Jump to content

Leonard Ratner: Difference between revisions

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
ce
 
(23 intermediate revisions by 13 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Infobox scientist
⚫
'''Leonard G. Ratner''' (July 30, 1916 – September 2, 2011), was an American musicologist, Professor of Musicology at [[Stanford University]], He was a specialist in the style of the [[Classical period (music)|Classical period]], and best known as a developed of the concept of [[Topic theory]].<ref>[[William Caplin]], "On the Relation of Musical 'Topoi' to Formal Function" ''Eighteenth-Century Music'' 11(1) March, 2005.</ref><ref>[[Raymond Monelle]], ''The Sense of Music:Semiotic Essays'' Princeton Univ. Press, 2000</ref>
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Leonard Gilbert Ratner
| honorific_suffix =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| image = <!--(filename only, i.e. without "File:" prefix)-->
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date |1916|07|30}}
| birth_place = Minneapolis, Minnesota
| death_date = {{death date and age |2011|09|02 |1916|07|30}}
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates = <!--{{coord|LAT|LONG|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}-->
| other_names =
| residence =
| citizenship =
| nationality = American
| fields = Musicology
| workplaces = Stanford University
| patrons =
| education = University of California at Berkeley
| alma_mater =
| thesis_title = <!--(or | thesis1_title = and | thesis2_title = )-->
| thesis_url = <!--(or | thesis1_url = and | thesis2_url = )-->
| thesis_year = <!--(or | thesis1_year = and | thesis2_year = )-->
| doctoral_advisor = <!--(or | doctoral_advisors = )-->
| academic_advisors =
| doctoral_students =
| notable_students =
| known_for = Developer of the concept of topic theory (see [[music semiology]])
| influences =
| influenced =
| awards = Guggenheim Fellowship, Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
| author_abbrev_bot =
| author_abbrev_zoo =
| spouse = <!--(or | spouses = )-->
| partner = <!--(or | partners = )-->
| children =
| signature = <!--(filename only)-->
| signature_alt =
| website = <!--{{URL|www.example.com}}-->
| footnotes =
}}

⚫
'''Leonard Gilbert Ratner''' (July 30, 1916 – September 2, 2011) was an American musicologist and Professor of Musicology at [[Stanford University]]. He was a specialist in the style of the [[Classical period (music)|Classical period]] and is best known as a developer of the concept of [[topic theory]] (see [[music semiology]]).<ref>[[William Caplin]], "On the Relation of Musical 'Topoi' to Formal Function" ''Eighteenth-Century Music'' 11(1) March, 2005.</ref><ref>[[Raymond Monelle]], ''The Sense of Music: Semiotic Essays'' Princeton Univ. Press, 2000</ref>


==Biography==
==Biography==
Ratner was born in [[Minneapolis]], [[Minnesota]]. After studying the violin and viola, and studying composition with [[Frederick Jacobi]], [[Arnold Schoenberg]], [[Ernest Bloch]], and [[Arthur Bliss]], he received a Ph.D. in musicology in from the [[University of California at Berkeley]] under [[Manfred Bukofzer]], the first such degree to be given by that university.<ref name=KA>Kofi Agawa, "Leonard G. Ratner, 1916-2011" ''Ad Parnassum: A Journal of Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Instrumental Music '' 10 (19), April 2012, 190-194</ref>
Ratner was born in [[Minneapolis]], [[Minnesota]]. He studied the violin and viola, as well as composition with [[Frederick Jacobi]], [[Arnold Schoenberg]], [[Ernest Bloch]], and [[Arthur Bliss]]. Under [[Manfred Bukofzer]], he received a Ph.D. in musicology from the [[University of California at Berkeley]], the first such degree to be given by that university.<ref name=KA>Kofi Agawu, "Leonard G. Ratner, 1916-2011" ''Ad Parnassum: A Journal of Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Instrumental Music '' 10 (19), April 2012, 190-194</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
In 1947, he joined the newly formed Department of Music at [[Stanford University]], and continued there until his retirement in 1984 composing, teaching, and conducting research on music theory.
In 1947, he joined the newly formed Department of Music at [[Stanford University]], and continued there until his retirement in 1984, composing, teaching, and conducting research on music theory. He composed a chamber opera, '' The Necklace'', and several chamber works. He taught composition and theory to advanced students and coached chamber music; he also taught elementary music appreciation courses for undergraduates, Stanford alumni, and the general public. He was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship (1962) and elected as a Fellow of the [[American Academy of Arts and Sciences]] in 1998.
He composed a chamber opera, '' The Necklace'', and several chamber works. He taught composition and theory to advanced students and coached chamber music; he also taught elementary music appreciation courses for undergraduates, Stanford alumni, and the general public. He was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship for1962, and elected as a Fellow of the [[American Academy of Arts and Sciences]] in 1998.


