1st Edition
Analyzing Harmonic Polarities A Tonal Narrative Approach
Introduction
1. Establishing the Polarities
2. Degrees of Spatial Centrifugal Force and the Tonal Spectrum
3. An Energetics Perspective and the Temporal Aspect of Centripetal/Centrifugal Forces
4. Tonal Narrative Functions
5. Alternating CP/CF Stages and Expanding Trajectories in Piano Sonatas by Mozart and Beethoven
6. Centripetal/Centrifugal Trajectories, Counterbalancing, Completeness, and Hermeneutic Polarities in Schubert's D. 894/i
Conclusion
Biography
Stephen Whale is a pianist, music analyst/theorist, and piano teacher and holds degrees from Sydney Conservatorium of Music (B. Mus, Hons), Yale School of Music (M. Mus), and City University of New York (DMA, 2019). Currently residing in Denmark, he works as an accompanist, piano teacher, and freelance pianist. Dr. Whale performs a wide range of repertoire as a soloist, chamber musician, and vocal accompanist. He has performed at festivals and on concert series in many countries, including Australia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United States. He has presented academic papers at conferences such as the Society for Music Analysis at Oxford University.
“In this revelatory exploration of centrifugal and centripetal tonal forces in piano sonatas by Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert, Stephen Whale has uncovered a sophisticated array of narrative functions that he portrays in both temporal and spatial terms. His analytical system is remarkably generous, drawing productively on a host of other music-theoretical approaches, but also resonating with potent resources from other disciplines, such as Goethe’s theory of colors.”
Prof. Scott Burnham
The City University of New York, USA
