Alexander Publishing

The Larger Forms of Musical Composition
By Percy Goetschius, Royal Wurttemberg Professor
Revised, Second Edition
440 pps, $35.95

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What’s Inside
This is a newly revised second edition. Covers longer compositional forms including sonata allegro, dance, rondo and others.

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Preface
Detailed Table of Contents

Summary Table of Contents
Chapter 1 - The Ground-Motive
Chapter 2 - The Ground-bass, or Basso Ostinato
Chapter 3 - The Passacaglia
Chapter 4 - The Chaconne
Chapter 5 - The Small (or simple) Variations-form
Chapter 6 - The Large (or Higher) Variation-Form
Chapter 7 - The First Rondo Form
Chapter 8 - The Second Rondo Form
Chapter 9 - The Third Rondo Form
Chapter 10 - The Sonatina-form
Chapter 11 - The Sonata-Allegro Form
Chapter 12 - Miniature Sonata-Allegro, as Expanded Three-part
Chapter 13 - Irregular Forms: Introduction
Chapter 14 - Isolated Unique Designs
Chapter 15 - The Overture
Chapter 16 - The Compound Forms

Here’s a partial list of Dr. Goetschius’ students and online material on or by them:
Pauline Alderman
Samuel L.M. Barlow
Samuel Gardner
Howard Hanson
Eva Jessye
Arthur Loessser (brother was Frank Loesser, the Broadway composer)
Daniel Gregory Mason
Pierre Maurice
Leo Ornstein
Wallingford Riegger
Richard Rodgers
Zygmund Przemyslaw Rondomanski
Arthur Shepherd

The Author of The Homophonic Forms of Musical Composition
Percy Goetschius was born in Paterson, NJ in 1853. Goetschius was the organist of the Second Presbyterian Church from 1868-1870, the First Presbyterian from 1870-1873, and the pianist for the Paterson Choral Society.

In 1873, he went to Stuttgart, Wurttemberg (Germany) to study theory in the conservatory, later becoming professor. The King conferred upon him the title of royal professor. Goetschius was both an active composer and reviewer.

In 1892 he began teaching at the New England Conservatory. In 1896 he opened his own private studio. Nine years later, in 1905, Goetshcius joined the teaching staff of the Institute of Musical Art in New York City, which later became The Julliard School of Music.

His list of students was a true Who’s Who of composers and composers whose lives spanned into the early 21st Century. Outside of Nadia Boulanger, it’s doubtful that any other single music teacher has had such a profound impact on his students as Percy Goetschius did.

Dr. Goetschius died in Manchester NH October 29, 1943.