William Renwick:  Research and Publications

William Renwick completed B. Mus, and M. Mus. degrees at the University of British Columbia, following which he took the M. Phil. and Ph.D. degrees in Music Theory at the City University of New York, where he specialized in Schenkerian studies under Carl Schachter, Joel Lester, and Charles Burkhart.  He is Professor of Music Theory in the School of the Arts, McMaster University.  His research interests encompass studies in tonal counterpoint and analysis and Gregorian chant as well as computer applications in music research.  His publications include Analyzing Fugue: A Schenkerian Approach (Pendragon, 1995), and The Langloz Manuscript: Improvising Fugue from Thoroughbass (Oxford, 2001), as well as articles in Journal of Music Theory, Music Theory Spectrum, Music Analysis, Bach Perspectives, Music Theory Online, Theoria, Computers in Music Research, Canadian University Music Review, Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy, and other journals.  He is currently working on the first modern edition of the The Sarum Rite.  In 2002 he was a Fellow of the Mannes Institute for Advanced Studies in Music Theory.  He is a founding member of the Gregorian Institute of Canada, and of the McMaster Institute of Music and the Mind.

William Renwick is also an organist, composer, and choral director.  He holds the Associate degree of the American Guild of Organists and the Fellow of the Royal Canadian College of Organists.  He has performed concerts and recitals throughout the region.  In 1999 he served as co-chair of The Canadian Organ Festival in Hamilton.  He is Music Director at Saint Mary the Virgin Church in Hamilton Ontario, and director of the Hamilton Schola Cantorum.

Current research project:

· The Sarum Rite.  A multi-volume modern performing and scholarly edition of all the surviving liturgy and music of the Sarum Rite, published on-line by the Gregorian Institute of Canada.

Principal publications:

Books:

·  Editor, Chant Old and New/Plain-chant: l’ancien et le nouveau. Proceedings of the 2011 conference of the Gregorian Institute of Canada. Lions Bay: The Institute of Mediaeval Music, 2012. 

·  General Editor, Duhamel and Swanson, Les Traditions du Plain-chant Occidental/Traditions in Western Plainchant. Proceedings of the 2009 conference of the Gregorian Institute of Canada. Ottawa: The Institute of Mediaeval Music, 2010. 

· The Langloz Manuscript:  Fugal Improvisation Through Figured Bass, Oxford University Press, 2001 (Early Music Series).  (Sample here.) (Reviewed by Yo Tomita.) (second printing)

· Analyzing Fugue: A Schenkerian Approach, Pendragon Press, 1995. (Reviews in Music and Letters, Notes, Music Analysis, Music Theory Spectrum, and Integral.)   Out of print; part of the book is available in preview at Google Books.

· The Contrapuntal Style of Healey Willan. M.Mus. Dissertation, University of British Columbia (1982).

Articles:

·   Analysis Symposium: “Of Time and Eternity: Reflections on "Das alte Jahr vergangen ist" "  Journal of Music Theory 2006; 50 (1): 65-76

·  “Aspects of Structure in Bach’s F-Minor Fugue, WTC II.” in  Structure and Meaning in Tonal Music--A Festschrift for Carl Schachter, Poundie Burstein and David Gagne, Editors, Pendragon Press 2006, 237-245.

·  Translation and edition of "Brahms: Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Handel, Op. 24", by Heinrich Schenker, in Der Tonwille II, Oxford University Press, 2005.

· A review of The Organs of Toronto for CAML Newsletter.

·  A review of recent music by Nicholas Fairbank for Organ Canada.

· Schenker Analysis Glossary (web version), with David Walker (English and German), 2001.  Russian translation published in Очеки и Этюдьґ по Методоогии Музьґаьного Аниза, Б.Т. Плотников (красноярсқ 2002), pp. 271-284.  

· David Walker and William Renwick. "Modelling Professional Practice in Music Analysis with Computing." Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy, XIV (2000), 63-74.

·  "Schubert's Impromptu in G-flat:  A Response to Adam Krims", Canadian University Music Review, XX/2 (2000).

·  Music theory articles for The Reader's Guide to Music, Fitzroy Dearborn, 1999.

·  "39. Praeludia et Fugen del Signor Johann Sebastian Bach?: The Langloz Manuscript, SBB Mus. ms. Bach P 296", Bach Perspectives 4 (1999), edited by David Schulenberg, 137-158.

