Dittersdorf Tonal Analysis Edition

Conjunction junction, what’s your function?

The same can be asked about musical pitches. In tonal music, a pitch takes on meaning only when viewed within a context – a pitch within a chord, within a tonal center, within a form.

Thus, our job as performers of tonal music is not only to learn the notes, but also to study the underlying context of those notes. In this way, we can make informed musical decisions and communicate the twists and turns, the surprises, the releases, the true drama of the piece.

I am constantly in awe of the fact that performance-oriented score analysis is so seldom talked about, and that so few resources exist to further the conversation. So, I created an edition of the Dittersdorf Bass Concerto No. 2 to reflect not only the notes, bowings, and fingerings, but also the tonal structure of the piece.

This edition contains two layers of tonal analysis. First, I labeled each chord with a root letter and suffix to describe the notes present. Second, I interpreted each chord with a roman numeral analysis to show its function within the tonal structure.

As with most editions, I have also included my personal fingerings and bowings. I intend that these serve only as suggestions, and that you change them to fit your unique strengths, playing style, and musical ideas.

I have not, however, included any phrasing suggestions. I do this on purpose, in the hopes that through study of the piece’s structure – it’s tension and release – you will be able to make your own informed musical decisions.

My hope for this edition is that it will spark new conversation and action surrounding the role of score analysis in performance, and that you will be inspired to analyze and share the pieces that you’re working on.

Click here to download my new edition of the Dittersdorf Bass Concerto.