was highly appreciated by me in my youth.
Taneyev note that the skill in the use of counterpoint is an advantage in the composition that beginners should spend part of his time to study, and indicates that this could be achieved with less expenditure of time and labor of the following methods it offers. The outcome “will be a greater confidence and freedom in writing, skill in improving the musical content of the individual votes, the development – is of particular value in the thematic work – the ability to” extract combinations thereof, are in favor obtained through acquaintance with an infinite variety of forms of counterpoint as a means of artistic expression, and the subordination of the kingdom of tonal material to the creative imagination. “(p. 300)
The book has two main parts related to the vertical and horizontal counterpoint in two and three voices. The text contains both the scores and contains specific rules and algebraic notation.
Music education specialists, take note: Tchaikovsky, Taneyev was fifteen years senior to submit to the review of this pupil of his, he would not tolerate anyone else. Indeed, Rimsky-Korsakov, with all its technical virtuosity, felt like a student musician in the presence of Taneyev and accepted. Given the strong support of composers and the author of this book, I can even say that it is a must addition to your library.