Chapter Nine Harmony
Chapter Nine
Harmony
Basic Elements of Music
Rhythm Melody (pitch Harmony Timbre (sound) Form (shape)
Harmony
Refer back to “Intro to Intro” Powerpoint for previous discussion of harmony
General definition--• Simultaneous Pitches
Western-Style Tonal Harmony• Tonal Center (Key)• The tonic note of the scale creates a
feeling of rest—tonal center
Scales--review
Refer back to Chapter Six Powerpoint for a refresher on scales.
Scales-review
Diatonic Scale-Major
Diatonic Scale-Minor
Chromatic Scale
Harmony is made up of-
Triads –– Chords Harmonic Progression Harmonic Rhythm Harmonic Tension and
Release
Triads = Chords
Triads are made up of scale tones-
Every other pitch for three successive tones-
Again, referring back to the Intro to Intro Powerpoint will help.
Diatonic Triads
Triads (chords) are built on the steps of a major or minor scale. This is what creates the tonic and dominant triad function as well as creates the four chord qualities--
Tonal Harmony
Diatonic Harmony is based on
Diatonic Scale--a scale which has a tonal center
Diatonic chords--chords built from a diatonic scale (example is a series of chords built on each scale step)
Tonal Harmony
Chromatic Harmony is based on
Chromatic Scale--a scale containing every half step within an octave
Tonal Harmony Harmonic Tension and Release
sense of rising and falling tension created by chord
progression
Tonic Triad, built on the first note of the scale, creates a
sense of release
Dominant Triad, built on the fifth note of the scale, creates a
sense of tension
Example--The first two chords are the tonic chord, the third
and fourth are the dominant, and the fifth returns to the
tonic-
Tonal Harmony
Harmonic Progression motion from one chord to another
Harmonic Rhythm duration of chords which helps establish
meter
This example is made up of two chords, repeated back and forth, each lasting four beats. The movement from one to the other establishes the forward movement and the meter. Notice that the percussion lays on top of the chord progression.
Blues Progression
The blues is made up of three chords (the tonic, the dominant, and the subdominant-the chord built on the fourth note of the scale) which go in a very particular order (progression).
12-Bar Progression
I I I I
IV IV I I
V IV I I
I = TonicIV = Sub-DominantV = Dominant
This example is recorded in such a way that there is something distinctive about each chord change to help you hear the progression. The progression is repeated four times. Listen in particular to the bass guitar.
Antonio Vivaldi [1678-1741]
Baroque period composer
Referred to as the “Red Priest”
Lived in Venice
Was head of music at Ospedale
della Pietà--orphanage for girls
The Four Seasons--most famous composition
La Primavera (Spring) in E major
Characteristics
Three Movements
Ritornello
Basso Continuo
Movements
• I Allegro [ritornello]
II Largo [theme, variation]
III Allegro [ritornello]
Typical Baroque Concerto