Author Description

From the PREFACE. The Exercises in this book have been selected and arranged with a view of providing pupils with a varied and comprehensive course, suitable either for Private Study, for work under a Teacher, or for preparation for University or other Examinations in Harmony and Figured Bass. No particular theory of Harmony has been slavishly followed, but the author has endeavoured to combine the best features of modern systems; and he believes that the Exercises may be advantageously used with any Standard Text Book. Only such rules, therefore, have been given as are generally accepted, and which the pupil would be extremely unwise to ignore; and they must, in this work, be regarded rather as hints than as complete statements. The adaptation of Basses from the great composers as Harmony Exercises, is, we believe, unique: the student will feel that they are not theoretical puzzles, and he will be stimulated by the thought that he is working upon the foundation upon which the "Masters" have reared some of their most beautiful progressions. A few original Exercises have been added to preserve the continuity of the work; all of these are, however, based upon passages found in the compositions of eminent theorists or composers.