Analyzing Classical Form builds upon the foundations of the author's critically acclaimed Classical Form by offering an approach to the analysis of musical form that is especially suited for classroom use. Providing ample material for study in both undergraduate and graduate courses, Analyzing Classical Form presents the most up-to-date version of the author's "theory of formal functions." Students will learn how to make complete harmonic and formal analyses of music drawn from the instrumental works of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. Part 1 introduces the principal theme-types of classical instrumental music; part 2 provides a methodology for analyzing sonata form, the most important formal type in this style period; and part 3 considers other full-movement forms found in this repertory (such as minuet, rondo, and concerto). The chapters are organized in a way that presents the most basic materials upfront and then leads the student through more details and finer points of theory. Every topic is illustrated with annotated musical examples; as well, the book contains many unannotated examples that can be used for in-class discussion and for out-of-class analytical exercises. A complete glossary of terms and questions for reviewing the theory will help students assimilate the many theoretical concepts employed in the book. A companion website hosted by the author at music.mcgill.ca/acf/ provides audio and musical scores for all of the examples in the book as well as additional examples for the analysis of the simple theme-types presented in part 1.

本书作者瓦尔特·基泽勒为德国著名的作曲家暨音乐理论家，以其对当代音乐作曲理论与技法的研究著称于世。在本书中，他从西方当代音乐各个创作流派不同的文化-人文背景及音乐传承关系出发，以历史的眼光和尽可能客观的态度，对近一个世纪以来西方当代音乐中和声思维发展的脉络进行了较为全面的考察和梳理，对20世纪上半叶和声领域的主要倾向（自由无调性、印象主义和扩展的调性）进行了简明扼要的评介和总结，并通过大量摘自具有代表性的当代作曲家作品的实例，有所侧重地对20世纪下半叶60～90 年代以多元化为特征的创作思潮中反映出来的各类和声现象进行了深入浅出的论述。其中，对当代音乐中若干新的和声观念（如音块、和声场、音响轴等）的解析以及新的和声技法（如频谱音乐、微分音程音乐以及各类模式化写法）的介绍，在国内同类专业文献中尚属罕见，具有较大的信息量。
本书虽然不是一部系统的和声教科书，但是，它却可以“给学习者提供一个具有承载能力的基石，使之能够作进一步的思考并继续发展”（作者语）。对于从事音乐创作及理论研究的专业工作者及音乐院校的教师、学生来说，不失为一本很好的参考书。