A Research On Henry Cowell’s Innovative Theory And His Composing Practice

Henry Cowell, an American composer with great influence in the20th century Western musical history, put forward innovative techniques in his theoretical writing New Musical Resources, which has a profound impact on later composers, and on the whole development of the Western music, and which has been regarded by Scholars g as probably the earliest elaboration on modern American composers’ intent. Since the materials concerned haven’t been opened to the public until2000, theoretical researches on Henry Cowell’s writings needs further expansion and deepening. This dissertation will focus on the theory put forward in the New Musical Resources, using such concept as " innovative theory " establish the scope of the research object. Based on the exposition in Cowell’s writings, the dissertation will interpret the "innovative theory", analyzing his relative works in composition practice and its application in practice. In addition, the dissertation will evaluate objectively its impact and significance, commenting on the music thoughts in his "innovative theory" from the perspective of musical culture..With "innovative theory" as focus, the dissertation falls into five chapters, and reveals the theory from four levels. The first level, also the first chapter of the dissertation is the overtone basis of establishing "innovative theory", delineating the scope of the theory, giving account of the overtone basis of establishing the theory, and probing the possible causes of the theory.The second level, also the second chapter, focuses on the sorting out and explaning the content of the theory, covering such topics as the construction of tone clusters, the morphological classification, the ways of move; the construction of the theory, relating such innovative concepts as time, metre, tempo, dynamics, form and so on.The third level, including the third and fourth chapters, analyzes the relative works using Cowell’s theory, and thus summarizes its function played in the works. The third chapter, which is the practice of tone cluster theory, focuses on the analysis of three characteristics (tonality, color and texture) embodied in the use of tone clusters. The fourth chapter is the practice of rhythm theory, focusing on the three elements (time, metre, and form)in the practice of rhythm theory.The fourth level, the fifth chapter, is to evaluate the significance of Cowell’s theory and his musical thoughts from the perspective of the techniques of the theory and the perspective of the musical culture.By the above elaboration on Henry Cowell’s innovative theory, it’s obvious that his innovative theory has a far-reaching and significant impact on the development of the20th century Western music despite some double definition and calculation mistakes existing in the theory. The following conclusions can be reached. First, tone clusters technique has been inherited and further developed by later composers; second, the rhythm theory not only brings about the inheritance of some certain techniques, but also an inspiration of the composition development of later chance music; third, he emphasizes the humanistic spirit of music, and points out the innovation of techniques should serve the music emotion expression ultimately, which has set a pioneering benchmark of20th century music techniques; fourth, Music of the world’s people is the core of his musical thought reflected in the innovative theory, which affects positively in an European-centered theoretical era.