Recapitulation

September 3 & 4, 1997

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Clarification: parallels between science (physics) and music (art). Newton and the laws of motion, determinism; relativity; indeterminism in music and Quantum mechanics. Approximate dates.

The tonal system as a hierarchy. The common language concept. Scales and modes. Basic elements of functional tonality:

• Selection of a diatonic scale out of the total chromatic (major/minor)
• Functions
  • Main degrees of the scale
  • Secondary degrees of the scale
  • Chord building by thirds (triads)
  • Rules for doubling and for voice leading in 4 part writing
• Chord progressions and the rationale behind them.
  • Basic cadences
  • Substituting secondary degrees for the main degrees
  • Diatonic modulations based on pivot chords

The system was gradually expanded to include both more chord progressions and chords with an increased number of elements (sounds).

• Embelishments on the same idea: chromatic harmony
  • Secondary dominants
  • Neapolitan 6th
  • Altered dominant 7th and 9th chords
  • Augmented 6th chords
  • Raised Supertonic (II) and raised Submedian (VI) chords
  • Augmented triads
  • other types of chords
• Enharmonic (mis)spellings and modulation. Ambiguity.
  • the many facets of the fully dimished and of the augmented chords.
  • many-layered secondary functions

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