Introduction to Graduate Theory: Teaching Tonal Hierarchy through Bach

Many master's degrees in music require at least one theory course for all students. Variously titled Introduction to Graduate Theory, Analytical Techniques, or Graduate Theory and Analysis, such courses can be challenging to teach due to the varying majors, skills, and interests represented. These students need to synthesize and apply undergraduate-level theoretical concepts while also learning more sophisticated tools and techniques. One way to accomplish this is through a unit on select concepts from Schenkerian analysis. Teaching students to construct harmonic reductions can effectively introduce (or reinforce) tonal hierarchy—the most fundamental concept in Heinrich Schenker's theory. While simplifying a texture to show harmonic rhythm and voice leading is not unique to Schenkerians, such reductions enable discussion of advanced concepts including hierarchical levels, prolongation, and motivic parallelisms. Asking students to embellish a harmonic framework further reinforces these concepts.

This article outlines a course module that teaches foundational Schenkerian concepts through the analysis of select chorales, figuration preludes, and unaccompanied solo works by J. S. Bach. While prolongation and voice leading can be taught with nearly any common-practice repertoire, studying these three particular genres in this order helps students transfer principles they know from part writing to music with more complex textures. Starting with the chorales allows for a rapid review of figured bass, dissonance types, and voice leading. Continuing with harmonic reduction of figuration preludes demonstrates the link between part writing and repertoire. Concluding with the reduction and elaboration of compound melodies highlights the intricate connection between melody and harmony in Bach's unaccompanied works. This unit on Bach's music helps students move past individual notes and isolated chords into a deeper, more dynamic understanding of how tonality shapes phrases, sections, and pieces.