Teaching)Composi/on) · PDF fileThe)dominant7 thchord • thUnlike)triads,)the)dominant7...
Transcript of Teaching)Composi/on) · PDF fileThe)dominant7 thchord • thUnlike)triads,)the)dominant7...
Harmony in mid-‐grade composi/on There will be a general sense of consonance However, one or more of the following will be apparent § There will be a totally diatonic musical landscape § All chords will be in root posi/on § The only chords used will be primary triads OR there will be
a repe//ve pa@ern of 3 or 4 chords § Harmonic rhythm will be unvarying throughout § There will be li@le sense of direc/on in the harmonic
wri/ng, and li@le sense of harmonic progression; there will be few clear cadences
§ There will be no modula/ons § ….although the music may change key!
Harmony : Aspects to consider today
§ The rela/onship of harmony to tonality § How to establish your key § Mixing Primary and Secondary Triads § How to change key § How to find harmonic colour
The dominant 7th chord • Unlike triads, the dominant 7th chord has a strong sense of direc/on….
• The presence of the augmented 4th/diminished 5th • Makes the dominant 7th unstable • Explains why leaving a dominant 7th hanging in the air is frustra/ng
• Is a clear signpost to the tonic chord
Establish the key using I and V7
• With thee chords, confidently used, it quickly becomes clear what is the key of your piece. For example;
• …and one can use this scheme to create one’s own key-‐defining opening tune;
Star/ng with Chords I and V7:an alterna/ve scheme
• Here is the opening of Mozart’s Piano Concerto in C, K457
• One can also use this as a scheme for establishing a key;
Primary triads • In a major key, chords I,IV and V are major triads
• These chords are part of the key that is ‘in the sun’…
• Note the change of harmonic rhythm in bars 6-‐7
Secondary triads • In a major key, chords II, III and VI are major triads:
• These chords are part of the key that is ‘in the shade’. Use them to avoid sunburn when the glare of the primary triads has got too intense…