Music Theory: Harmonic Function, Mode Mixture, and Melodic Structure

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers concepts from harmonic function and mode mixture to melodic building blocks and musical textures as detailed in the lecture transcript.

Secondary Function

Chords, such as secondary dominants or secondary leading tones, that function as the dominant family for a key area other than the tonic.

Common-practice style

A musical style where every chord has a specific function based on its location and hierarchy within the tonality.

Tonicization

The harmonic process of making a chord other than the tonic sound like a temporary tonic, often using a secondary dominant or leading-tone relationship.

Mode Mixture (Modal Borrowing)

The harmonic technique of combining chords from a major key and its parallel minor, or mixing the modes using $b3$, $b6$, and $b7$ from the parallel natural minor.

Me

The solfege syllable used for the altered scale degree $b3$ (changed from Mi) in mode mixture.

Le

The solfege syllable used for the altered scale degree $b6$ (changed from La) in mode mixture.

Te

The solfege syllable used for the altered scale degree $b7$ (changed from Ti) in mode mixture.

Melody

A series of single notes that begins, moves, and ends, possessing direction, shape, continuity, tension, and release.

Monophony (Monophonic)

A musical texture consisting of a single, unaccompanied melodic line.

Polyphony (Polyphonic)

A musical texture composed of multiple independent melodic lines occurring simultaneously; often described as contrapuntal.

Homophony (Homophonic)

A texture where a primary melody is supported by harmonic accompaniment, such as chordal homophony or melody with accompaniment.

Heterophony (Heterophonic)

A texture where two or more voices perform variations of the same melodic line simultaneously.

Conjunct

Melodic motion that moves step-wise rather than by leaps.

Disjunct

Melodic motion that moves primarily by leaps rather than by steps.

Augmentation

A melodic or rhythmic variation where the note values of a motive are lengthened.

Diminution

A melodic or rhythmic variation where the note values of a motive are shortened.

Retrograde

A melodic device where the notes of a theme or motive are performed in reverse order.

Melodic Inversion

A melodic variation where the intervals of a melody are turned upside down (e.g., an ascending third becomes a descending third).

Anacrusis

One or more notes that occur before the first full measure of a musical phrase; also known as a pickup.

Sequence

The immediate restatement of a melodic motive or figure at a different pitch level.

Ostinato

A short melodic or rhythmic pattern that is persistently repeated throughout a section of music.

Alberti Bass

A specific type of broken chord accompaniment pattern often found in keyboard music of the Classical period.

Tessitura

The general range of notes used in a specific vocal or instrumental part.

Timbre

The unique quality or 'color' of a musical sound that distinguishes different instruments or voices.

Picardy Third

A practice of ending a composition that is in a minor key with a major tonic chord.

Antiphonal

A performance style or texture involving an alternating 'call and response' between two groups of performers.

Augmentation

A melodic or rhythmic variation where the note values of a motive are lengthened.

Conjunct

Melodic motion that moves step-wise rather than by leaps.

Diminution

A melodic or rhythmic variation where the note values of a motive are shortened.

Disjunct

Melodic motion that moves primarily by leaps rather than by steps.

Fragmentation

The process of taking a motif or theme and breaking it into smaller parts.

Imitation

The repetition of a melody or theme in a different voice or part.

Leitmotif

A recurring musical theme associated with a particular character or idea.

Literal Repetition

 Repeating a section of music exactly as it was previously played.

Melodic Inversion

A melodic variation where the intervals of a melody are turned upside down.

Melody

A series of single notes that begins, moves, and ends, possessing direction, shape, continuity, tension, and release.

Mode Mixture (Modal Borrowing)

The harmonic technique of combining chords from a major key and its parallel minor, or mixing the modes using $b3$, $b6$, and $b7$ from the parallel natural minor.

Motive/Motif

A short musical idea or thematic fragment that can be developed throughout a piece of music.

Non-Chord Tones (Non-Harmonic Tones)

Notes that are not part of the underlying chord and include various types such as:

Appoggiatura

A non-chord tone approached by leap and resolved by step to a chord tone.

Anticipation

A non-chord tone that anticipates a chord tone, typically resolving to that tone.

Escape Tone

A non-chord tone approached by step and resolved by leap to a chord tone.

Incomplete Neighbor

A non-chord tone that is a neighbor note to a chord tone but is not approached or resolved directly.

Passing Tones

Non-chord tones that connect two chord tones, typically approached by step and resolved by step.

Accented Neighbor Tones

Neighbor tones that occur on a strong beat or an accented part of the measure.

Unaccented Neighbor Tones

Neighbor tones that occur on a weak beat or an unaccented part of the measure.

Chromatic Neighbor Tones

Neighbor tones that involve a chromatic alteration of the chord tone.

Upper Neighbor

A non-chord tone that moves up from a chord tone and then resolves back to it.

Lower Neighbor

A non-chord tone that moves down from a chord tone and then resolves back to it.

Suspension

A non-chord tone that is held over from the previous chord and resolves down by step.

Retardation

A non-chord tone that is held over from the previous chord and resolves up by step.

Octave Displacement

A technique where a melody or figure is played in a different octave.

Phrase

A musical unit that expresses a complete thought, often marked by a pause or a breath.

Phrase Structure

The arrangement and organization of phrases in a piece of music.

Symmetrical Period

A phrase structure consisting of equal lengths for both the antecedent and consequent phrases.

Asymmetrical Period

A phrase structure consisting of unequal lengths for the antecedent and consequent phrases.

Periodic Structure

A musical structure characterized by the recurrence of musical phrases.

Antecedent-Consequent

A phrase structure where the first phrase (antecedent) poses a musical question, and the second phrase (consequent) answers it.

Parallel Period

A phrase structure that features two phrases with similar melodic material.

Contrasting Period

A phrase structure that features two phrases with different melodic material.

Repeated Period

A phrase structure in which the same musical material is repeated.

Modulating Period

A phrase structure that changes key between the antecedent and consequent phrases.

Retrograde

A melodic device where the notes of a theme or motive are performed in reverse order.

Rhythmic Displacement

A technique where the rhythmic pattern of a melody is shifted in time.

Sequence

The immediate restatement of a melodic motive or figure at a different pitch level.

Transposition

The process of changing the key of a piece of music by moving all notes up or down by a fixed interval.

Variation

A technique of altering a musical idea while retaining some aspects of the original.