Thomas Christensen

Thomas Christensen is the Avalon Foundation Professor of Music and the Humanities at the University of Chicago. He holds a PhD from Yale University (1985) and has been a leading scholar in the history of music theory, with a focus on its cultural, intellectual, and interdisciplinary connections.

• Education: PhD, Yale University, 1985.

Christensen’s research explores how early modern music theorists engaged with broader cultural discourses, particularly Enlightenment science. His work spans topics such as Marin Mersenne’s writings, thorough-bass practice, historiography of music theory, and the social aesthetics of 19th-century piano transcriptions. Recent projects analyze the concept of tonality through Joseph Fétis’ scholarship.

His publications reveal a trajectory from Rameau’s theoretical frameworks to globalized discussions on cultural transfer and colonial hybridity in music theory. He has also edited foundational reference works like the Cambridge History of Western Music Theory.

Scientific Awards

• Wissenschaftskolleg Fellow (2011-12)
• ACLS Fellowship (2015)
• Guggenheim Fellowship (2019)

Christensen has served as President of the Society for Music Theory (1999-2001) and on the Executive Board of the American Musicological Society. His research has been supported by major funding agencies, reflecting his influence in transatlantic scholarly collaborations.