Vast archive of music theory PDFs

Subject: Vast archive of music theory PDFs
From: Jack Campin
Date: 15 Dec 10 - 06:58 PM

This should be enough theory to keep anyone away from the bodhran for a very long time:

http://gfax.ch/literature/

Subject: RE: Vast archive of music theory PDFs
From: GUEST,pattyClink
Date: 15 Dec 10 - 09:04 PM

Wow! What's the story behind that cache?

Subject: RE: Vast archive of music theory PDFs
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 15 Dec 10 - 09:06 PM

This is an TRULY an amazing resource.
Thank You JACK.

Please tell. How did you happen to "stumble across" this academic treasure trove?

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Vast archive of music theory PDFs
From: Darowyn
Date: 16 Dec 10 - 04:08 AM

Hm!
I've bookmarked the site, but it is going to take a while to read those, and probably the rest of my life to make something of the information and opinions there!
I just wish I'd known about it while I was still teaching the subject!
On the other hand my students are probably grateful that I had to keep it simple!
Cheers
Dave

Subject: RE: Vast archive of music theory PDFs
From: terrier
Date: 16 Dec 10 - 06:30 AM

I see Irving Berlin's 'Blanca Navidad' is written in Eb, probably to stop melodeonists from joining in ;)
Over the past few months, I've been bookmarking 'useful' music sites and I've come to the conclusion that no one need ever buy any more sheet music/books, as everything ever written is on the net somewhere. I get this strange vision of armies of musicians toiling their miserable lives away in locked rooms downloading manuscript PDF's into the bottomless pit of the WWW that no one will ever find.
Thanks Jack, I've added this URL to my ever increasing list.

Subject: RE: Vast archive of music theory PDFs
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 16 Dec 10 - 06:40 AM

My Understanding of Guitar Chords ...

Guitar Chords the 'Friends' way

Subject: RE: Vast archive of music theory PDFs
From: Will Fly
Date: 16 Dec 10 - 06:51 AM

I've come to the conclusion that no one need ever buy any more sheet music/books, as everything ever written is on the net somewhere.

It's certainly seems to be going that way but there's still stuff for which - if you want a proper/authentic arrangement - the sheet music is still handy to buy, and it's not too expensive. This is particularly true for some of the stuff from the 1930s and 1940s. Older material, such as ragtime and cakewalks, is often available in academic sheet music archives.

Subject: RE: Vast archive of music theory PDFs
From: Jack Campin
Date: 16 Dec 10 - 04:57 PM

Please tell. How did you happen to "stumble across" this academic treasure trove?

A mention on Mike's Oud Forums, pointing out the material relating to Middle Eastern music.

Subject: RE: Vast archive of music theory PDFs
From: Fossil
Date: 16 Dec 10 - 05:06 PM

Well, the .ch in the URL indicates that the trove might be of Swiss origin. Who or what gfax is, is anyone's guess. We wait to see. A truly amazing find: thanks again, Mudcat!

Subject: RE: Vast archive of music theory PDFs
From: mikesamwild
Date: 17 Dec 10 - 05:05 PM

A great resource , bonaza. I now understand about modes, I think.

Subject: RE: Vast archive of music theory PDFs
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 17 Dec 10 - 05:27 PM

At the original link, if you click the top "Parent Index" link you go to Samples.

I use the term "Samples" because I'm not sure how else to describe it; but each of the "submissions" on the page links to a (usually YouTube) video demonstration of some very interesting instruments.

The couple of videos I looked at appear to be by "professsional" level musicians, and certainly are from musical genres I'm not gonna hear on the local rockabilly broadcasts.

John

Subject: RE: Vast archive of music theory PDFs
From: Don Firth
Date: 17 Dec 10 - 06:18 PM

Some of these approaches to music theory would send Bach or Beethoven, with their fingers in their ears, screaming over the nearest hill. Overcomplicated. VERY overcomplicated!

Scroll down to Piston, Walter – Harmony (1959) and take a look. This is the book we used in the music theory classes at the Cornish School of the Arts (a music and art conservatory in Seattle). Very clear and comprehensive, and step-by-step rather than throwing you into the deep end of the pool right off.

We also used a harmony workbook put together by Paul Hindemuth, but I don't see that particular one on the list.

There's a lot of good stuff in that index, but just taking a few random looks could scare a person off from even trying to learn something about music theory. Theory is kinda complicated, but it isn't nearly as complicated as some of this makes it look.

Don Firth (been there, done that!)

Subject: RE: Vast archive of music theory PDFs
From: Tangledwood
Date: 17 Dec 10 - 08:23 PM

As Don suggests, a random look could scare a person off. I wish I could understand some of the titles, let alone the content. Going back there now to have a look at the harmony book.