740-229 Music Techniques 2-2

740-129 Music Techniques 1-2

Students will be expected to have a sound understanding of all diatonic and chromatic chords used in harmonic music to the end of the 19th century; and to be able to recognise and write fluent four-part harmonic textures, demonstrating their understanding of chord function and the principles of chromaticism.

This subject expands the harmonic principles basic to Western musical tradition covered in 740-141 Music Techniques 1-2, to embrace advanced tonal procedures and the techniques of chromaticism used in composition to the end of the 19th century. Candidates will study the complete diatonic and chromatic vocabulary, including elements of figuration, chromatically inflected progressions, mixture, leading-tone seventh chords, dominant ninths, elevenths and thirteenths and chromatic chords including the Neapolitan and augmented sixths. Compositional applications will include the writing of advanced chorales, string quartet and piano accompaniment textures. These processes will be amplified by listening to a variety of repertoire.

On completion of the subject, students should be able to • analyse and evaluate harmonic textures • develop a wide-ranging harmonic vocabulary which can be used in a variety of compositional idioms • identify and evaluate harmonic procedures in selected established repertoire.

Regular written assignments (50%); 2-hour end-of-semester examination (40%); listening test (10%). Note: a pass must be obtained in each section of the assessment.

• Edward Aldwell and Carl Schachter, Harmony and Voice Leading. 2nd edn, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1988.