Music: Practice & Theory

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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.

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Contrabasson or contrabass in the begining of this Harnoncourt recording of Johannespassion, BWV 245, Part 1: “Herr, unser Herrscher” [migrated]

== Cross-posted so MusicFans.SE (beta) due to recommendation in the comments == Consider this Harnoncourt recording of: Johannespassion, BWV 245, Part 1: "Herr, unser Herrscher". I can't ...
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6answers
270 views

Labeling a dominant triad over subdominant bass

I wanted to highlight a particular chord of my previous question because it was bugging me a bit. What would you call a dominant triad over a subdominant bass, in pop/jazz roman numeral analysis? It ...
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2answers
69 views

Four part Writing: When must a perfect fourth be resolved?

A bit confused at the moment regarding when a perfect fourth is classed as a consonance, and when it is classed as a dissonance. I have read here on Stack Exchange, that perfect fourth intervals are ...
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1answer
126 views

Roman numeral analysis: Bridge over Troubled Water

I'm trying to create a "universal key" to learn more about the harmony and to be able to practice it easily in every key. Below is the intro for 'Bridge over Troubled Water'. Generally, I ...
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3answers
147 views

In the context of G Major, is there anything special about a Am-Cm-Bm-Em progression?

It looks like a ii-V-iii-vi going around the circle of fifths but with the V replaced with a iv, but I don't know what the theory behind that replacement is. I'd heard of tonicization before but I'm ...
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1answer
40 views

Not following Hindemith-type analysis

I am having trouble following the analytical methods applied in David Neumeyer's The Music of Paul Hindemith. Please refer to example 3.12: I would like to use one of the chord changes to put my ...
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1answer
44 views

Inversions of diminished 7th chords

I have the following passage in D minor which features two diminished 7th chords: I have labelled most of the chords, but I am at a loss of how to label these two diminished 7th chords. If I could ...
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3answers
193 views

Roman Numeral Analysis - Tonicization of relative major key in minor key

I have a passage that I am trying to analyse with roman numerals: The passage is in B minor, but the section in question briefly tonicizes D major - the relative major key. My question is, how can ...
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1answer
103 views

Harmonic Analysis of C. M. von Weber Clarinet Concerto No.1

My question is regarding this passage from C. M. von Weber's Clarinet Concerto No. 1. The passage is taken from the exposition of the first movement and has so far been established in F minor. Bars 20 ...
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6answers
1k views

What is the purpose of the first movement in Moonlight Sonata?

As someone inexperienced in formal music theory, I wonder what the purpose of the first movement of Moonlight Sonata is. Whenever I listen to Moonlight Sonata, I feel like skipping directly past the ...
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49 views

What's the measure of “Stop This Flame”? [closed]

I suppose Celeste's song is something like 2/4? It reminds me of samba.
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3answers
127 views

When using Functional Chord symbols, how can we distinguish between a Dominant 7th chord and a Major 7th chord? [duplicate]

In the key of F major (for example), we can have the chords C7 and Cmaj7. C7 = C-E-G-Bb and Cmaj7 = C-E-G-B Using Functional Chord symbols, the basic tonic chord is "I", and the basic ...
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95 views

Modulation Techniques in 'Sword Art Online - Swordland (Main Theme)'

In Sword Art Online - Swordland (Main Theme) (https://musescore.com/user/13887436/scores/4364901), it goes through a series of modulations and was wondering how the modulations work and how they ...
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1answer
137 views

What is the function of this chord progression in Schubert's “Winterreise”?

I'm having a hard time figuring out how the chord progression from Schubert's Winterreise (D911), No. 11 "Frühlingstraum", measures 15–26 works (from the section marked "Schnell" ...
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2answers
81 views

What differentiates different styles of music? [closed]

Funk, pop, rock, country, disco, house. What makes these different? I mean, I know I can hear that they are different, it’s clear, and it’s also clear when I hear a new song I can classify it ...
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3answers
107 views

Four part writing: How to voice diminished 7th chords?

I am currently doing part writing, and have come into a bit of a conundrum. I want to use a sharp 4 dim 7 (Fsharpdim7), to link up my IV chord (FM) to my V7 chord (G7). I know that 7ths should usually ...
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2answers
247 views

Four part writing problem: tripled root solution. what is best practice here?

I have hit a problem with this chord change in my four part writing. We are in A minor. The VI chord is in first inversion, so A must be in the bass. (I have made a mistake in the figure. the VI ...
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2answers
401 views

Interpolated chords: How do they work?

Recently, I studied the tune 'Misty' by Eroll Garner. I was slightly confused as to the middle section of the piece, as it involves a passage with some delayed resolutions. I have come across three ...
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1answer
67 views

How does Modulation in Spirited Away - Name of Life work?

