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The Cambridge History of Western Music Theory. Edited by Thomas Christensen. Cambridge University Press, 40 W. 20th St., New York, NY 10011; 845-353-7500; www.cambridge.org. Hardcover, 2002; paperback, 2006. 1,024 pp. Black-and-white figures, music examples, indexes. Hardcover, $190.00; paperback, $45.00.
This hefty volume, part of the Cambridge History series, is packed with tables, diagrams, footnotes, and essays by top music theory scholars. Its goal is to provide English-speaking scholars with a comprehensive and broad survey of the vast and complex history of music theory. Music theory is a "subject that notoriously resists its own history" (p. 1), Thomas Christensen writes in his introduction. Quite true, especially when you consider that for a long time "voice-leading," a regulated rhythmic framework, and even written...