Harmony textbook for self study

[Shrunk]

Hi.  I"ve been away from the board for a while, but I plan to start posting again.

Anyway, I have a request for help.  I've been trying to teach myself basic harmony and counterpoint.  I've been working thru this series of books put out thru the Royal Conservatory.  They're good for self study  because they're well organized and programmatic.  But they're also a bit "cookbook" in their approach.  I'd like something that delves a bit deeper into the "why" behind the rules as a supplement.

Some of the textbooks I'm considering include:

Harmony and Voice Leading, Aldwell, Schachter and Cadwallader

Techniques and Materials of Music, Benjamin, Horvit and Nelson

The Musician's Guide to Theory and Analysis, Clendinning and Marvin

Tonal Harmony, Kostka and Payne

The Complete Musician,  Laitz

Theory for Today's Musician, Turek

Any recommendations from among these, or any other suggestions?

My guitar teacher is also a composer, so he can help me out if I get stuck, but I'd mainly like something that I can work thru on my own.

Thanks in advance, all.

[listener]

Higgs on Fugue has been a staple text for many decades - a century, I just noticed.  You might find a used copy in a nearby bookstore .
[asin] B00085WMFS[/asin]

[PaulSC]

Hi Shrunk,

Your list includes most or all of the texts I would consider. My pick would probably be Aldwell & Schachter, which is a classic on the subject. It avoids oversimplification and makes excellent use of examples from literature. The Laitz text has many of the same virtues; if you can compare these two you might find one or the other better suited to your study style. Both texts to have accompanying workbooks in case you find that helpful.

I teach college-level theory using the Kostka & Payne book. It's maybe a little more accessible for some students, but I consider it secondary to the content of my lectures and handouts. I feel it leaves some topics out or oversimplifies them.

Good luck with your studies, whatever choice you make!

Hi.  I"ve been away from the board for a while, but I plan to start posting again.

Anyway, I have a request for help.  I've been trying to teach myself basic harmony and counterpoint.  I've been working thru this series of books put out thru the Royal Conservatory.  They're good for self study  because they're well organized and programmatic.  But they're also a bit "cookbook" in their approach.  I'd like something that delves a bit deeper into the "why" behind the rules as a supplement.

Some of the textbooks I'm considering include:

Harmony and Voice Leading, Aldwell, Schachter and Cadwallader

Techniques and Materials of Music, Benjamin, Horvit and Nelson

The Musician's Guide to Theory and Analysis, Clendinning and Marvin

Tonal Harmony, Kostka and Payne

The Complete Musician,  Laitz

Theory for Today's Musician, Turek

Any recommendations from among these, or any other suggestions?

My guitar teacher is also a composer, so he can help me out if I get stuck, but I'd mainly like something that I can work thru on my own.

Thanks in advance, all.

[canninator]

Fine list, I would add Vincent Persichetti's '20th Century Harmony'

[Shrunk]

Thanks everyone.  I've gone with Laitz, for the simple reason that it's the cheapest.