---
product_id: 4654461
title: "Fundamentals of Musical Composition"
price: "€ 54.77"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
url: https://www.desertcart.nl/products/4654461-fundamentals-of-musical-composition
store_origin: NL
region: Netherlands
---

# In-depth melodic & harmonic analysis Classic compositional wisdom Timeless insights from musical masters Fundamentals of Musical Composition

**Price:** € 54.77
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 🎶 Unlock the secrets of classical composition and compose like a maestro!

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Fundamentals of Musical Composition
- **How much does it cost?** € 54.77 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.nl](https://www.desertcart.nl/products/4654461-fundamentals-of-musical-composition)

## Best For

- Customers looking for quality international products

## Why This Product

- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Timeless Pedagogy:** Schoenberg’s foundational principles remain relevant for modern composers and educators alike.
- • **From Motive to Masterpiece:** Learn how to build complex musical forms starting from the smallest motifs to grand sonatas.
- • **Master Classical Composition:** Dive deep into Beethoven, Mozart & Haydn’s techniques to elevate your music theory game.
- • **Perfect for Serious Students:** Ideal for those with solid music theory background seeking to refine compositional skills.
- • **Insightful Historical Context:** Explore the evolution of musical forms with references to classical and pre-classical traditions.

## Overview

Fundamentals of Musical Composition by Arnold Schoenberg is a seminal text offering detailed analysis of classical period music, focusing on melodic construction and harmonic structures. It serves as a comprehensive guide for students and teachers, bridging historical insights with practical compositional techniques, making it an essential resource for serious musicians aiming to master the art of composition.

## Description

Fundamentals of Musical Composition [Schoenberg, Arnold] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Fundamentals of Musical Composition

Review: Fundamentals of Musical Composition by Arnold Schoenberg - This book is based on Schoenberg's thorough analyses of music mostly the classical period that includes copious examples and textual references to the works of Beethoven, Mozart and Haydn. It is a guide for the student and teacher in composition as projected out from late 18th and early 19th century practice. The best consideration was given to melodic construction with reference to aesthetic principles but with too much emphasis onunderlying harmonic structure. I believe that Schoenberg wrote stereotypical pieces in each genre for himself in order to understand the harmonic and formal schemes better. His discussions lead from his investigations. I found the exposition of all the larger forms at the end of the book dull reading though and wonder why he left out the basic Binary Form, which is so controversial in the development of the Sonata Form. This has significance in the recent scholarship by Charles Rosen and others,who focus on the construction of Scarlatti Sonatas and those of the pre classics like Sammartini in order to show the evolution of the development section or Durchfuhrung, the word that the author uses frequently. A good question is how exact, thorough and useful is the discussion of Phrase and Motive compared to modern treatises on those subjects. There is a controversial claim that the motive is the shortest unit of music by the authors at the Indiana University School of Music , but a phrase still remains impossible to define. Further on, I wonder if the early Rondo directly influenced the later Sonata-Rondos. The book could be considered a bit dated because there is no recognition of what is commonly called harmonic rhythm, a concept discovered by W. Piston. The analyses of chordal structures is somewhat in error for disregarding this. The odd thing about Schoenberg is that none of his music represents an assimilation of the concepts of the classical tradition nor did he write anything approaching real counterpoint in any of the pieces he wrote in later years, and this is said about a consummate master in this style.
Review: A great resource for a composer of many levels - One of the most informative music texts I've ever read, Schoenberg's Fundamentals book still holds up well in the year 2020. I would describe it as the perfect text for someone who has a decent knowledge of music theory (an assumption that I believe the book makes in its opening), but who could benefit from insight on how to create music ranging from the smallest motives to the largest, most complex forms. This book has changed how I view many different musical concepts, such as the difference between a "melody" and a "theme", and although it is primarily written from the standpoint of western tonal music, its principles can be applied to art music and popular music of any style and sound.

## Features

- Used Book in Good Condition

## Images

![Fundamentals of Musical Composition - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81oXcNx5OAL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fundamentals of Musical Composition by Arnold Schoenberg
*by P***S on March 20, 2016*

This book is based on Schoenberg's thorough analyses of music mostly the classical period that includes copious examples and textual references to the works of Beethoven, Mozart and Haydn. It is a guide for the student and teacher in composition as projected out from late 18th and early 19th century practice. The best consideration was given to melodic construction with reference to aesthetic principles but with too much emphasis onunderlying harmonic structure. I believe that Schoenberg wrote stereotypical pieces in each genre for himself in order to understand the harmonic and formal schemes better. His discussions lead from his investigations. I found the exposition of all the larger forms at the end of the book dull reading though and wonder why he left out the basic Binary Form, which is so controversial in the development of the Sonata Form. This has significance in the recent scholarship by Charles Rosen and others,who focus on the construction of Scarlatti Sonatas and those of the pre classics like Sammartini in order to show the evolution of the development section or Durchfuhrung, the word that the author uses frequently. A good question is how exact, thorough and useful is the discussion of Phrase and Motive compared to modern treatises on those subjects. There is a controversial claim that the motive is the shortest unit of music by the authors at the Indiana University School of Music , but a phrase still remains impossible to define. Further on, I wonder if the early Rondo directly influenced the later Sonata-Rondos. The book could be considered a bit dated because there is no recognition of what is commonly called harmonic rhythm, a concept discovered by W. Piston. The analyses of chordal structures is somewhat in error for disregarding this. The odd thing about Schoenberg is that none of his music represents an assimilation of the concepts of the classical tradition nor did he write anything approaching real counterpoint in any of the pieces he wrote in later years, and this is said about a consummate master in this style.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A great resource for a composer of many levels
*by A***R on January 27, 2020*

One of the most informative music texts I've ever read, Schoenberg's Fundamentals book still holds up well in the year 2020. I would describe it as the perfect text for someone who has a decent knowledge of music theory (an assumption that I believe the book makes in its opening), but who could benefit from insight on how to create music ranging from the smallest motives to the largest, most complex forms. This book has changed how I view many different musical concepts, such as the difference between a "melody" and a "theme", and although it is primarily written from the standpoint of western tonal music, its principles can be applied to art music and popular music of any style and sound.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Fundamental and Fun Mental Read
*by G***E on August 8, 2010*

Shoenberg's group of essays reads easily, and has a coherence that gives purpose to his subject matter. The work is a happy marriage of his technical content in "Style and Idea" and his earlier tonal works. In fact, and by that I mean my opinionated observation, these essays are written as though in the form of an extended requiem. Organized into twenty movements, my 20th Century musical hero begins "lightly" by discussing the concept of form. He then plays through motive constructions, melodic connections, and the different parts of form, keeping all his instruction neatly connected. At times, it seemed like I could hear music flowing out of his words, paragraphs, and punctuation. This book is more than a course for music student and/or composer; it is a flavorful experience for all five senses, unless you are unfortunate enough to have received a previous owner's toilet read.

---

## Why Shop on Desertcart?

- 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016
- 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories
- 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price
- 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members)
- 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection
- ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews

**Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.nl/products/4654461-fundamentals-of-musical-composition](https://www.desertcart.nl/products/4654461-fundamentals-of-musical-composition)

---

*Product available on Desertcart Netherlands*
*Store origin: NL*
*Last updated: 2026-03-13*