Review of Ralph Turek, Theory for Today's Musician (McGraw-Hill, 2007)

Part of the effort entails a recognition that popular music and jazz can be vehicles for conveying much of what traditional theory teaches, and that apart from its own intrinsic merit that repertory can serve as a conduit to other musical styles. (xiii) The juxtaposition of Loesser and Carmichael's "Heart and Soul," a piece even the least experienced music student may know, with Bach's "Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben," (377-381) demonstrates the equality and respect, and occasional subtle irony, with which Turek presents his musical examples. With its study of popular music as well as more significant study in some deeper theoretical concepts, Ralph Turek's Theory for Today's Musician has the potential to become a standard among theory texts. of article Gabe Fankhauser Hayes School of Music Appalachian State University Boone, NC 28608 fankhauserg@appstate.edu Jennifer Sterling Snodgrass Hayes School of Music Appalachian State University Boone, NC 28608 snodgrassjs@appstate.edu of article