·  "Bach and the `Old' Musicology", Music Analysis 16 (1997), p. 255.

·  "Multi-media Music Instruction Using Toolbook" with David Walker, Proceedings, KlangArt, 1995 (1997).

·  "Hidden Fugal Paths: A Schenkerian View of Handel's F Major Fugue (Suite II)", Music Analysis, XIV-1 (March, 1995): 53-71. Translated as "Chemins mystérieux de la fugue: un point de vue schenkérien sur la fugue en fa majeur de la 2^e Suite de Händel"  in Musurgia IV-2 (1997), 12-24.

· William Crotch "A Subject of Four Notes: William Crotch's Experiment in Motivic Saturation", Music Theory Online, 0.1 (September, 1994).

·  "The Changing Role of the Church Musician," The American Organist, XXVII-12 (December, 1993): 82-83.

·  "Modality, Imitation and Structural Levels: Bach's Manualiter Kyries from Clavierübung III," Music Analysis, XI-1 (1992): 55-74.

·  "CD-Brahms: an Interactive Multimedia Music Analysis Program," with David Walker, Computers in Music Research, IV (fall, 1992): 45-75.

·  "Structural Patterns in Fugue Subjects and Fugal Expositions," Music Theory Spectrum, XIII-2 (1991): 197- 218.

·  "Brackets and Beams in Schenker's Graphic Notation," Theoria: Historical Aspects of Music Theory, III (1988) (published in 1989): 73-85.

·  "Modal Structure and Formal Design in Iso Chidori," Hogaku, II-1 (Winter, 1985): 21-63.

Editions:

· The Sarum Rite.  The Gregorian Institute of Canada, (2006-)

· The Sarum Tonary, for Thesaurus Musicarum Latinarum, 2005.

· Thomas Ravenscroft’s Briefe Discourse, for Texts on Music in English, 2003.

· Four Pieces for Organ by Florence Durell Clark, edited by William Renwick, 21pp. 1999. Available from the Royal Canadian College of Organists.

Compositions:

· The Saint John Eucharist, mass for SATB choir, congregation, and organ, Canadian Computer Printing, 2003  (full music edition and separate congregational leaflet).  New edition. UtReMi Edition, 2010.

· Cantico del Sole, Anthem for SSAA choir, Canadian Computer Printing, 2003.

· Dear Father, Let My Mind, Anthem for SSAATTBB choir, Canadian Computer Printing, 2002.

· The Shining King of Truth, Anthem for S.A. choir, two soprano recorders and piano, Canadian Computer Printing, 2001.

· Sonata Antiqua for Solo Oboe, Canadian Computer Printing, 1999.

· Twas in the Moon of Wintertime for Double Choir, Canadian Computer Printing, 1999.

· What a Friend We Have in Jesus, for Double Choir, Canadian Computer Printing, 2000.

· Blessed be Our God and Father, for SATB and organ.  New Edition, UtReMi Edition, 2009.

· Processional on "Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven" for organ, Canadian Computer Printing, 2000.

·  Descant to "Lord of the Dance", Organ Canada XII-2 (June 1999), p. 13.

· Five Chorales for Organ, New edition, Fairbank Music Publishing, 2007.

· He is Risen, Easter Anthem for SATB, New edition, UtReMi Edition, 2009.

· Jesu, the Very Thought of Thee, Two-part anthem, UtReMi Edition, 2009.

· Descants for Favourite Hymns, UtReMi Edition, 2009.

· This night of nights.  Duet for alto and baritone, UtReMi Edition, 2010.

Recordings:

· Canada's Heritage of Hymns CD, produced by William Renwick, 1999.  Available from the Royal Canadian College of Organists, Hamilton Centre.

Multimedia:

· CD-Brahms: an interactive CD-ROM program in music analysis (with David Walker). (Based on my translation of Heinrich Schenker, "Brahms: Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Handel, Op. 24," Der Tonwille, IV Jahrgang, Heft 2/3 (Heft 8/9 der Gesamtfolge) (April-September, 1924): 3-46, with added introduction, commentary, notes, MIDI and CD-ROM performances, and glossary.) (Marketed directly through McMaster University, 1993).

Click here to view reviews of my work and the errata list for my publications.