“Ant Bridges and Large Tonal Schemata"

Abstract: The importance of long-range tonal structure--such as the large tonal return at the point of recapitulation or the modulation that spans an exposition within sonata movements--has been astaple of analytic discussions in everything from treatises published during the eighteenth century through modern-day music appreciation texts. In all, the significance of such long-range tonal connections is frequently taken for granted by many musicians. On the other hand, some others are suspicious that the emphasis on large tonal structures reflects modern music theoretic preoccupations with abstract concepts that have little relevance to what people can actually hear. This presentation contends that—in at least certain common situations—large tonal structures are indeed perceptible in a visceral manner, and that they can play a vital role in the expressive and narrative power of music. In certain styles, long-range tonal structures can be understood as schemata, that is, stylistically standard patterns that are cognitively accessible, despite their extending beyond what can be readily embraced by short-term memory. Furthermore, such large tonal structures are able to be heard not only by experts who are playing the piece and/or who have studied the piece extensively (though the perceptions of such people are hardly to be discounted), but also by audiences in general who are deeply familiar with the given style and who know what to listen for. As its stylistic vantage point, this presentation focuses on music of the Galant period, though its implications arguably have a broader reach to other tonal styles as well.

Bio: Poundie Burstein is a Professor of Music Theory at Hunter College and the Graduate Center of CUNY; he has also taught at Mannes College, Queens College, Columbia University, and held an Endowed Chair at University of Alabama. He also worked for several years as a freelance pianist for comedy improvisation groups. A former President of the SMT, Poundie is the author of many publications, including the book Journeys Through Galant Expositions. This is not Poundie’s first time at the University of Rochester: He attended Eastman as a freshman (where he studied with Dorothy Payne, among others); he took a summer course (in Computer Assisted Instruction) at Eastman taught by Besty Marvin and Alec Brinkman; and he is also a former teacher of several Eastman students and faculty members.