After the First World War, the Viennese musical theorist Heinrich Schenker (1868-1935) postulated an imaginary melody line, which he termed the "fundamental line" (Urlinie), as the basic substance of tonal music. Schenker's fundamental line theory is the expression of a cultural conservatism, which was associated with the belief in the superiority of monarchy and German culture. During National Socialism, the reception of his ideas was suppressed. Many of his adepts were of Jewish origin and fled before the National S…