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Harmony and composition, theory of
(2,409 words)

1. Definition

The theories of harmony and composition are among the central disciplines of music theory. They serve as “doctrines” for a deeper understanding of “classical music,” and are therefore primarily explored in specialist musical training. The theory of harmony, which began in the 18th century, concerns the structure and significance of the chord in major-minor music, while the theory of composition in the sense of the “setting” (German Satz, which denote…

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Daniel, Thomas, “Harmony and composition, theory of”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 31 March 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_020683>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20180915



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