Robert Mayrhofer's Theory of Harmony

• Author / Creator

  Thomson, Sten

• This work examines the harmonic theory of the Austrian music theorist Robert Mayrhofer (1863-1935) as described in the author’s first two treatises, Psychologie des Klanges and Die organische Harmonielehre. In presuming that musical listening involves the visual conceptualization of pitch as points in “tone space,” Mayrhofer’s harmonic theory builds upon the perception of the major third as an essential interval, the n-Strecke, to create a harmonic system consisting of distinct harmonic structures as expansions in tone space. These structures,which Mayrhofer calls cells, delineate various levels of expansion in tone space that characterize the boundaries of tonality. From these structural levels, Mayrhofer develops the concept of expanded tonality that in his view underlies most music composed since Bach and is especially helpful in describing the highly chromatic music of late tonality. Mayhofer thus
  develops a highly original and controversial theory of harmony from a single musical perception.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Robert Mayrhofer
  • Music theory

• Graduation date

  Fall 2010

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Arts

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3H376

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.