LITTLE-KNOWN ASPECT OF BILLROTH,THEODOR WORK - HIS CONTRIBUTION TO MUSICAL THEORY

Theodor Billroth's contribution to musical theory is discussed and eva luated. Billroth was a close friend of the composer Johannes Brahms an d was himself extremely musical. At his death he left the manuscript o f a book on musical theory, Wer ist Musikalisch?, which had gone throu gh four editions by 1912. In it he attempted to answer important quest ions on the nature of sound perception, the importance of rhythm as a fundamental element in music, the relation of pitch, tone, and volume, and the ways in which to account for the affective power of music. Th is article outlines the main concepts, contributions, and opinions off ered by Billroth.