Richard Cohn

Introduction to Neo-Riemannian Theory: A Survey and a Historical Perspective

The papers collected in this issue represent an emerging species of transformational theory drawn together under the Neo-Riemannian designation. This introductory essay sketches the origins and recent development of neo-Riemannian theory, and positions it with respect to several other genera of music theory, as well as to an evolving post-structuralist critical practice. Along the way, it seeks to situate Hugo Riemann amidst the flurry of activity occuring beneath the banner bearing his name, and to provide comfort to the perplexed observer who, innocently prying apart these covers and peering within, spies the theoretical tradition of A. B. Marx and Oettingen romping merrily with that of Babbitt, Forte, and Morris. Strange fellows indeed! ... or perhaps, upon reflection, not so strange....

Bartók's Octatonic Strategies: A Motivic Approach

This study offers an alternative to the diatonic interaction model to explain Bartok9s interest in the octatonic collection. The special ability of the octatonic collection to be partitioned into alternative sets of transpositionally related subsets is revealed through an abstract study. The exploitation of this potential through the interaction of the subsets is demonstrated in two compositions from the Mikrokosmos and in the first movement of the Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion.