Rhythmic and Contrapuntal Structures in the Music of Arthur Honegger

Book excerpt: This title was first published in 2002. Through analyses of a number of Honegger's compositions, including extended analyses of two of Honegger's orchestral works, "Mouvement symphonique No. 2 (Rugby)" and "Symphonie pour cordes", Keith Waters examines the principles of musical organization in Honegger's music and shows how these principles are based on systematic rhythmic and contrapuntal strategies. Musical form in Honegger's work, the book argues, is articulated by contrapuntal and rhythmic structures rather than by tonal structure, and it is this that provides the source of compositional unity in Honegger's music.