Welcome to Western Music Theory, the category that unravels the sonic architecture that has shaped centuries of music!
Here, we don’t just stop at the notes on the staff; we trace the history and logic of Western music, from its philosophical roots in Ancient Greece to the complex structures of classical and contemporary music.
We explore the pillars of theory: harmony, melody, rhythm, counterpoint. Each article is an in-depth look at a key concept, explained clearly for beginners and musicians of any level.
What you will discover in this category:
Learn the language that allowed composers like Bach, Mozart, and Stravinsky to create their masterpieces.
Start your journey to uncovering sound through its theory right here!
Harmony and Counterpoint: a complicated relationship? Let’s face it: there are lots of people that get confused when it comes to understand the difference
All you need to know about the whole note in music What are the symbols used for the whole note and whole rest? How many
History and meaning of the double whole note or breve Have you ever seen a whole note with two lines on each side? If the
Preliminary questions How can I tell the difference between C major and A minor in terms of chords and scales? What do music theorists mean
Meaning of the word Archaeomusicology The term Archaeomusicology derives from the fusion of two words: archaeo and musicology. ‘Archaeo’ indicates something related to an ancient
What’s the difference between chamber and orchestral music? There are at least 7 factors that determine the difference between chamber and orchestral music: the number
Syllabic, melismatic and neumatic singing: what’s the difference? The purpose of this guide is to answer the following questions: What does syllabic and melismatic mean
Clefs in Gregorian chant: typology and function Before talking about the typology and function of clefs in Gregorian chant, I think it may be useful
Musicology and ethnomusicology: so far, so close There was much debate among the scholars over the specific elements that make musicology different from ethnomusicology and,
Libretto and script: preliminary definitions What is the difference between a libretto and a script? Before providing an answer to this question, I think it