Theory of Prominence: Temporal Structure of Music Based on Linguistic Stress

Many composers have written music with rhythmic structures that deviate from traditional Western classical music's even, periodic meter. Bryan Hayslett's analytical system proposes that listeners perceive rhythm similarly to how they perceive language rhythm, with gesture as the smallest organizational unit. It combines Fred Lerdahl and Ray Jackendoff's generative theory of tonal music with Bruce Hayes's metrical stress theory from linguistics. The author then provides analyses that outline temporal structure according to perceptual prominence.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 03 November 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Many composers of the 20th and 21st centuries have created music with rhythmic structures that require a distinct framework from traditional periodic meter, a defining feature of Western classical music for centuries. This unique Element's analytical system delves into the structure and phrasing of music, bypassing the reliance on perceptible meter. Instead, Bryan Hayslett proposes that listeners perceive rhythm in similar ways to how they comprehend language rhythm. His analytical system integrates Fred Lerdahl and Ray Jackendoff's generative theory of tonal music with Bruce Hayes's metrical stress theory from linguistics. By focusing on gesture as the smallest organizational unit, Hayslett's system combines these diverse theories to provide a comprehensive understanding of rhythm. The listener perceives the shape of a gesture based on the arrangement of its constituent elements, while larger-level phrasing is perceived through the hierarchical relationship of gestures. Following the development of a set of rules, the author offers detailed analyses that outline temporal structure based on perceptual prominence.

Weight: 138g
Dimension: 421 x 227 x 8 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108813334