ABSTRACT
This introductory chapter is divided into three sections. The first section presents what are three concepts fundamental to Schenker’s approach to musical structure: (1) melodic motion by step; (2) resolution of the dissonant seventh; and (3) harmonic scale step (a distinction between chord and harmony). This is a must-read for the student with little or no background in the topic. The second section presents an overview of Schenker’s concept of structural levels (foreground, middleground and background), demonstrating through a detailed examination of Bach’s C major Prelude. Here important concepts and terminology are presented initially: structural levels, fundamental structure and fundamental line, prolongation, closure, linear progression, substitution, unfolding and concepts associated with hypermeter that are developed in Chapter 3. The third section provides an introduction to Schenker’s concept of motive as associated with that of structural levels.
