Questions tagged [analysis]
For questions about studying the intricacies of a piece of music. Questions should also be tagged with a more specific form of analysis if applicable.
203
questions
2
votes
2answers
45 views
the meaning of figure-work in the musical field perhaps with examples
Reading the book The creative development or f Johann Sebastian Bach I happen to come across the term figure-work when the author analyzes pieces by the great musician.
2
votes
4answers
93 views
What is this chord in Grande Valse Brilliante?
The chord circled in red is what I am asking about. I know that in the measure before, there is a diminished seventh chord. I'm certain that this is a dominant function chord(or at least, locally to ...
6
votes
4answers
428 views
Characteristic scale degrees
Came across an article at openMsicTheory.com about harmonic function. Below excerpt was about finding function of a chord
Each of the three harmonic functions — tonic (T), subdominant (S), and ...
2
votes
0answers
38 views
Sources for analysis of Bach fugues?
I've been working on Bach's Sonata #1 for Solo Violin (BWV 1001) and I have concluded that I would benefit from some sort of analysis of the Fugue. In particular, something that shows every point and ...
11
votes
5answers
1k views
Features of a Coda section
I came across a question in a music theory book, which asked about explaining why bars 30-36 in the following music extract could be considered as a Coda.
The extract is from Prelude in C minor by ...
4
votes
4answers
139 views
What is an altered chord?
A chord can be altered in many ways, but not all alterations make a chord an "altered" chord. Which alterations actually make a chord an altered chord? Do altered chords have special notation?
1
vote
2answers
48 views
Augmented triad in Pathetique Sonata? How does it function?
I analyzed the harmony of the Pathetique Sonata as you already know, but one thing about the harmony in the first movement made me curious. No, not unconfirmed modulation or anything like that. No, it ...
8
votes
3answers
174 views
Unintentional plagiarism while composing
I have recently started composing using some knowledge that I got after a few months of studying counterpoint and harmony (well it is more like trying to compose). And I have mentioned that quite ...
4
votes
4answers
84 views
Is Counterpoint always possible?
I've searched for this question online many times, but never found anything close to an answer:
Given a cantus firmus, is it always possible to do counterpoint with it?
The rules don't appear to ...
4
votes
1answer
142 views
Intro of A Whiter Shade of Pale: is my analysis of chords correct?
I wonder about 2 points in this intro (I can ask them in to different questions if desired)
I'm not sure whether I hear this progression correct ...
The beginning ...
5
votes
2answers
62 views
Ballades (Chopin) Harmony Question
I don't listen to much classical; however, I recently found this beautiful work by Chopin. I am wondering if you could help me explain a particularly amazing moment in the piece. Please refer to ...
2
votes
2answers
36 views
Determining roman numeral notation
I am just starting to learn music theory so if I'm making an obvious mistake, forgive me.
Given the chord progression D major B♭ major F major C major, I have assumed that it is in the key of F major ...
3
votes
2answers
90 views
Rootless chords in Beethoven sonata?
Okay, I came across a bit of a wrinkle in the paper as I analyzed the third movement of Beethoven's Sonata Pathetique. It has to do with this passage in the C section(which is in Ab major):
For those ...
2
votes
2answers
54 views
Analyzed editions of classic piano sheet music? [closed]
I wonder if there exists such kind of editions: with the chords written down together with their function in roman numerals, the structure of the piece, the analysis, etc.
More precisely, I'm looking ...
2
votes
1answer
36 views
Development section in a fugue
How to distinguish between the 'subject' and 'answer' in the development (modulatory) section of a fugue?
3
votes
1answer
65 views
Difference between iii/IV and vi in analysis?
I am trying to follow along this music theory video. The song analyzed is Merry Christmas Mr.Lawrence by Ryuichi Sakamoto.
The main chord progression is IV - iii/IV - iii - vi - V7
My question is ...
7
votes
3answers
323 views
Is this really better analyzed in G minor than in Bb?
So I have been analysing Rondo a Capriccio by Beethoven and I reached a point where a so called "expert's" opinion and mine differ drastically. It starts at bar 57 and continues to bar 68. After the ...
1
vote
2answers
67 views
Rules for naming borrowed chords in roman numeral analysis
I don't seem to find an extensive resource on how to name out of scale chords in roman numeral analysis.
E.g. let's look at this piece from "All imperfect things" of Michael Nyman:
I'm stuck on M5 ...
