Books on Music Theory and related subjects – such as analysis, form, composers, and composition – are cataloged through the Library of Congress system. These call number ranges will contain most of the books on these topics.
Our academic library contains a wide variety of music theory literature, well beyond the books linked in this guide. If you are looking to explore, you may want to begin by searching the subject terms below. Click Here for an example of this.
MUSIC THEORY
HARMONY
ANALYSIS
MUSICAL FORM
The list below is just a sampling of what our academic library has to offer! The academic library collection contains dozens of books on a broad variety of music theory topics, such as Schenkerian analysis, tonal harmony, post-tonal music, form, and more.
Formalized Music: Thought and Mathematics in Composition by
Formalized Music: Thought and Mathematics in Composition is a book by Greek composer, architect, and engineer Iannis Xenakis in which he explains his motivation, philosophy, and technique for composing music with stochastic mathematical functions. It was published in Paris in 1963 as Musiques formelles: nouveaux principes formels de composition musicale as a special double issue of La Revue musicale and republished in an expanded edition in 1981 in Paris by Stock Musique. It was later translated into English with three added chapters and published in 1971 by Indiana University Press, republished in 1992 by Pendragon Press with a second edition published in 2001, also by Pendragon. The book contains the complete FORTRAN program code for one of Xenakis's early computer music composition programs GENDY. It has been described as a groundbreaking work.
A Generative Theory of Tonal Music by
A search for a grammar of music with the aid of generative linguistics. A classic in music theory since its publication in 1981, this work models music understanding from the perspective of cognitive science. The point of departure is a search for a grammar of music with the aid of generative linguistics. The theory, which is illustrated with numerous examples from Western classical music, relates the aural surface of a piece to the musical structure unconsiously inferred by the experienced listener. From the viewpoint of traditional music theory, it offers many innovations in notatation as well as in the substance of rhythmic and reductional theory.
Introduction to Schenkerian Analysis by
The book begins with a thorough coverage of a number of elementary matters. This may be regarded either as a review or as a reorientation in preparation for the systematic presentation that follows.Beginning in Part Two ideas that are more specifically Schenkerian are developed and applied to the analysis of short compositions. Since the book is also intended to cover all of the basic standard form it has seemed logical to use this feature in organizing the material. Thus, Part Two ends with longer forms and Part Three covers the main large forms (sonata, rondo, and so on). The various types of Schenkerian prolongations are introduced gradually and discussed and illustrated thoroughly in the text.Each chapter ends with a set of exercises keyed to the topics that have been presented, and the student is given precise instructions for completing the exercises as well as occasional hints about pitfalls and special problems that they contain.
Basic Harmony & Basic Harmonical Mode of Thinking by 
The Complete Musician by
Beginning with music fundamentals, this text covers all the topics necessary for a thorough understanding of undergraduate music theory by focusing on music in context. The text links each of the tasks that comprise a tonal theory curriculum, explicitly connecting written theory (writing andanalysis), skills (singing, playing, and dictation), and music-making outside the theory class.
Elements of Music by
The Fundamentals Text That Emphasizes Music Making. This music fundamentals textbook is for both aspiring music majors and non-majors. Based on an anthology of works from music literature, it features clear, concise explanations, extensive written exercises, and a variety of suggested in-class activities. It emphasizes process of making music--emphasizing, at every stage, that music is to be heard and made--not merely seen and learned in the abstract. All of the key topics are covered: music notation; rhythm; scales; intervals; triads; basic harmonic progressions.
Introduction to Music Theory by 
Introduction to Post-Tonal Theory by
For undergraduate/graduate-level courses in Twentieth-Century Techniques, and Post-Tonal Theory and Analysis taken by music majors. A primer-rather than a survey-this text offers exceptionally clear, simple explanations of basic theoretical concepts for the post-tonal music of the twentieth century. Emphasizing hands-on contact with the music-through playing, singing, listening, and analyzing-it provides six chapters on theory, each illustrated with musical examples and fully worked-out analyses, all drawn largely from the "classical" pre-war repertoire by Schoenberg, Stravinsky, Bartok, Berg, and Webern.
Introduction to the Theory of Music by 
Melody Writing and Ear Training (a Practical Course in Elementary Theory) by 
Music in Theory and Practice by
This text gives majors a solid foundation in the theory of music - generally and throughout history. It strengthens their musical intuition, builds technical skills, and helps them gain interpretive insights. The two-volume format ensures exhaustive coverage and maximum support for students and faculty alike.
Sixteenth-Century Polyphony: A Basis for the Study of Counterpoint by
Interest in counterpoint suffered greatly during the latter part of the eighteenth century and all through the nineteenth. At the present time, however, many of our foremost composers are doing their best compositions in this field. They have naturally not reverted to the exact type of counterpoint used during the highest period of its development in the sixteenth century; but the point of view is strikingly similar, namely, that one must look very carefully to one’s strands of melody, and independence of rhythm is the thing that possibly counts most. The majority of composers and teachers now agree that for the beginner the study of sixteenth century technique is best. Arthur Merritt therefore starts with Gregorian chant, which offers the finest examples of single excellent lines. Rather than make arbitrary rules as the older writers did, he simply tries to get the student into contact with the music and to explain or point out the most important aspects of it. His book is valuable not only as a systematic study of counterpoint but as an introduction to the music of the sixteenth century.
Techniques and Materials of Tonal Music by 
Twentieth-Century Music Theory and Practice by
Twentieth-Century Music Theory and Practice introduces a number of tools for analyzing a wide range of twentieth-century musical styles and genres. It includes discussions of harmony, scales, rhythm, contour, post-tonal music, set theory, the twelve-tone method, and modernism. Recent developments involving atonal voice leading, K-nets, nonlinearity, and neo-Reimannian transformations are also engaged. While many of the theoretical tools for analyzing twentieth century music have been devised to analyze atonal music, they may also provide insight into a much broader array of styles. This text capitalizes on this idea by using the theoretical devices associated with atonality to explore music inclusive of a large number of schools and contains examples by such stylistically diverse composers as Paul Hindemith, George Crumb, Ellen Taffe Zwilich, Steve Reich, Michael Torke, Philip Glass, Alexander Scriabin, Ernest Bloch, Igor Stravinsky, Béla Bartók, Sergei Prokofiev, Arnold Schoenberg, Claude Debussy, György Ligeti, and Leonard Bernstein. This textbook also provides a number of analytical, compositional, and written exercises. The aural skills supplement and online aural skills trainer on the companion website allow students to use theoretical concepts as the foundation for analytical listening.
Jazz 101 by
Szwed's guide to jazz will help curious culturephiles learn about this popular, yet occasionally intimidating, art form. Forged out of several of the world's most diverse musical traditions (classical, folk and pop), jazz continues to evolve in myriad new directions. Covering all the key basis, with a history, analysis of key figures, some rudiments of music, a discography and a bibliography, Szwed will also speak of jazz's unique history and discuss its rapid mutations and incredible political and cultural influence.
