Understanding Rock Essays in Musical Analysis

In the last twenty years, scholars have become increasingly interested inrock music, and this is evinced by the ever burgeoning literature devoted torock music, the musicians who make it, and the fans who enjoy it. But of themany works published in rock music, few attempt to subject the music itself toclose and sophisticated analytical scrutiny. Analyzing Rock Music bringstogether essays by seven of musicolgy and music theory's best young scholars,and each essay explores the often complex musical structure of rock. Chapters inthis collection are devoted to the music of the Beach Boys, The Grateful Dead,Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Yes, Paul Simon, and k.d. lang. Each essay is richlyillustrated with musical examples, and in some cases, with extendedtranscriptions. Taken together, these essays present a formidable example ofjust how compelling rock scholarship can be. They demonstrate how rock musicboth addresses current concerns in musical analysis, while in some cases castingold issues in a new light. These essays also suggest how the analysis of rockmusic prompts the consideration of new issues in music and musical analysis andscholarship.

John Covach is Associate Professor of Music at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Graeme M. Boone is Assistant Professor of Music at the Ohio State University.