1
vote
1answer
52 views
Do “Thriller” and “I do like to be beside the seaside” share thematic material?
Rod Temperton was born in Cleethorpes, a seaside town on the east coast of the UK.
He also wrote the song Thriller for Michael Jackson.
Bearing these two facts in mind, it struck me there was a ...
0
votes
3answers
186 views
How should background music be used in documentary video? [closed]
I wonder how background music should be used during a video on a complicate topic and requires some analysis. I think that:
If it's about giving information, then having background music can increase ...
1
vote
1answer
69 views
Analysing harmony in music [closed]
I've read books like Theory of Harmony, Tonal Harmony, The Complete Musician, and just started reading structural functions of harmony. But I still find myself confused on those weird out-of-key ...
2
votes
3answers
120 views
Are there objective, unambiguous ways that the level of similarity of two bits of music can be measured?
I am not sure if this kind of question is on-topic or not.
I just heard the soundtrack used in Scott Manley's recent video SpaceX Radarsat Launch Highlights (fairly quiet sound level) with the notes
...
7
votes
1answer
105 views
What is the utility of Schenkerian analysis?
I have seen that Schenkerian analysis is a method of analyzing tonal music distinct from the usual one which employs roman numerals for the degrees, specifies the inversions, the functions, etc.
...
0
votes
1answer
59 views
What is my voice classification from D2-A4 [closed]
I’m 21, been singing since I was around 16 or 17. I use to struggle up to E4 above middle C. As the years went by , I’ve mastered singing from C4-F#4 around 20. Just recently I’ve found it easier to ...
2
votes
1answer
80 views
Bar number featuring this tone row by Schoenberg in the sheet music [closed]
Given is an image of the tone row used by Schoenberg in his Variations for Orchestra op. 31. This is what was given in a music theory workbook.
I found the sheet music for the Schoenberg piece. But ...
2
votes
2answers
128 views
Rationalizing this chord progression (I7-iii-IV)
Trying to expand my harmonic palette here, and came across this song.
Chorus of Stevie Wonder's "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing" (in E♭ minor, but temporary shift to ...
3
votes
2answers
83 views
Are these upper voices in this final passage from Handel a bona fide F7 chord or some kind of non-chord tones?
Handel. Preludes, Air, and Lesson...
http://hz.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/e/e8/IMSLP12246-Handel_-_Preludes,Air%26_Lesson.pdf
EDIT
I was complete off the mark with this. The only excuse I can ...
1
vote
6answers
338 views
Analysis of the progression: Dm, G, C, F, Bb, E, Am, A
I've been trying to analyze the progression: Dm, G, C, F, Bb, E, Am, A.
The best I could come up with is ii, V, I, IV, bVII, V/vi, vi, V/ii in C major.
I considered the Bb to be the VII from the ...
1
vote
1answer
62 views
Is Nirvana's 'Aero Zeppelin' intro in Locrian mode?
The song 'Aero Zeppelin' by Nirvana (see here for Youtube video link) begins with a calmer introduction that has a 'creepy' feeling, due to the occurrence of the tritone. I have tried to analyse the ...
11
votes
5answers
3k views
How would this chord from “Rocket Man” be analyzed?
[Chorus:]
Bb Eb
And I think it's gonna be a long, long time
Bb
'Till touch down brings me roung again to find
...
3
votes
3answers
257 views
How is this chord from Liebestraum No. 3 analyzed?
I'm trying to analyze the ending chord progressions to Liszt's Liebestraum No. 3. The piece is in Ab-major.
The chord in the second half of measure 73 is a D diminished triad. This would appear to ...
-8
votes
1answer
252 views
Jaws vs. Dvorak [closed]
There is a worldwide-viral debate involving the Jaws theme as if it is a "rip-off" of the finale of Dvorak's Ninth Symphony. Some say if the theme is sampled from Dvorak. Did John Williams really ...
2
votes
1answer
74 views
How can this triad from the song “Believe” be analyzed?
I heard this song "Believe" recently, and the Eb major chord stood out to me. The song is in E major, so I'm wondering how that Eb triad can be looked at. Even if it was spelt as a D# major triad, it ...
1
vote
2answers
117 views
How can the intro to the song “If I Fell” be analyzed?
The introduction to this song by The Beatles starts off in the key of Eb minor. I'm trying to figure out how to analyze these chords.
