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