Jazz Harmony Iii
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Martin Pfleiderer
Online publications of the Gesellschaft für Popularmusikforschung/ German Society for Popular Music Studies e. V. Ed. by Eva Krisper and Eva Schuck w w w . gf pm- samples.de/Samples17 / pf l e i de r e r . pdf Volume 17 (2019) - Version of 25 July 2019 BEYOND MAJOR AND MINOR? THE TONALITY OF POPULAR MUSIC AFTER 19601 Martin Pfleiderer While the functional harmonic system of major and minor, with its logic of progression based on leading tones and cadences involving the dominant, has largely departed from European art music in the 20th century, popular music continues to uphold a musical idiom oriented towards major-minor tonality and its semantics. Similar to nursery rhymes and children's songs, it seems that in popular songs, a radiant major affirms plain and happy lyrics, while a darker minor key underlines thoughtful, sad, or gloomy moods. This contrast between light and dark becomes particularly tangible when both, i.e. major and minor, appear in one song. For example, in »Tanze Samba mit mir« [»Dance the Samba with Me«], a hit song composed by Franco Bracardi and sung by Tony Holiday in 1977, the verses in F minor announce a dark mood of desire (»Du bist so heiß wie ein Vulkan. Und heut' verbrenn' ich mich daran« [»You are as hot as a volcano and today I'm burning myself on it«]), which transitions into a happy or triumphant F major in the chorus (»Tanze Samba mit mir, Samba Samba die ganze Nacht« [»Dance the samba with me, samba, samba all night long«]). But can this finding also be transferred to other areas of popular music, such as rock and pop songs of American or British prove- nance, which have long been at least as popular in Germany as German pop songs and folk music? In recent decades, a broad and growing body of research on tonality and harmony in popular music has emerged. -
The Group-Theoretic Description of Musical Pitch Systems
The Group-theoretic Description of Musical Pitch Systems Marcus Pearce [email protected] 1 Introduction Balzano (1980, 1982, 1986a,b) addresses the question of finding an appropriate level for describing the resources of a pitch system (e.g., the 12-fold or some microtonal division of the octave). His motivation for doing so is twofold: “On the one hand, I am interested as a psychologist who is not overly impressed with the progress we have made since Helmholtz in understanding music perception. On the other hand, I am interested as a computer musician who is trying to find ways of using our pow- erful computational tools to extend the musical [domain] of pitch . ” (Balzano, 1986b, p. 297) Since the resources of a pitch system ultimately depend on the pairwise relations between pitches, the question is one of how to conceive of pitch intervals. In contrast to the prevailing approach which de- scribes intervals in terms of frequency ratios, Balzano presents a description of pitch sets as mathematical groups and describes how the resources of any pitch system may be assessed using this description. Thus he is concerned with presenting an algebraic description of pitch systems as a competitive alternative to the existing acoustic description. In these notes, I shall first give a brief description of the ratio based approach (§2) followed by an equally brief exposition of some necessary concepts from the theory of groups (§3). The following three sections concern the description of the 12-fold division of the octave as a group: §4 presents the nature of the group C12; §5 describes three perceptually relevant properties of pitch-sets in C12; and §6 describes three musically relevant isomorphic representations of C12. -
Chapter 26 Scales a La Mode
CHAPTER 26 SCALES A LA MODE Musical innovation is full of danger to the State, for when modes of music change, the laws of the State always change with them. PLATO WHAT IS A MODE? A mode is a type of scale. Modes are used in music like salsa, jazz, country, rock, fusion, speed metal, and more. The reason the Chapter image is of musicians jamming is that modes are important to understanding (and using) jazz theory, and helpful if you’re trying to understand improvisation. Certain modes go with certain chords. For more information about modes and their specific uses in jazz, read James Levine’s excellent book, Jazz Theory. On the Web at http://is.gd/iqufof These are also called “church modes” because they were first used in the Catholic Church back in Medieval times (remember good old Guido d’ Arezzo?). The names of the modes were taken from the Greek modes, but other than the names, they have no relation to the Greek modes. The two modes that have been used the most, and the only two most people know, are now called the Major and natural minor scales. Their original names were the Ionian mode (Major), and the Aeolian mode (natural minor). The other modes are: dorian, phrygian, lydian, mixolydian, and locrian. Modes are easy to understand. We’ll map out each mode’s series of whole and half steps and use the key of C so there aren’t any sharps or flats to bother with. THE MODES IONIAN Ionian is used in nearly all Western music, from Acid Rock to Zydeco. -
