Modulation

by Max Reger

"I consider him a genius," remarked Arnold Schoenberg of the progressive early modernist Max Reger (1873–1916). In addition to his international renown as a teacher, conductor, and pianist, Reger wrote more than 1,000 works in virtually every musical genre. Many scholars and musicians credit him with emancipating dissonance to a level that assisted Schoenberg's development of serialism in the 1920s. Reger's influence extends to other 20th-century composers, including Béla Bártok, Alban Berg, Arthur Honegger, Paul Hindemith, and Sergei Prokofiev.
Modulation — the change from one key to another — is a subject of critical importance to performers and composers in their study of harmony. Reger wrote this concise guide to modulation while teaching composition at Leipzig Conservatory, and the work continues to provide valuable insights and instruction for musicians at all levels. This new edition features newly engraved musical examples.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

80 pages, Paperback

First published June 5, 2007

Reviews

[Richard Pohl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting enough (if you wonder about how to modulate between C flat and E sharp, you can find answers there), yet it is not any explanation of modulation or a real treatise, just list of modulation progressions mainly using dominant, subdominant, Napolitan chord and Dorian sixth...

[Roger · Rating 5 out of 5]

At 62 pages, it is remarkably short, but if you are familiar with four-part counterpoint, it can really open your eyes to the creative possibilities of Western tonal music. Each example is more like a puzzle. How can I get from key A to key B? That said, I thought the notation used to describe the chords was a little confusing and it's definitely not an introductory work of musical theory.