O ensino do estilo harmônico de J. S. Bach baseado em dois livros didáticos franceses

Abstract

This investigation aims to analyze how two French textbooks dedicated to the teaching of harmonic styles can complement each other in the learning process of this subject. The teaching of harmonic styles has been an established practice at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris since 1968 and was introduced by Professor Henri Challan. For this study, we analyzed the books Mélodies instrumentales à harmoniser: dans quelques styles harmoniques caractéristiques by Challan, and Manuel pratique pour l'approche des styles de Bach à Ravel by Alain Bernaud and Yvonne Desportes. Considering specifically what the authors refer to as the harmonic style of J. S. Bach, this study finds that the first book presents only illustrations of this harmonic style, based on the author’s own musical output, encouraging the student’s analytical-creative practical exercise, but without textual guidance. The second book, on the other hand, provides both textual and illustrated guidance on the aforementioned harmonic style but does not offer creative practical exercises like the first. In this sense, we conclude that both texts are quite rich in information, whether in the form of illustration, description, or prescription, that both depend on the guidance of a teacher for effective learning, and that they can complement each other in music education focused on tonal harmony.