Treatise on Harmony
Encyclopedia
Treatise on Harmony is a music treatise written by Jean-Philippe Rameau
. The first publication of the treatise was in Paris, 1722 by Jean-Baptiste-Christophe Ballard.
The Treatise describes music and how to write it based on the modern tonal system used today in classical music
. It uses the modern Major and Minor
keys to teach readers what to do to achieve good sounding music based on the 12 tone
music scale
.
The Treatise is divided into four books.
Book I: On the relationship between Harmonic Ratios and Proportions.
Book II: On the Nature and Properties of Chords; and on Everything which may be used to make music perfect.
Book III: Principles of Composition.
Book IV: Principles of Accompaniment.
Rameau's treatise often obtains passages written already in a very similar manner in other publications of other books by other authors.
Jean-Philippe Rameau
Jean-Philippe Rameau was one of the most important French composers and music theorists of the Baroque era. He replaced Jean-Baptiste Lully as the dominant composer of French opera and is also considered the leading French composer for the harpsichord of his time, alongside François...
. The first publication of the treatise was in Paris, 1722 by Jean-Baptiste-Christophe Ballard.
The Treatise describes music and how to write it based on the modern tonal system used today in classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
. It uses the modern Major and Minor
Major and minor
In Western music, the adjectives major and minor can describe a musical composition, movement, section, scale, key, chord, or interval.Major and minor are frequently referred to in the titles of classical compositions, especially in reference to the key of a piece.-Intervals and chords:With regard...
keys to teach readers what to do to achieve good sounding music based on the 12 tone
Twelve-tone technique
Twelve-tone technique is a method of musical composition devised by Arnold Schoenberg...
music scale
Musical scale
In music, a scale is a sequence of musical notes in ascending and descending order. Most commonly, especially in the context of the common practice period, the notes of a scale will belong to a single key, thus providing material for or being used to conveniently represent part or all of a musical...
.
The Treatise is divided into four books.
Book I: On the relationship between Harmonic Ratios and Proportions.
Book II: On the Nature and Properties of Chords; and on Everything which may be used to make music perfect.
Book III: Principles of Composition.
Book IV: Principles of Accompaniment.
Rameau's treatise often obtains passages written already in a very similar manner in other publications of other books by other authors.