The teaching and research of theorists are concentrated upon developing models and methods for understanding musical languages. How are specific pieces of music put together and how may this be generalized to relate to the way other pieces of music are composed? First and second year theory classes incorporate a combination of writing skills and analysis, whereas teaching in upper years focuses upon analysis. More specialized courses in such subjects as the application of mathematical models to music analysis and Renaissance-style counterpoint are available to the advanced theory major.
Recent graduate seminar topics in music theory have included:
Timbre and Form, Origins of Classical Phrase Structure, Historical Improvisation in Theory and Practice, Music of Messiaen, Music and Narrativity, Oster's Note: Research Problems in Schenkerian Theory and Analysis, Twentieth-Century Choral Music, Music and Chance, Schubert and Beethoven, Analysis of Sibelius Symphonies, Theory and Analysis of Rock Music, Theories of Rhythm and Meter, Music Theory Pedagogy, Cadence, Tonality and Form in Schubert, Darmstadt Avant-Garde, Music Since 1980, Analyzing Monteverdi.
Theory Area Chair:
Nicole Biamonte, Ph.D. (Yale)
Faculty:
Nicole Biamonte, Ph.D. (Yale)
William Caplin, Ph.D. (Chicago)
Robert Hasegawa, Ph.D. (Harvard)
Christoph Neidhöfer, Ph.D. (Harvard)
René Rusch, Ph.D. (Michigan)
Peter Schubert, Ph.D. (Columbia)
Jonathan Wild, Ph.D. (Harvard)
Associate Member: Prof. Stephen McAdams, Ph.D. (Stanford)
McGill students in music theory have gone on to further study at Yale University, University of Chicago, Eastman School of Music, University of Michigan, University of Toronto, and the University of Vienna. Recent graduates in music theory have accepted positions at the University of Ottawa and Oberlin Conservatory.