I. the Term Стр. 1 Из 93 Mode 01.10.2013 Mk:@Msitstore:D
Mode Стр. 1 из 93 Mode (from Lat. modus: ‘measure’, ‘standard’; ‘manner’, ‘way’). A term in Western music theory with three main applications, all connected with the above meanings of modus: the relationship between the note values longa and brevis in late medieval notation; interval, in early medieval theory; and, most significantly, a concept involving scale type and melody type. The term ‘mode’ has always been used to designate classes of melodies, and since the 20th century to designate certain kinds of norm or model for composition or improvisation as well. Certain phenomena in folksong and in non-Western music are related to this last meaning, and are discussed below in §§IV and V. The word is also used in acoustical parlance to denote a particular pattern of vibrations in which a system can oscillate in a stable way; see Sound, §5(ii). For a discussion of mode in relation to ancient Greek theory see Greece, §I, 6 I. The term II. Medieval modal theory III. Modal theories and polyphonic music IV. Modal scales and traditional music V. Middle East and Asia HAROLD S. POWERS/FRANS WIERING (I–III), JAMES PORTER (IV, 1), HAROLD S. POWERS/JAMES COWDERY (IV, 2), HAROLD S. POWERS/RICHARD WIDDESS (V, 1), RUTH DAVIS (V, 2), HAROLD S. POWERS/RICHARD WIDDESS (V, 3), HAROLD S. POWERS/MARC PERLMAN (V, 4(i)), HAROLD S. POWERS/MARC PERLMAN (V, 4(ii) (a)–(d)), MARC PERLMAN (V, 4(ii) (e)–(i)), ALLAN MARETT, STEPHEN JONES (V, 5(i)), ALLEN MARETT (V, 5(ii), (iii)), HAROLD S. POWERS/ALLAN MARETT (V, 5(iv)) Mode I. -
Harmonic Resources in 1980S Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Music
HARMONIC RESOURCES IN 1980S HARD ROCK AND HEAVY METAL MUSIC A thesis submitted to the College of the Arts of Kent State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Music Theory by Erin M. Vaughn December, 2015 Thesis written by Erin M. Vaughn B.M., The University of Akron, 2003 M.A., Kent State University, 2015 Approved by ____________________________________________ Richard O. Devore, Thesis Advisor ____________________________________________ Ralph Lorenz, Director, School of Music _____________________________________________ John R. Crawford-Spinelli, Dean, College of the Arts ii Table of Contents LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................................... v CHAPTER I........................................................................................................................................ 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 1 GOALS AND METHODS ................................................................................................................ 3 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE............................................................................................... 5 CHAPTER II..................................................................................................................................... 36 ANALYSIS OF “MASTER OF PUPPETS” ...................................................................................... -
An Analysis and Performance Considerations for John
AN ANALYSIS AND PERFORMANCE CONSIDERATIONS FOR JOHN HARBISON’S CONCERTO FOR OBOE, CLARINET, AND STRINGS by KATHERINE BELVIN (Under the Direction of D. RAY MCCLELLAN) ABSTRACT John Harbison is an award-winning and prolific American composer. He has written for almost every conceivable genre of concert performance with styles ranging from jazz to pre-classical forms. The focus of this study, his Concerto for Oboe, Clarinet, and Strings, was premiered in 1985 as a product of a Consortium Commission awarded by the National Endowment of the Arts. The initial discussions for the composition were with oboist Sara Bloom and clarinetist David Shifrin. Harbison’s Concerto for Oboe, Clarinet, and Strings allows the clarinet to finally be introduced to the concerto grosso texture of the Baroque period, for which it was born too late. This document includes biographical information on John Harbison including his life and career, compositional style, and compositional output. It also contains a brief history of the Baroque concerto grosso and how it relates to the Harbison concerto. There is a detailed set-class analysis of each movement and information on performance considerations. The two performers as well as the composer were interviewed to discuss the commission, premieres, and theoretical/performance considerations for the concerto. INDEX WORDS: John Harbison, Concerto for Oboe, Clarinet, and Strings, clarinet concerto, oboe concerto, Baroque concerto grosso, analysis and performance AN ANALYSIS AND PERFORMANCE CONSIDERATIONS FOR JOHN HARBISON’S CONCERTO FOR OBOE, CLARINET, AND STRINGS by KATHERINE BELVIN B.M., Tennessee Technological University, 2004 M.M., University of Cincinnati, 2006 A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of The University of Georgia in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF MUSICAL ARTS ATHENS, GEORGIA 2009 © 2009 Katherine Belvin All Rights Reserved AN ANALYSIS AND PERFORMANCE CONSIDERATIONS FOR JOHN HARBISON’S CONCERTO FOR OBOE, CLARINET, AND STRINGS by KATHERINE BELVIN Major Professor: D. -
