Howard Hansen's Pitch Theory Study

Howard Hanson (1896-1981) is an American famous composer, conductor, music educatorand social activist in20thcentury. He composed hundreds of works in his life, and explorednew theories of composition techniques, especially in the aspects of harmonic materials,the theoretical thought in the book of Harmonic Materials of Modern Music-Resources of theTempered Scale published in1960was called Hanson’s theory.The Hanson’s theory researched the whole harmonic materials in the tempered scale,and the relationship between them by the Interval nature. The dissertation elaborated onthe contents in Hanson’s theory, summarized its characteristics, classification ofharmonic materials, etc. At the same time choose Hanson’s three representative works (1.Pan&priest, op.26,1926;2. Symphony No.5, Sacra, op.43,1954;3. Symphony No.6,1968)in different stages as the analytic target to understand Hanson theory’s forming process,and deeply analyzes the theory with the method and practical value, then guide to practicein composition.The whole body is divided into eight parts: Introduction, five Chapters, the Follow-upResearch of Hanson’s Theory and the Conclusion. The introduction expounded the object andscope of the study, domestic and foreign research status and its academic value; the firstchapter introduced the life and music of Hanson; the second chapter explained Hanson’stheory; the third chapter discussed the characterizations of Hanson’s theory; the fourthchapter analyzed the harmonic mateirials in Hanson’s three works by Hanson’s theory andother metrods; the fifth chapter evaluated the application methods and value about Hanson’stheory; the follow-up research chapter tried to discuss the methodology of Hanson’s theorywhich was not mentioned in it; the conclusion summarized the practical problems and theorycontribution of Hanson.