Topics in Music Theory: Theories of Timbre and Timbral Analysis
Timbre has emerged as the predominant organizing feature of much music composed or created since the middle years of the twentieth century in virtually all styles of music. But while timbre has become increasingly important as an organizing and expressive principle of musical works, an instrumental concept of timbre and a productive form of timbral analysis have proved resistant.
The seminar focuses on a broad range of readings that aim toward conceptualizing timbre as an operational concept, considering historical and present attempts to conceptualize and analyze timbre. Throughout the seminar, participants will explore the timbral logics of particular works (broadly conceived).