Lezione Composizione 1 Armonizzare una melodia e creare una progressione armonica Parte 1

Summary

In this instructional video, the presenter explores the process of harmonizing or reharmonizing melodies, focusing on how to position chords based on melodic lines or starting with harmonic progressions. Key concepts discussed include harmonic rhythm, the management of tonal regions (tonic, subdominant, dominant), and the importance of creating functional cadences to guide melodic movement. The video provides practical insights into chord placement, variations in cadence types, and the role of modal interchange and secondary dominants in creating rich harmonic structures. The session aims to guide viewers through the process of building effective harmonic progressions in composition.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video is about harmonic progression and melody harmonization techniques in music composition.
• 😀 The main focus is on how to position chords within a melody or how to create a progression starting with harmonic structures.
• 😀 The concept of 'harmonic rhythm' is key: it refers to how often chords change within the music and how these changes align with strong or weak beats.
• 😀 Understanding the three tonal areas (tonic, subdominant, dominant) is critical for effective harmonic progressions.
• 😀 Dominant and secondary dominant chords tend to fall on weaker beats, while tonic chords are placed on stronger beats in the harmonic rhythm.
• 😀 The idea of 'cadences' is central: moving between tonal regions (e.g., tonic to dominant, subdominant to tonic) creates harmonic resolution.
• 😀 The video covers various types of cadences such as perfect cadences, plagal cadences, suspended cadences, and their applications in composition.
• 😀 Key takeaway on chord function: knowing how to handle dominant, subdominant, and tonic chords within different rhythmic spaces can enhance musical expression.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes using resources like the Berkeley Harmony Workbook and other references to practice harmonic progression exercises.
• 😀 The video explains how to use different chord substitutions (e.g., tritone substitutions, modal interchange) to create richer, more interesting harmonic progressions.
• 😀 In the next video, the speaker plans to demonstrate practical applications of these harmonic principles to harmonize a melody and build functional chord progressions.

Q & A

What is the primary objective of this video lesson?

The primary objective is to explain how to harmonize a melody or create chord progressions. It focuses on understanding the harmonic structure, particularly the relationship between tonic, subdominant, and dominant chords.

What are the two main approaches to harmony discussed in the video?

The two main approaches are: 1) Starting with a melody and placing chords on top of it (melody-first approach), and 2) Starting with a harmonic progression and then adding a melody (harmony-first approach).

What are the three primary tonal areas that are important for harmonic progression?

The three primary tonal areas are: 1) Tonic (I), which provides resolution, 2) Subdominant (IV), which leads toward dominant chords, and 3) Dominant (V), which creates tension and resolves back to tonic.

How does harmonic rhythm affect the structure of a piece of music?

Harmonic rhythm refers to how often chords change within a piece and how those changes align with strong and weak beats. It is crucial for structuring the piece and creating tension and resolution.

What is the difference between a perfect cadence and a plagal cadence?

A perfect cadence (V-I) moves from the dominant chord to the tonic, creating a strong sense of resolution. A plagal cadence (IV-I) moves from the subdominant chord to the tonic, offering a softer resolution.

What is meant by 'secondary dominants' in the context of chord progressions?

Secondary dominants are dominant chords that temporarily tonicize a chord other than the tonic. They create tension and lead to a chord that is not the main tonic of the piece, enhancing harmonic variety.

What is modal interchange, and how is it used in harmony?

Modal interchange refers to borrowing chords from parallel modes (e.g., major and minor) to add color and variety to a progression. This technique can include borrowing chords like the iv from the minor scale when in a major key.

Why is understanding the placement of chords in rhythmic harmony important?

Understanding the placement of chords in rhythmic harmony is essential because it ensures the chords are positioned effectively in relation to the rhythm, which helps maintain the structure and flow of the piece. Misplaced chords can create weak progressions.

What are some types of cadences discussed in the video?

The video discusses several cadences, including perfect cadences (V-I), plagal cadences (IV-I), suspended cadences, and more complex cadences involving secondary dominants and tritone substitutions.

How can harmonic progressions be enriched according to the video?

Harmonic progressions can be enriched by using secondary dominants, tritone substitutions, modal interchange, and by experimenting with different cadences and chord functions to create movement, tension, and resolution.