David Carson Berry

David Carson Berry, Associate Professor, is a music theorist whose research interests are wide-ranging. They include American popular music of the 1920s-60s, including a focus on Irving Berlin and Jimmy Van Heusen; the theory and aesthetics of music of the mid-eighteenth through mid-twentieth centuries, including a focus on Igor Stravinsky; and Schenkerian theory and its reception history in the U.S. At CCM, Dr. Berry regularly teaches tonal theory, Schenkerian analysis, eighteenth-century counterpoint, and a seminar on semiotic and narrative approaches to musical interpretation. Other, more occasional seminar topics have included a study of ambiguity in music, Stravinsky’s serial music, and various Schenkerian topics (e.g., pedagogy, Formenlehre, and conceptualizing prolongation).

As a scholar, Dr. Berry has delivered around 30 different papers at various academic venues in the U.S. and Europe, and has published nearly 20 articles and reviews in peer-reviewed journals such as Journal of Music Theory, Journal of Musicology, 19th-Century Music, Current Musicology, Intégral, Indiana Theory Review, and Journal of Schenkerian Studies. For one of these articles—“The Meaning(s) of ‘Without’: An Exploration of Liszt’s Bagatelle ohne Tonart”—he was the recipient of the Society for Music Theory’s “Emerging Scholar Award” for 2006. His book, A Topical Guide to Schenkerian Literature: An Annotated Bibliography with Indices (Pendragon, 2004), is the largest reference work devoted to writings about Heinrich Schenker and his approach to analysis. Other book projects are underway, including his editorship of A Music-Theoretical Matrix: Essays in Honor of Allen Forte, which is being serialized as a special feature of Gamut: The Journal of the Music Theory Society of the Mid-Atlantic.

As a journal editor, Dr. Berry currently helms the aforementioned Gamut, which will be progressing from an annual to a twice-yearly publication in 2012. He is a past editor of Theory and Practice, the journal of the Music Theory Society of New York State, for which he inaugurated a forum to encourage translations of significant articles and brief monographs into English. He also served as reviews editor of the Journal of Music Theory, for which he coordinated a special, two-issue “Schenker Review Symposium.”

Selected Professional and University Service

• Panelist/Presenter on ethics in the arts and humanities, at a session of the Graduate Summer Research Mentoring Experience (G-SUM) of the University of Cincinnati’s Graduate School (2010).
• Chair, Arthur J. Komar Award for best student paper, Music Theory Midwest (2010).
• Chair, Graduate Thesis and Research Committee, CCM (2010).
• Faculty Adviser, Student Conferences of the CCM Music Theory and Musicology Society (three terms, for conferences of April 2010, April 2008, and February 2007).
• Chair, Task Force for “Semesterization” of M.M. Curriculum, CCM (2009-10).
• Member, Publication Awards Committee, Society for Music Theory (2007-10).
• Chair, Program Committee, annual meeting of Music Theory Midwest (2007).

MPhil: Yale University

PhD: Yale University

BM: Arkansas State University

MM: University of Memphis

Peer Reviewed Publications

David Berry (2009. ) The Twin Legacies of a Scholar-Teacher: The Publications and Dissertation Advisees of Allen Forte .Gamut, , 2 (1 ) ,197

David Berry (2008. ) The Roles of Invariance and Analogy in the Linear Design of Stravinsky’s ‘Musick to Heare' .Gamut, , 1 (1 ) ,

David Berry (2006. ) Journal of Music Theory under Allen Forte’s Editorship .Journal of Music Theory, , 50 (1 ) ,7

David Berry (2005. ) Schenkerian Theory in the United States: A Review of Its Establishment and a Survey of Current Research Topics . Zeitschrift der Gesellschaft für Musiktheorie, , 2 (2-3 ) ,101

David Berry (2005. ) Victor Vaughn Lytle and the Early Proselytism of Schenkerian Ideas in the U.S. Journal of Schenkerian Studies, , (1 ) ,92

David Berry (2004. ) The Meaning(s) of ‘Without’: An Exploration of Liszt’s Bagatelle ohne Tonart .19th-Century Music, , 27 (3 ) ,230

David Berry (2003. ) Hans Weisse and the Dawn of American Schenkerism .Journal of Musicology, , 20 (1 ) ,104

David Berry (2002. ) The Role of Adele T. Katz in the Early Expansion of the New York ‘Schenker School' .Current Musicology, , (74 ) ,103

David Berry (2002. ) On Teaching ‘Tonal Mirror Counterpoint’: A Guide to Concepts and Practice .Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy, , (16 ) ,1

Published Books

David Berry (2004. ) A Topical Guide to Schenkerian Literature: An Annotated Bibliography with Indices .Hillsdale, NY , Pendragon Press

Book Chapter

David Berry (2006 ) Hans Weisse (1892-1940) Schenker-Traditionen: Eine Wiener Schule der Musiktheorie und ihre internationale Verbreitung .(pp. 91).Vienna, Böhlau Verlag

Encyclopedia Article

David Berry The Grove Dictionary of American Music, 2nd ed.

