A Theory of Musical Narrative

"Reimagining literary narrative theory in musical terms, Almén (Univ. of Texas, Austin) has appropriated, explicitly, various constructs and methods, albeit with qualification. The endeavor is informed by semiotic and topic theories—The Semiotics of Music, ed. by Eero Tarasti (1987), was a progenitor. That the outcome seems so natural, elegant, and convincing testifies to the author's careful work and deep understanding. He asserts that the book does not provide an analytic method but, rather, a framework; several analyses, large and small, will serve as a primer for others. In the first part of the book, Almén explains the theoretical underpinning; in the second part, he introduces four narrative archetypes that correspond precisely to the four mythoi Northrop Frye gave in his essay 'Archetypal Criticism' (Anatomy of Criticism, 1957). It would seem that Almén's theory can be applied as a means of understanding any musical work, regardless of type or style or purpose. Might a fundamental connectedness of seemingly disparate musics be revealed? That would be something. The book is out of range for all but the most intrepid undergraduates, but it is a must for all music theory collections. Summing Up: Essential. Upper-division undergraduates through researchers and faculty. —Choice"— B. J. Murray, Brevard College, August 2009

"A Theory of Musical Narrative is an impressive and thought-provoking study which includes many fascinating ideas and insights as well as a comprehensive critique of previous literature."—Music Analysis

"[N]atural, elegant, and convincing . . . a must for all music theory collections. Summing Up: Essential. Upper-division undergraduates through researchers and faculty."—Choice

"In this pathbreaking study, Byron Almén convincingly demonstrates that a piece of music can convey a narrative that is intrinsically musical, not added by a program or text."—J. Peter Burkholder, Distinguished Professor of Musicology, Indiana University

"Almén's work is far reaching both for music theory and musicology and will make a substantial and timely contribution to the study of musical narrative."—Michael Klein, Associate Professor of Music Theory, Temple University