Theory of the Modes from Antiquity to Gl

Overview of the theory of the modes from ancient Greece to the middle of the sixteenth century, tracing the themes that recur throughout writings about the tonal structures underlying music. While the emphasis will be on close reading of selected primary sources in English translation, we will also address the most influential arguments in the secondary literature. Reading music theory against musical compositions and scrutinizing scores in light of treatises will highlight the symbiosis of theory and practice that has shaped discourse on the modes.