David Berry (2006. ) Europe 1789 to 1914: Encyclopedia of the Age of Industry and Empire .4, 2261Detroit, Charles Scribner's Sons

Invited Presentations

David Berry (04-2012. ) Confronting Meaning in Music .Fourth Biennial Student Conference of the Music Theory and Musicology Society, Cincinnati, OH. Level:University

David Berry (11-2008. ) Archiving Schenker .National conference of the American Musicological Society, Nashville, TN. Level:Prof. Org.

Paper Presentations

David Berry (05-2012. ) Notes of Completion and Contradiction: Strategic Uses of Pentatonicism in American Popular Songs of the 1920s–50s .Ann Arbor, MI. Other Institution. Level:Prof. Org.

David Berry (05-2014. ) Schenker and Music Criticism in 1930s America .Jackson, TN. Professional Meeting. Level:Prof. Org.

David Berry (10-2011. ) Schenker's First 'Americanization' in the 1930s (or, Schenker Meets the 'Appreciation Racket') .Minneapolis, MN. Professional Meeting. Level:National

David Berry (05-2011. ) The Practice and Pedagogy of Musical Dice Games: A Synthesis of Music History and Theory .Baton Rouge, LA. Other Institution. Level:University

David Berry (03-2011. ) Metaphorical Interpretations of Modality in American Popular Songs, ca. 1920–50 .Danville, KY. Professional Meeting. Level:Prof. Org.

David Berry (2008. ) What Kind of ‘Patterning’? Issues of ‘Thematicism’ Reconsidered in Stravinsky’s Abraham and Isaac .Other Institution. Level:Prof. Org.

David Berry (06-2007. ) Stravinsky’s Serialism and Musical Evolution: Tinkering, Preadaptation, and Non-Teleological Change .Durham University (UK). Other Institution. Level:University

David Berry (11-2006. ) Stravinsky’s Array-Pathway Analogues in Context: The Concept of an ‘Anasystemic Variation Procedure .Los Angeles, CA. Professional Meeting. Level:National

David Berry (01-2006. ) Judging Them by Their Covers: The Artistic and Commercial Connotations of Album-Cover Photographs .Cincinnati, OH. Other Institution. Level:Local

David Berry (04-2004. ) Verborgene Wiederholungen? Schenker’s (Hidden?) Influence in America before Hans Weisse and the Mannes Vanguard .Professional Meeting. Level:Prof. Org.

David Berry (02-2004. ) The Professional Songwriter in the Mid-Twentieth Century: Jimmy Van Heusen as a Case Study .Chapel Hill, NC. Other Institution. Level:University

David Berry (11-2003. ) The Structural Roles of Pentatonicism in Tin Pan Alley Songs .Madison, WI. Other Institution. Level:Prof. Org.

David Berry (06-2003. ) Hans Weisse .Vienna, Austria. Other Institution. Level:University

David Berry (04-2003. ) The Meaning(s) of ‘Without’: An Investigation of Liszt and His ‘Bagatelle ohne Tonart' .New Haven, CT. Other Institution. Level:Prof. Org.

David Berry (11-2002. ) Adele T. Katz and the Emergence of the New York ‘Schenker School' .Columbus, OH. Other Institution. Level:Prof. Org.

2010 Distinguished Alumni Speaker Part of 32nd Annual Convocation of Scholars Week College of Fine Arts, Arkansas State University Status:Recipient Level:University Type:Recognition

2008 Fellow, Mannes Institute for Advanced Studies in Music Theory "Jazz Meets Pop" Status:Recipient Level:Professional Org. Type:Fellowship

2006 Emerging Scholar Award Society for Music Theory Status:Recipient Level:Professional Org. Type:Recognition

2006 Fellow, Mannes Institute for Advanced Studies in Music Theory "Chromaticism" Status:Recipient Level:Professional Org. Type:Fellowship