CIS 3000 Scales Tutorial
CIS 3000: Introduction to Game Design 1 CIS 3000 Scales Tutorial by Benjamin Hennessy 1. Introduction 2. The Major Scale 3. The (Natural) Minor Scale 4. The Modal Scales 5. The Other Minor Scales a. Harmonic Minor b. Melodic Minor 6. Using Scales While Composing Some graphical content courtesy of musictheory.net . CIS 3000: Introduction to Game Design 2 Introduction A scale is an ordered sequence of notes. Typical ly, a scale spans one octave (twelve half steps on the piano roll, ie from C to C) and contains seven note s (eight if we count the repeated note at the octave). Which seven notes we select out of the possible twelve in a one octave range determines what kind of scale we have. Note: there are scales which have more or less than seven notes, but we will only be focusing on those with se ven, or the heptatonic scales. The Major Scale First we’ll discuss the major scale . A major scale is made up of this sequence of whole steps (W) and half steps ( h): W W h W W W h Knowing this sequence is useful because you can create scales regardless of the starting note. Here is an example of a major scale starting on C in both traditional staff notation and Reason’s piano roll notation: You might notice how the re are no sharps or flats in the C scale, or that all of the notes correspond to the wh ite keys on the piano roll. Here’s what the major scale looks like when we start on the D instead: Notice how there a re now two sharps in the scale, corresponding to the two black keys on the piano roll. -
A-Beginner-Guide-To-Modes.Pdf
A BEGINNER GUIDE TO MODES Here are a few charts to help break down modes, including scale patterns, chord patterns, and the characteristic “colour note / chord” within each scale. Just like with the idea of parallel major and minor scales, you can choose to write solely within one scale (say, D dorian), OR you can borrow a chord from a parallel mode while still using chords from your original scale (i.e., writing in F minor [aeolian] and using a Db major chord, but also using a Bb major chord, borrowed from Dorian mode). The Modes by Numeric Pattern (Rose boxes indicate the scale’s ‘colour note’ or what gives it its character; blue boxes show a potential secondary colour note.) MODE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 IONIAN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 DORIAN 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7 PHRYGIAN 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 LYDIAN 1 2 3 #4 5 6 7 MIXOLYDIAN 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7 AEOLIAN 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 LOCRIAN 1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7 IONIAN mode is the major scale, so this mode begins on the 1st degree of the major scale. DORIAN mode begins on the 2nd scale degree of the relative ionian mode (major scale) PHRYGIAN mode begins on the 3rd scale degree of the relative ionian mode (major scale) LYDIAN mode begins on the 4th scale degree of the relative ionian mode (major scale) MIXOLYDIAN mode begins on the 5th scale degree of the relative ionian mode (major scale) AEOLIAN mode (minor scale) begins on the 6th degree of the relative ionian mode (major scale). -
BTTF Analysis
i Back To The Future: An Analysis Of The Score Back To The Future opened on July 3rd, 1985, and became one the the most popular and successful films of that year, earning over $197 million in domestic U.S. box office alone. It brought instant recognition to both director Robert Zemeckis and composer Alan Silvestri. Prior to that year, Silvestri had composed music for many popular television shows such as Starsky And Hutch (1978-79) and CHiPs (1978-83), and some feature films including The Doberman Gang (1972) and Las Vegas Lady (1975). Silvestri's percussive and driving rhythmic approach to scoring CHiPs caught the attention of filmmaker Zemeckis, which led to their first collaboration in 1984, Romancing The Stone. Today their partnership continues, having produced such notable films as Back To The Future Parts II and III, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Forrest Gump, Contact, and The Polar Express. Silvestri's score to Back To The Future features two main themes that appear together and separately at key moments throughout (Fig. 1a and 1b). Both ideas are often orchestrated for trumpets and horns, and found in cues such as 4m1 '85 Twin Pines Mall or 8m1 Skateboard Chase. They underscore moments of triumph that our hero Marty McFly encounters, and even a clever interpolation in 11m2c Earth Angel Overlay. In the first theme, Silvestri makes significant use of the lydian mode, a diatonic major scale with a raised fourth pitch. The raised pitch in question is the third note of the theme (E in Fig. 1a); it is one of the most striking sounds in the score because it creates a direct and unexpected motion towards the next, fourth pitch of the theme (F in Fig. -
Anna's Music Box Computer Music Midi Software for Kids
