Traité de l’harmonie
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The Traité de l'harmonie (Treatise on Harmony), published in 1722 by French composer Jean-Philippe Rameau, is a foundational work in Western music theory. Rameau's central argument is that all harmony is derived from the fundamental note of a chord, known as the root. From this root, other notes are added to form triads, which are the basic chord structure of the common practice period.12
The treatise established the concepts of key, functional harmony, and modulation, which are crucial for understanding tonal music. Rameau's theories, though refined over time, remain the basis for studying common-practice harmony. His work significantly influenced the development of music theory and composition during the Baroque era and beyond.132
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