Dr. Richard Cohn

Biography

Richard Cohn is the Battell Professor of Music Theory at Yale University, where he has played a significant role in advancing the field of music theory since his appointment in 2005. He received his PhD from the Eastman School of Music in 1987, focusing on transpositional combination in atonal music under the supervision of Robert D. Morris. Before joining Yale, he taught at the University of Chicago from 1985 to 2001, where he also served as Department Chair. Cohn is known for his contributions to the analysis of music, particularly in 19th-century harmony, musical meter, geometric models of musical systems, and various aspects of both Western and non-Western music. He has published extensively, including his prominent work 'Audacious Euphony: Chromatic Harmony and the Triad’s Nature' with Oxford University Press. Cohn's research has earned recognition, including multiple Outstanding Publication Awards from the Society for Music Theory. He is an active editor for the Journal of Music Theory and has initiated significant projects exploring the structure of musical meter. His engagement with the academic community is evidenced by keynote lectures around the globe and his involvement in high-level editorial work in music theory literature.

Research Interests

Experience