Classical “non-classical” metodology of analysis by M. D. Tits (to upcoming 125th birthday of the scholar)

Abstract

Background. The goal of given article is to reveal methodology of M. D. Tits’s analysis on the premise of textbook “About thematic and compositional structure of musical pieces” (1972), to comprehend uniqueness, innovation and research value of some theoretical postulates in his approach to analysis of a melody, to typology of themes, thematic development and period. The study of the methodology of Tits’s analysis was not the subject of a special study. This is the scientific novelty of the proposed article. Conclusions. Textbook “About thematic and compositional structure of musical pieces” is a synthesis between a textbook and scholar research. It is founded on non-classical methodology of analysis of musical work, supposing start of the course not from basic elements of musical language, but from complex holistic phenomena of melody, themes, period. M. D. Tits’s methodology might be seen as some sort of resistance to analysis of abstract, dogmatic superficial approach. Non-classical methodological approach on the new level and in conditions of a new genre (textbook) continues tradition of classical analysis, founded by E. Kurt, B. Asafyev, M. Arkadyev, regarding process of musical form, as well as connected with another researchers of energetic and intonational essence of music. M. D. Tits’s textbook showed new level of theoretical generalization due to encyclopaedical knowledge of the author. The course embraces different eras, styles, genres, compositional techniques. M. D. Tits’s approach to melody, unlike one of L. A. Mazel, is mainly a teaching on melodical movement, where it is not notes that are important, but the movements from one tone to another, connections between sounds, inside the pauses. This analysis supposes unique results as it embraces intuitive and sensual comprehension of melodic process. The textbook contains valuable thought about diversity of forms of thematic material. M. D. Tits distinguished three main types of themes, introduced concept of “thematic nucleus” on thematicism. M. D. Tits suggested the most comprehensive classification of four main principles of thematic development, without contradictions between levels of motives and themes; without terminology burdened by connotations with defined musical forms. M. D. Tits developed classification of period on the basis of structural and thematic factors. He introduced period of “unfolding” type, with its variants reaching outside the baroque era. We must state that this article outlines the most basic moments of M. D. Tits’s methodology of analysis in his textbook. However, the significance if the theoretic scholar for analysis and practice is much bigger and can not be limited to these postulates.