Syntax vs Semantics

If you listen to a lot of different kinds of music you might notice that there are two fundamental elements. This is on an abstract level, not a concrete one. The two elements are syntax and semantic…

Tonality and Dissonance

These two concepts are often confused, I suspect. We learn about tonality and dissonance in theory class, but we don't think much about how they are related or if they are related. Dissonance is …

Musical Form

Schoenberg writes in 1929: I have, above all, repeatedly pointed out the purpose of all forms : a layout which guarantees comprehensibility. I have then shown what are the conditions that go with com…