His research was devoted to emphasizing "sonata form's harmonic underpinnings as an antidote to the thematic perspective" <ref name=KA /> and developing a theory of musical period and form.
His research was devoted to emphasizing "[[sonata form]]'s harmonic underpinnings as an antidote to the thematic perspective" <ref name=KA /> and developing a theory of musical period and form.


==Publications==
==Publications==
Line 23: Line 70:
===Academic journal articles===
===Academic journal articles===
*"Harmonic aspects of Classic Form" ''[[Journal of the American Musicological Society]] '' 2 (3), Autumn, 1949 p.159-68
*"Harmonic aspects of Classic Form" ''[[Journal of the American Musicological Society]] '' 2 (3), Autumn, 1949 p.159-68
*"Eighteenth-Century Theories of Musical Period Structure" ''[[Musical Quarterly]]'' 42(4) Oct. 1956 p 439-454
*"Eighteenth-Century Theories of Musical Period Structure" ''[[Musical Quarterly]]'' 42(4) Oct. 1956 p 439–454
*"On the nature and value of theoretical training" ("A Forum: Music theory for the Layman") ''[[Journal of Music Theory]]'' 3 (1959) 58-69
*"On the nature and value of theoretical training" ("A Forum: Music theory for the Layman") ''[[Journal of Music Theory]]'' 3 (1959) 58–69
*"Approaches to Musical Historiography of the Eighteenth Century" ''Current Musicology'' 9 (1969) 154-57
*"Approaches to Musical Historiography of the Eighteenth Century" ''Current Musicology'' 9 (1969) 154–57
*"Key Definition: A structural problem in Beethoven's Music" ''Journal of the American Musicological Society, 23(3) Autumn, 1970 472-83
*"Key Definition: A structural problem in Beethoven's Music" ''Journal of the American Musicological Society'', 23(3) Autumn, 1970 472–83
*"Texture: A Rhetorical element in Beethoven;s Quartets" ''Israel Studies in Musicology'' 2 (1980) p.&nbsp;51-62
*"Texture: A Rhetorical element in Beethoven's Quartets" ''Israel Studies in Musicology'' 2 (1980) p.&nbsp;51-62
*"Topical content in Mozart's Keyboard Sonatas" ''[[Early Music]]''' 19 (4) (1991) 615-19
*"Topical content in Mozart's Keyboard Sonatas" ''[[Early Music]]''' 19 (4) (1991) 615–19
*"'Mozart's Parting Gifts" ''[[Journal of Musicology]]'' 18(1) Winter, 2001, 189-211
*"'Mozart's Parting Gifts" ''[[Journal of Musicology]]'' 18(1) Winter, 2001, 189–211


===Other===
===Other===
*"Development" and "sonata Formm" in ''Harvard Dictionary of Music'', 2nd ed., 1969.
*"Development" and "Sonata Form" in ''Harvard Dictionary of Music'', 2nd ed., 1969.
*"Koch, Heinrich Cristoph" "Period" and "Riepel, Joseph" in ''New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'' 1980
*"Koch, Heinrich Cristoph" "Period" and "Riepel, Joseph" in ''New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'' 1980


Line 38: Line 85:
<references />
<references />


{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ratner, Leonard}}
[[Category:1916 births]]
[[Category:2011 deaths]]
[[Category:2011 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Minneapolis]]
[[Category:Pupils of Ernest Bloch]]
[[Category:Pupils of Arnold Schoenberg]]
[[Category:University of California, Berkeley alumni]]
[[Category:Stanford University faculty]]
[[Category:American musicologists]]
[[Category:Beethoven scholars]]
[[Category:Haydn scholars]]
[[Category:Mozart scholars]]
[[Category:Schubert scholars]]

