HC

Unit 6: Harmony and Voice Leading III: Embellishments, Motives, and Melodic Devices

Embellishing Tones: Identifying Passing Tones and Neighbor Tones

Embellishments in Music

  • Embellishments - Musical ornaments that add interest and variety to a melody.
    • Used to decorate a melody, making it more expressive and interesting.
  • [[Common embellishments[[
    • Trills - Rapid alternation between two adjacent notes. It is indicated by a wavy line above or below the note.
    • Turns - Quick sequence of four notes that are played in a specific order. It is indicated by a small curve with a vertical line through it.
    • Mordents - Mordent is a rapid alternation between a note and the note above or below it. It is indicated by a short squiggle line above or below the note.
    • Grace notes - Quick, ornamental notes that are played before a main note. They are indicated by a small note with a diagonal line through the stem.
    • Appoggiaturas - Type of grace note that is played on the beat, taking up half the value of the main note. It is indicated by a small note with a line through the stem.
    • Acciaccaturas - Type of grace note that is played very quickly, just before the main note. It is indicated by a small note with a diagonal line through the stem.

Passing Tones

  • Passing tones - Non-chord tones that connect two chord tones by stepwise motion. They are used to create smooth melodic lines and add interest to a melody.

Unaccented Passing Tones

  • Unaccented passing tones - Passing tones that occur on a weak beat of the measure. They are often used to create a sense of motion and flow in a melody.

Accented Passing Tones

  • Accented passing tones - Passing tones that occur on a strong beat of the measure. They are used to create a sense of tension and release in a melody.

Chromatic Passing Tones

  • Chromatic passing tones - Passing tones that involve chromatic alteration. They are used to create a sense of tension and dissonance in a melody.

Neighbor Tones

  • Neighbor tones - Non-chord tones that are a step above or below a chord tone and then return to the original chord tone. They are used to create a sense of tension and release in a melody.

Upper Neighbor Tone

  • Upper neighbor tones - Neighbor tones that are a step above the original chord tone. Used to create a sense of tension and dissonance in a melody.

Lower Neighbor Tone

  • Lower neighbor tones - Neighbor tones that are a step below the original chord tone. They are often used to create a sense of resolution and stability in a melody.

Preparation and Resolution

  • Preparation and resolution - The way in which non-chord tones are approached and resolved. Proper preparation and resolution can create a sense of tension and release in a melody.

Ornamentation

  • Ornamentation - The use of non-chord tones to embellish a melody. It is often used to add interest and complexity to a melody.

Embellishing Tones: Writing Passing Tones and Neighbor Tones

Writing Passing Tones and Neighbor Tones

  • Use passing tones and neighbor tones to create interest and variety in your melodic lines.
  • Be careful not to overuse passing tones and neighbor tones, as they can become predictable and lose their impact.
  • Consider the harmonic context when choosing passing tones and neighbor tones. Make sure they fit with the underlying chord progression.
  • Experiment with different rhythms and note durations to create different effects with passing tones and neighbor tones.

Embellishing Tones: Identifying Anticipations, Escape Tones, Appoggiaturas, and Pedal Points

Anticipation Tones

  • Anticipation tones - A note that is played before the chord changes to create tension and anticipation.
    • Usually a non-chord tone that resolves to a chord tone on the next beat.

Escape Tones

  • Escape tones - A note that is played on a weak beat and resolves to a chord tone on a strong beat.

    • Can be an upper or lower escape tone depending on whether it is above or below the chord tone.

    Upper Escape Tone

    • Upper escape tone - Type of musical ornamentation that is used to create tension and release in a melody.
    • It is a note that is higher than the melody note that precedes it, and it is usually played quickly and then resolved back to the melody note.

    Lower Escape Tone

    • Lower escape tone - Type of musical ornamentation that is used to create tension and release in a melody.
    • It is a note that is lower than the melody note that precedes it, and it is usually played quickly and then resolved back to the melody note.

Appoggiaturas

  • Appoggiaturas - A type of embellishment where a non-chord tone is played on the beat and resolves to a chord tone.

Dissonant Appoggiatura

  • Dissonant appoggiatura - Appoggiatura that creates tension because it clashes with the main note.
    • Dissonant appoggiaturas are often used in music to create a sense of drama or conflict.

Consonant Appoggiaturas

  • Consonant appoggiatura - Appoggiatura that does not create tension because it does not clash with the main note.
  • Consonant appoggiaturas are often used in music to add ornamentation or embellishment to a melody.
  • Consonant appoggiaturas are sometimes referred to as "grace notes" because they add a graceful touch to a melody.

Pedal Points

  • Pedal points - A sustained note played against changing harmonies.
    • Usually played in the bass and creates a sense of stability and tension.

Embellishing Tones: Identifying and Writing Suspensions; Identifying Retardations

Suspension

  • Suspension - Type of non-chord tone that occurs when a note from a chord is held over into the next chord, creating a dissonance that resolves downward by step.
    • The suspended note is usually a chord tone that is held over from the previous chord, creating a dissonance with the new chord.
    • The resolution of the suspension creates a feeling of release and resolution.

Retardation

  • Retardation - Type of non-chord tone that occurs when a note from a chord is held over into the next chord, creating a dissonance that resolves upward by step.
    • The retardation is the opposite of a suspension, in that it creates a dissonance that resolves upward instead of downward.
    • The resolution of the retardation creates a feeling of tension and release.

4-3 Suspensions

  • 4-3 suspension - Type of suspension where the suspended note is a fourth above the bass and resolves down by step to a third above the bass.
    • The 4-3 suspension is one of the most common types of suspensions in tonal music.
    • The resolution of the 4-3 suspension creates a feeling of resolution and closure.

