chapter 3 the structures of music tonality and modality
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 3The Structures of Music
Tonality and
Modality
Key Terms
Tonality
Tonal music
Tonic
Modality
Modes
Major mode
Minor mode
Chromatic scale
Keys
Modulation
Tonality
Musical center of gravity
Feeling of a “home” pitch around which other notes are arranged
A nearly universal phenomenon, found in music around the world
Atonality = the absence of tonality•Creates a wandering, unsettled quality•Used in some more contemporary styles
Tonality
Tonic pitch:•“Home” pitch•First note of a scale•do in the do re mi fa sol la ti do scale•The most stable, fundamental pitch of a scale•The “at rest” note on which tonal melodies
nearly always end
In relation to tonic, other note of a scale may sound:•Close or remote, dissonant or consonant, or as
if they “lead” toward tonic
Tonality
Cadences and tonalityComposers can create tension by moving away from tonic; resolution by returning
In the strongest cadences (authentic):• Melody ends on tonic• Accompanying chord progression ends on the tonic
chord
In weaker cadences (half):• Melody ends on other scale steps, often scale step 2• Chord progression ends on some other chord, often the
one built on scale step 5
Modality
Major and minor scalesMany musical traditions use multiple scales, more than a hundred in some countries
Most Western music uses only two scale types: major mode and minor mode
do re mi fa sol la ti do is a major scale
Minor scale uses same pitches, but with la as tonic, not do
Modality
Major vs. Minor
Major and minor scales use different patterns of whole steps and half steps• Major scale begins with two half steps• Minor scale begins with a whole step and a half step• Major scale ends with a half step• Minor scale ends with a whole step
Scale steps 3, 6, and 7 are a half step lower in minor mode
Major scales tend to sound brighter
Minor scales tend to sound darker (sadder?)
Major vs. Minor
Major vs. Minor
Keys
Major or minor scales can begin on any note on the keyboard•Every key is named for its tonic pitch •Thus we can have the key of F Major (major
scale beginning on F) or the key of C-sharp minor (minor scale beginning on C-sharp)
Scales in any key must follow these rules:•Every letter name must be used once•The correct pattern of whole steps and half
steps must be observed Sharps or flats are used to adjust scale steps
Keys
Since there are twelve notes in the chromatic scale, it is possible to construct twelve major keys and twelve minor keys
Modulation
Major and minor keys create a strong pull toward tonic
Composers can disrupt that pull by modulating, changing to a different key
Modulation not only changes to a new key, it creates a new tonal center!
Modulation can be used to create:•Mystery, excitement, disorientation, variety,
and so on
Tonality Listening
Things to listen for:Tonality or atonality?
Authentic cadence or half cadence?
Major or minor mode?
Does it modulate?