Gottfried Weber
Encyclopedia
Jacob Gottfried Weber was a prominent German writer on music (especially on music theory
), composer, and jurist.
Weber was born at Freinsheim
. From 1824 to 1839 he was the editor of Cäcilia, a musical periodical published in Mainz
, which influenced musical thought in Germany during the early Romantic era. He died at Bad Kreuznach
.
His most important work is his Versuch einer geordneten Theorie der Tonsetzkunst (Theory of Musical Composition) (Mainz, B. Schott, 1817-21), which introduces several concepts that have since become important in the study of music theory. In this work Weber develops the idea of "Mehrdeutigkeit" (that is, "multiple meaning"), a term initially introduced by Vogler. Weber's “multiple meaning” refers to individual tones and harmonies, based on their context in a piece of music, i.e., a C major triad may serve as I in C major, IV in G major, V in F major, etc. “To analyze
a chord
, a theorist must ask not only ‘What notes are in it?’ but also 'How is it behaving in the harmonic progression
?'" (Thompson), see diatonic function
. In the same work, Weber also further develops Vogler's idea of Roman numeral designations applied to chords. Unlike Vogler, Weber implements upper and lower case symbols to show not only the position of each chord related to the scale degree upon which it is built, but also the quality of each chord, i.e. major, minor, diminished, etc. Weber's Roman numeral system of analysis is in wide use in Universities all over the world today to varying degrees, albeit with some modifications.
Weber’s Theory of Musical Composition was the first work on music theory to be translated into English for publication in the United States (transl. by James F. Warner. Boston: Oliver Ditson, 1846).
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
), composer, and jurist.
Weber was born at Freinsheim
Freinsheim
Freinsheim is a town in the Bad Dürkheim district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. With about 5,000 inhabitants, it is among the state’s smaller towns...
. From 1824 to 1839 he was the editor of Cäcilia, a musical periodical published in Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
, which influenced musical thought in Germany during the early Romantic era. He died at Bad Kreuznach
Bad Kreuznach
Bad Kreuznach is the capital of the district of Bad Kreuznach, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is located on the Nahe river, a tributary of the Rhine...
.
His most important work is his Versuch einer geordneten Theorie der Tonsetzkunst (Theory of Musical Composition) (Mainz, B. Schott, 1817-21), which introduces several concepts that have since become important in the study of music theory. In this work Weber develops the idea of "Mehrdeutigkeit" (that is, "multiple meaning"), a term initially introduced by Vogler. Weber's “multiple meaning” refers to individual tones and harmonies, based on their context in a piece of music, i.e., a C major triad may serve as I in C major, IV in G major, V in F major, etc. “To analyze
Musical analysis
Musical analysis is the attempt to answer the question how does this music work?. The method employed to answer this question, and indeed exactly what is meant by the question, differs from analyst to analyst, and according to the purpose of the analysis. According to Ian Bent , analysis is "an...
a chord
Chord (music)
A chord in music is any harmonic set of two–three or more notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously. These need not actually be played together: arpeggios and broken chords may for many practical and theoretical purposes be understood as chords...
, a theorist must ask not only ‘What notes are in it?’ but also 'How is it behaving in the harmonic progression
Chord progression
A chord progression is a series of musical chords, or chord changes that "aims for a definite goal" of establishing a tonality founded on a key, root or tonic chord. In other words, the succession of root relationships...
?'" (Thompson), see diatonic function
Diatonic function
In tonal music theory, a diatonic function is the specific, recognized role of each of the 7 notes and their chords in relation to the diatonic key...
. In the same work, Weber also further develops Vogler's idea of Roman numeral designations applied to chords. Unlike Vogler, Weber implements upper and lower case symbols to show not only the position of each chord related to the scale degree upon which it is built, but also the quality of each chord, i.e. major, minor, diminished, etc. Weber's Roman numeral system of analysis is in wide use in Universities all over the world today to varying degrees, albeit with some modifications.
Weber’s Theory of Musical Composition was the first work on music theory to be translated into English for publication in the United States (transl. by James F. Warner. Boston: Oliver Ditson, 1846).
See also
- Difficile lectu (Mozart)#First performance -- a tale Weber told about Mozart in the pages of Caecilia.