Chains of Suspensions

  • Chain of suspensions - A series of suspensions that occur one after the other, creating a sense of tension and release.
    • Used in slow movements of sonatas and other instrumental works to create a sense of emotional intensity.

Rearticulated Suspensions

  • Rearticulated suspension - Type of suspension where the suspended note is repeated before resolving.
    • The repetition of the suspended note creates a sense of tension and prolongs the resolution of the suspension.

Motive and Motivic Transformations

  • Motive - Short melodic or rhythmic idea that is repeated and developed throughout a piece of music. It is the smallest identifiable musical idea that can be used to create a larger musical structure.
  • Motivic transformation - The process of altering a motive to create a new musical idea.

Types of motivic transformations

  • Transposed motives - The same motive played in a different key. This can be either an exact transposition or a chromatic transposition.
    • Exact transposed motives - The same motive played in a different key, but with no alteration to the intervals between the notes.
    • Chromatic transposed motives - The same motive played in a different key, but with some alteration to the intervals between the notes.
  • Motive inversion - When a motive is played upside down, so that the intervals between the notes are reversed.
  • Retrograde - When a motive is played backwards, so that the last note becomes the first note, and so on.
  • Extended motive - When a motive is repeated and extended beyond its original length.
  • Truncated motive - When a motive is shortened by removing some of its notes.
  • Fragmented motive - When a motive is broken up into smaller pieces and used in different parts of the music.
  • Motivic augmentation - When a motive is played at a slower tempo or with longer note values.
  • Motivic diminution - When a motive is played at a faster tempo or with shorter note values.

Melodic Sequences

  • Melodic sequencing - Refers to the repetition of a pattern of notes in a melody.
    • It is a technique used in music composition to create a sense of unity and coherence in a piece of music.
    • Sequences can be ascending or descending and can be transposed to different levels.

Sequences

  • Sequence - A pattern of notes that is repeated at different pitch levels. It can be a short or long pattern and can be used to create a sense of tension and release in a melody.

Ascending Sequence

  • Ascending sequence - Pattern of notes that moves upward in pitch. It can be used to create a sense of excitement and anticipation in a melody.

Descending Sequence

  • Descending sequence - Pattern of notes that moves downward in pitch. It can be used to create a sense of relaxation and resolution in a melody.

Melodic Sequences

Diatonic Melodic Sequences

  • Diatonic melodic sequences - They use only the notes of a particular key. They can be used to create a sense of stability and familiarity in a melody.

Chromatic Melodic Sequences

  • Chromatic melodic sequences - They use all twelve notes of the chromatic scale. They can be used to create a sense of tension and dissonance in a melody.

Functions of Melodic Sequences in Music

Melodic sequences can serve several functions in music, including:

  • Creating a sense of unity and coherence in a piece of music
  • Providing a sense of tension and release in a melody
  • Creating a sense of excitement and anticipation in a melody
  • Creating a sense of relaxation and resolution in a melody
  • Adding complexity and interest to a melody

Harmonic Sequences

Harmonic Sequences

  • Harmonic sequences - A series of chords that follow a pattern of intervals.
    • Descending harmonic sequences - Chords move down by a certain interval.
    • Commonly used in sad or melancholic music.
    • Ascending harmonic sequences - Chords move up by a certain interval.
    • Commonly used in uplifting or triumphant music.
  • Harmonic progression - A sequence of musical chords that follow a specific pattern.
  • Depending on the direction of the progression, it can be characterized as monte, fonte, or ponte.
    • Monte - The chords move upwards in pitch creating a sense of tension and anticipation.
    • Fonte - The chords move downwards in pitch creating a sense of release and relaxation, as the progression resolves at a lower pitch.
    • Ponte - The chords neither ascend nor descend, but instead move in a circular or meandering pattern creating a sense of ambiguity and unpredictability.
  • Monte creates tension, fonte creates release, and ponte creates ambiguity.

Minuets

  • Minuet - A three-part musical form that is commonly used in music compositions. It is represented by the letters ABA, where the A section is followed by a contrasting B section, and then returns to the A section.

Structure of Minuets

The A section is usually the main theme of the piece and is repeated at the end of the composition. The B section is usually in a contrasting key, tempo, or melody, and provides a break from the repetition of the A section.

The structure of ternary form can be represented as follows:

  • A (theme 1)
  • B (contrasting theme)
  • A (theme 1 repeated)

Full Texture Sequences

  • Full texture sequence - A sequence where all voices move in the same rhythm and direction.
  • Linear intervallic pattern sequence - A sequence where the intervals between the notes in each voice follow a pattern.

Fifths

  • Descending fifths progression - A sequence where chords move down by a fifth.
  • Ascending fifths sequence - A sequence where chords move up by a fifth.
  • Descending thirds sequence - A sequence where chords move down by a third.

Ascending

  • Ascending seconds sequence - A sequence where chords move up by a second.
  • Ascending parallel 6/5 chords - A type of chord progression commonly used in classical music.
    • They consist of two chords, each with a 6th and 5th interval between the lowest and highest notes.
  • The chords can be major or minor, depending on the key and the notes used.
  • Found in the middle or end of a musical phrase, and can be used to lead into a cadence or resolution.

Pachelbel Sequences

  • Pachelbel sequence - A sequence that uses the chords I, V, vi, iii, IV, I, IV, V.
  • These sequences are characterized by a repeating pattern of chords that are played in a specific order.

Structure of Pachelbel Sequences

  • First chord progression - Establishes the key and sets the tone for the sequence.
  • Second chord progression - Variation of the first and typically involves a change in the melody or harmony.
  • Final chord progression - Resolves the sequence and brings it to a close.