I am writing a thesis on the topic of prose as music.  The Sonata
musical form seems to me to be analagous to the Aristotelian theory of
tragedy:  a three part form having a beginning, middle and end with
the denouement coming in the middle.  So, for example, Beethoven's
first movement of his 5th symphony is in a Sonata form with an
Exposition, Development and Recapitulation.

My question is:  Has anyone written on the application of musical
forms to prose?  Any of the different musical forms?  and,
Specifically in the application of the Sonata form?  What reference
materials are available?

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Request for Question Clarification by politicalguru-ga on 17 Jul 2003 06:17 PDT

Dear Cocoa, 

I have several directions for you. However, I am not sure that this is
what you're looking for:

- I have found several articles on the connection between Russian
music and prose, and on the musicality of classical Russian prose.
These are all academic publications (I have found the references, of
course, not the originals, due to copyright issues) - and probably
also contain theoretical overview that might be helpful for your
thesis.

In addition, I found several theoretical books addressing the question
of literary form and musical sturcture in general.

- In a related accord, Willa Cather "compared the novel's structure to
a sonata form in music, with the center section in significant
contrast to the surrounding sections." (Source: James Woodress
[Historical essay/explanatory notes] "The Professor's House",
http://unp.unl.edu/bookinfo/3990.html).