1954 Sixteenth-Century Polyphony A Basis for the Study of Counterpoint by Arthur Tillman Merritt Harvard University Press

Sixteenth-Century Polyphony A Basis for the Study of Counterpoint by Arthur Tillman Merritt Harvard University Press, 1954, Cambridge, Massachusetts CONDITION: Well kept copy, with jacket, tight binding, unmarked text, mild jacket edge wear and tear, exowner name inscribed. ATTRIBUTES: Hardcover. No dust jacket. Bound in cloth over boards. DESCRIPTION: This book, "Sixteenth-Century Polyphony: A Basis for the Study of Counterpoint," delves into the intricate world of 16th-century polyphony, offering a foundational guide for understanding counterpoint. The text explores the construction of single melodic lines and their combination into two, three, and four-part compositions. It serves as an introduction to the early study of counterpoint, a fundamental element of Western music theory. The author, Arthur Tillman Merritt, was an American musicologist and pedagogue. He studied at the University of Missouri and Harvard University, and also in Paris with notable figures like Boulanger and Dukas. Merritt joined the faculty of the music department at Harvard University in 1932, where he later served as chairman for two separate terms. His expertise in music theory and history is evident in this valuable treatise, which was originally published in 1939. Merritt's work holds significance as a pedagogical tool for generations of music students and scholars. The study of 16th-century polyphony, particularly the style of composers like Palestrina, has been a cornerstone of counterpoint education, influencing later theoretical systems. For a collector, this book represents a key text in the field of music theory, offering insights into the historical development of counterpoint and the analytical approach to Renaissance music. Its enduring relevance to the study of music composition and its connection to a respected musicologist like Arthur Tillman Merritt make it a noteworthy item. FLASHBACK TO 1954 WHEN THIS BOOK WAS PUBLISHED: When this book was published in 1954, the world reeled from the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu, signaling the end of French Indochina and the rise of McCarthyism at home, while the Supreme Court’s *Brown v. Board of Education* decision challenged segregation. The discovery of the DNA double helix by Watson and Crick a year prior was still reverberating through scientific circles, as rock and roll, exemplified by Elvis Presley's first recordings, began its seismic cultural shift. In Cambridge, Arthur Tillman Merritt was a respected figure, his scholarly work continuing to influence musical discourse. Location: 01-05-01-879