What is the harmonic function of the boxed beat in the fourth measure?
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What sort of answer are you after? The function of that chord (effectively D#7) is to modulate to G# major. It's a diminished chord, which adds a bit of spice.– Andrew LeachJul 17, 2019 at 21:53
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Not quite...see below– Robert FinkJul 18, 2019 at 0:49
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1 Answer
The chord in the box is a "French" augmented sixth chord (A-C#-D#-F##), which resolves to G# major as V/C#m. The crucial voiceleading is the augmented sixth A-F## resolving to the octave on G#.
(This is a good example of why we need double sharps; the interval sounds like A-G, but it is not a seventh! If it were, the "G" would have to fall back to F#.)
The C#m chord doesn't show up, but it's implied. Instead we get iv/C# = ii/E, heading chromatically [C#-C-B] to V/E across the page turn.
Full analysis:
I - ii6 - F6/5 - V/vi - (vi) - ii - V - I
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1Ah, you just beat me to it; I was in the middle of editing! After sitting down with this example again, this makes much more sense with the G-sharp major chord. Good work!– RichardJul 18, 2019 at 0:55
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Does anyone recognize the aria? It sounds like Verdi, but I can't place it... Jul 18, 2019 at 1:03
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