Anna’s Music Box computer music midi software for kids by Larry Polansky HMSL Turnkey Application Version: August 9, 1997 Shareware January 31, 2006 Anna’s Music Box computer music software for kids Larry Polansky 12/27/95 rev: August 7, 1997 frog peak music (a composers’ collective) box 1052 lebanon nh 03766 ph/fax: 603-448-8837 email: [email protected] http://www.sover.net/~frogpeak/ [email protected] http://music.dartmouth.edu/~larry/polansky.html ph: 603-646-2139 Anna’s Music Box is a shareware application. It runs on Macintoshes, and needs a MIDI interface and any MIDI synthesizer. It uses MIDI channels 1-4. It was written for my five year old daughter, to be used in her kindergarten class. Adults also seem to have fun with it. Please copy and pass it around freely. If you like it, and use it, feel free to send CD’s, videos, tapes, LP’s, software, comix, stamps, or whatever else you think is cool. Technical note (MIDI): Please remove any MIDI drivers (OMS, FreeMIDI, etc.) from your system folder. Anna’s Music Box uses its own MIDI software. For safest results, just turn all extensions off while using it (though that shouldn’t be really necessary). If you are using an OpCode Studio 4 or 5, set it to 1 MHz. How it works: Anna’s Music Box sends out MIDI information to whatever MIDI synthesizer is listening on MIDI channels 1-4. It consists of four “critters”: musical voices which just kind of “noodle” when you turn them on (click on them and make them black). -
The Consecutive-Semitone Constraint on Scalar Structure: a Link Between Impressionism and Jazz1
The Consecutive-Semitone Constraint on Scalar Structure: A Link Between Impressionism and Jazz1 Dmitri Tymoczko The diatonic scale, considered as a subset of the twelve chromatic pitch classes, possesses some remarkable mathematical properties. It is, for example, a "deep scale," containing each of the six diatonic intervals a unique number of times; it represents a "maximally even" division of the octave into seven nearly-equal parts; it is capable of participating in a "maximally smooth" cycle of transpositions that differ only by the shift of a single pitch by a single semitone; and it has "Myhill's property," in the sense that every distinct two-note diatonic interval (e.g., a third) comes in exactly two distinct chromatic varieties (e.g., major and minor). Many theorists have used these properties to describe and even explain the role of the diatonic scale in traditional tonal music.2 Tonal music, however, is not exclusively diatonic, and the two nondiatonic minor scales possess none of the properties mentioned above. Thus, to the extent that we emphasize the mathematical uniqueness of the diatonic scale, we must downplay the musical significance of the other scales, for example by treating the melodic and harmonic minor scales merely as modifications of the natural minor. The difficulty is compounded when we consider the music of the late-nineteenth and twentieth centuries, in which composers expanded their musical vocabularies to include new scales (for instance, the whole-tone and the octatonic) which again shared few of the diatonic scale's interesting characteristics. This suggests that many of the features *I would like to thank David Lewin, John Thow, and Robert Wason for their assistance in preparing this article. -
Nonatonic Harmonic Structures in Symphonies by Ralph Vaughan Williams and Arnold Bax Cameron Logan [email protected]
University of Connecticut OpenCommons@UConn Doctoral Dissertations University of Connecticut Graduate School 12-2-2014 Nonatonic Harmonic Structures in Symphonies by Ralph Vaughan Williams and Arnold Bax Cameron Logan [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://opencommons.uconn.edu/dissertations Recommended Citation Logan, Cameron, "Nonatonic Harmonic Structures in Symphonies by Ralph Vaughan Williams and Arnold Bax" (2014). Doctoral Dissertations. 603. https://opencommons.uconn.edu/dissertations/603 i Nonatonic Harmonic Structures in Symphonies by Ralph Vaughan Williams and Arnold Bax Cameron Logan, Ph.D. University of Connecticut, 2014 This study explores the pitch structures of passages within certain works by Ralph Vaughan Williams and Arnold Bax. A methodology that employs the nonatonic collection (set class 9-12) facilitates new insights into the harmonic language of symphonies by these two composers. The nonatonic collection has received only limited attention in studies of neo-Riemannian operations and transformational theory. This study seeks to go further in exploring the nonatonic‟s potential in forming transformational networks, especially those involving familiar types of seventh chords. An analysis of the entirety of Vaughan Williams‟s Fourth Symphony serves as the exemplar for these theories, and reveals that the nonatonic collection acts as a connecting thread between seemingly disparate pitch elements throughout the work. Nonatonicism is also revealed to be a significant structuring element in passages from Vaughan Williams‟s Sixth Symphony and his Sinfonia Antartica. A review of the historical context of the symphony in Great Britain shows that the need to craft a work of intellectual depth, simultaneously original and traditional, weighed heavily on the minds of British symphonists in the early twentieth century.