Classical Form: A Theory of Formal Functions for the Instrumental Music of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven

Synopsis

Building on ideas first advanced by Arnold Schoenberg and later developed by Erwin Ratz, this book introduces a new theory of form for instrumental music in the classical style. The theory provides a broad set of principles and a comprehensive methodology for the analysis of classical form, from individual ideas, phrases, and themes to the large-scale organization of complete movements. It emphasizes the notion of formal function, that is, the specific role a given formal unit plays in the structural organization of a classical work.

This ambitious book offers nothing less than a new theory of form for the music of the Classical period ... In its combination of scholarship, musicality and sheer common sense, Caplan's Classical Form is a major achievement by any standards ... it should be read by anybody who teaches, studies or writes about this music. Music and Letters