Latest revision as of 04:44, 9 October 2024

Leonard Gilbert Ratner
Born(1916-07-30)July 30, 1916
Minneapolis, Minnesota
DiedSeptember 2, 2011(2011-09-02) (aged 95)
NationalityAmerican
EducationUniversity of California at Berkeley
Known forDeveloper of the concept of topic theory (see music semiology)
AwardsGuggenheim Fellowship, Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Scientific career
FieldsMusicology
InstitutionsStanford University

Leonard Gilbert Ratner (July 30, 1916 – September 2, 2011) was an American musicologist and Professor of Musicology at Stanford University. He was a specialist in the style of the Classical period and is best known as a developer of the concept of topic theory (see music semiology).[1][2]

Biography

[edit]

Ratner was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He studied the violin and viola, as well as composition with Frederick Jacobi, Arnold Schoenberg, Ernest Bloch, and Arthur Bliss. Under Manfred Bukofzer, he received a Ph.D. in musicology from the University of California at Berkeley, the first such degree to be given by that university.[3]

Career

[edit]

In 1947, he joined the newly formed Department of Music at Stanford University, and continued there until his retirement in 1984, composing, teaching, and conducting research on music theory. He composed a chamber opera, The Necklace, and several chamber works. He taught composition and theory to advanced students and coached chamber music; he also taught elementary music appreciation courses for undergraduates, Stanford alumni, and the general public. He was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship (1962) and elected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1998.

His research was devoted to emphasizing "sonata form's harmonic underpinnings as an antidote to the thematic perspective" [3] and developing a theory of musical period and form.

Publications

[edit]

Books

[edit]
  • Music: The Listener's Art NY: McGraw-Hill. 1st ed. 1957; 2nd. ed 196; 3rd ed. 1977
  • Harmony, Structure, and Style NY: McGraw-Hill, 1962
  • Classic Music: Expression, Form, and Style NY: Schrimer, 1980
    • Review by Jane Stevens, Journal of Music Theory 27 (1983)
  • The Musical Experience: Sound, Movement, and Arrival NY:Freeman, 1983
  • 'Romantic Music: Sound, and Syntax NY: Schrimer, 1992
  • the Beethoven String Quartets: Compositional Strategies and Rhetoric Stanford: Stanford Bookstore, 1995

Academic journal articles

[edit]
  • "Harmonic aspects of Classic Form" Journal of the American Musicological Society 2 (3), Autumn, 1949 p.159-68
  • "Eighteenth-Century Theories of Musical Period Structure" Musical Quarterly 42(4) Oct. 1956 p 439–454
  • "On the nature and value of theoretical training" ("A Forum: Music theory for the Layman") Journal of Music Theory 3 (1959) 58–69
  • "Approaches to Musical Historiography of the Eighteenth Century" Current Musicology 9 (1969) 154–57
  • "Key Definition: A structural problem in Beethoven's Music" Journal of the American Musicological Society, 23(3) Autumn, 1970 472–83
  • "Texture: A Rhetorical element in Beethoven's Quartets" Israel Studies in Musicology 2 (1980) p. 51-62
  • "Topical content in Mozart's Keyboard Sonatas" Early Music' 19 (4) (1991) 615–19
  • "'Mozart's Parting Gifts" Journal of Musicology 18(1) Winter, 2001, 189–211

Other

[edit]
  • "Development" and "Sonata Form" in Harvard Dictionary of Music, 2nd ed., 1969.
  • "Koch, Heinrich Cristoph" "Period" and "Riepel, Joseph" in New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians 1980

References

[edit]
  1. ^ William Caplin, "On the Relation of Musical 'Topoi' to Formal Function" Eighteenth-Century Music 11(1) March, 2005.
  2. ^ Raymond Monelle, The Sense of Music: Semiotic Essays Princeton Univ. Press, 2000
  3. ^ a b Kofi Agawu, "Leonard G. Ratner, 1916-2011" Ad Parnassum: A Journal of Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Instrumental Music 10 (19), April 2012, 190-194
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Leonard_Ratner&oldid=1250224696"