The first chord would be i, the D major chord I'm unsure about, ...
0
votes
1answer
163 views
Why is the vi chord so popular? [closed]
In a major scale, I understand why the I IV V are the most popular chords mainly due to their diatonic functions and they also harmonize the entirety of the scale as they are the primary triads.
I ...
0
votes
1answer
69 views
Chord progression analysis in Blur's 'Sing' from the film Trainspotting [closed]
I like this progression by Blur that was in Trainspotting and I tried to figure out what the relationship between the chords are and what key they are in:
G-B-E-G
A-C#-F#
B-D-F#
I tried a reverse ...
0
votes
0answers
49 views
Analysis questions about a transcription I made (Jade's Desert - Mortal Kombat Trilogy OST)
I transcribed this song recently and I wanted some insight for analyzing it. It seems to me that it is a diminished riff, using some tritones and chromatic stuff and major seconds. However, beyond ...
1
vote
1answer
38 views
I could use some help analyzing a transcription I made of the disciples 2 menu theme
I've been transcribing some songs recently, however I feel that I am somewhat limited in actually approaching the analysis of the songs after I have transcribed them.
I have attached a photo of my ...
1
vote
1answer
144 views
How can one analyze this chord progression from “Vienna” by Billy Joel?
I'm wondering how to best go about analyzing this chord progression from the Billy Joel classic, "Vienna".
The song is in Bb-Major.
The first chord is an augmented I chord (I+), which seems strange. ...
2
votes
3answers
191 views
Analysis: How to determine what scale/mode a score uses
I'm learning music theory with the hopes of being able to analyze sheet music.
My question is -- What if the piece I am analyzing is in some other mode than major or minor? Or even stranger, like ...
5
votes
4answers
753 views
Can this note be analyzed as a non-chord tone?
I know that post-tonal and popular music can't always be analyzed through the same methods as the Common Practice Period, but I still like to see how people would try analyzing things.
This is a ...
3
votes
1answer
77 views
Questions on the harmonic analysis of Pixar's Up Main Theme
First time doing harmonic analysis.
This is the piece https://musescore.com/user/1596896/scores/715646
The key signature indicates F major, but I feel like the composer plays around with the ...
2
votes
2answers
78 views
What is the music theory behind the ending to this Chopin Etude?
Chopin Etude Op. 10 No. 3:
I'm wondering about how to best analyze the final 3 measures.
This piece simply ends on the I chord over the final 3 measures.
Would ...
7
votes
1answer
334 views
Roman Numeral Treatment of Suspensions
My question today stems from me having difficulty assigning a roman numeral to a chord which either has a suspension (please see below)
Or when there is melodic motion in the bass (please see below)
...
6
votes
2answers
810 views
Are there any thematic similarities between Shostakovichs' Symphony 5th and Beethovens' 7th symphony? [closed]
Taking a look at the opening bars of Shostakovichs' Symphony 5th and Beethovens' 7th symphony 4th movement (bar 136 onwards) see below they sound kind of similar.
Somebody suggested (Radio 3 I think)...
2
votes
1answer
64 views
Does Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty modulate to the relative minor?
There's a part of Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty that I like. And I was wondering if I'm right as far as the theory goes:
Measures 156-159 is in the relative key of G minor, and ends on this key.
...
1
vote
1answer
120 views
Composition of Cowell's “rhythmic key changes”
I'm currently reading Henry Cowell's New Musical Resources and
On page 98, Section 6,(TEMPO) in part 2 (RHYTHM),
is a paragraph of for instances. Directly, I'm grappling with the SECOND FOR INSTANCE ....
0
votes
3answers
148 views
How does 'If I were a rich man' work? [closed]
I was playing 'If I were a rich man'. I noticed how it makes use of alot of notes outside its scale even though it's in C major. and I was wondering what the term is for what is it doing. Is it ...
5
votes
1answer
66 views
Is melodic analysis a thing?
I know that harmonic analysis can be done like this:
i iv V i
Is there a similar standard for melodic analysis? Is melodic analysis a thing?
Thanks, Nathan.
1
vote
2answers
40 views
Analyzing Tchaikovsky's “ Morgengebet ” Pt 2
At the 4th measure from the picture, Starting of the [B] section, there is a question mark.
the notes are G, Eb, C, and F# .
What is this chord? It also appears in the 3rd measure of the [B] section....