I was wondering if there is any harmonic reasoning and mechanism in play with the modulation from C major to Eb major in measure 103? The only "logic" that I can think of is that in previous ...
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1answer
105 views

Chord Progression in Merry-Go-Round Of Life

In Joe Hisaishi's Merry-Go-Round Of Life, I'm trying to understand harmonically what is happening from measures 15 - 22. Below is my chord analysis in this G minor piece: Measure 15: Bb/F [III] ...
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3answers
75 views

Chord naming conventions: When is a 6 a 13? [duplicate]

I have seen/ heard people say that you only write a 6 when there are no other upper extensions used (meaning no inclusion of 7 and above). I have also heard people say that you only write a 6 when ...
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4answers
162 views

A romantic era piece has a baroque era title: how does one determine the style?

J. Danbé's "Petite Gavotte" (ca. 1888) for violin and piano seems to be baroque mainly because of the title, "Gavotte", which was a common baroque dance. But I can't find any ...
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5answers
193 views

What makes a chord a sus chord?

In light of some recent answers to questions I have asked on Stack Exchange with regards to naming chords, I have decided to refine things a little further, focusing on sus chords. If a chord contains ...
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1answer
95 views

what is the method behind naming jazz chords? [closed]

I have recently become confused about how to name chords in jazz. This is my current understanding: Add chords (without 7th)- chord that contains the root, third, (optional 5th) and one or more ...
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2answers
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Seeking help: song comparisons and analysis [closed]

I'm looking for some assistance in comparing songs to one another. Lately I've been noticing that listening to a song will remind me of another song or two that often aren't even the same genre, have ...
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8answers
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Secondary Dominants - is there a more appropriate term?

An example - in key C major, the E7 chord is a 'secondary dominant' chord. Now, if it goes directly to the chord it's dominant to in its own right - A, or Am, then it makes sense to call it secondary ...
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0answers
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How can one analyze the chord progression from “Your Affection (from Persona 4 soundtrack)” by Shoji Meguro?

I've been listening to Persona 4 soundtrack by Shoji Meguro recently, and soon got hooked on a song called "Your Affection". It's a J-pop song whose catchy chorus intrigued me with a ...
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2answers
440 views

How do you explain this Db7 (functional harmony) in “There will never be another you”?

I'm analysing this Jazz Standard. And it's quite straightforward with some major and minor II-V cadences here and there yet there is a chord I don't know how to explain, and it is that Db7 indicated ...
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1answer
55 views

How do I learn how to accompany with Piano [closed]

I've been long time sheet music reader and I've recently switched to chord sheets in desperate pursuit of improving my musicianship. I've always wanted to reach a level where can arrange and ...
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1answer
950 views

Why would this piece be called “Adagio in D minor” when it's in E minor?

I have very little theoretical knowledge, but AFAICT this piece is not in D minor, but in E minor? Adagio in D minor, by John Murphy from the soundtrack of Sunshine: ...
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2answers
223 views

How can this chord from Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini be analyzed?

I'm working on an analysis of Variation XVIII of Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. This famous variation is in D♭-major. I'm trying to analyze that first chord in measure 660. This chord ...
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3answers
277 views

How would you analyze (harmonically) the intro of Preludio de Adiós?

I'm learning from books about harmonic analysis in order to improve my interpretative skills. So, I am studying this piece by Venezuelan composer Alfonso Montes, called "Preludio de Adiós". ...
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1answer
39 views

In your opinion, what song structure does Glasvegas's “Geraldine” follow?

I would argue that the song "Geraldine" by Glasvegas (embedded below) follows an AABA structure, as there is variation in the second A repeat; however, a melody from the original repeats ...
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2answers
72 views

How would these chords from “When Christmas Comes to Town” be analyzed?

Hi everyone. I'm analyzing "When Christmas Comes to Town", which is one of my favorite holiday songs. The image shows the last four measures of the bridge section. The bridge is in E♭-minor, ...
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1answer
45 views

How would this nonchord tone be labeled? Is it a retardation?

I'm working on an analysis of a song, and there is a section where the phrase starts off on this E-natural note over a B-flat major triad. This is the first note of the melody line. Since it isn't ...
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4answers
413 views

How should this half-diminished seventh chord from “Christmas Time Is Here” be analyzed in terms of its harmonic function? [duplicate]

Hi everyone. I'm working on an analysis of Christmas Time Is Here, which is in F major. I'm trying to determine the best way to analyze the Bm7(♭5) chord circled in the image. I have 3 explanations ...
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2answers
81 views

Analysis of a difficult piece of music without access to the score [closed]

I'm aware that this question is long and contains many sub-questions, but I hope it is fine the way it is at the moment. Lately I've started becoming more interested in analyzing musical scores in ...
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1answer
240 views

Analysis of Bolivia by Cedar Walton [closed]

I am a guitarist learning jazz and our combo leader has given us Bolivia by Cedar Walton. I can play the head and the comping (barely) but I am completely lost about improvising in the A section. I ...
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1answer
198 views

Redundant entry of a Fugal Exposition

When analyzing a fugue, I get confused at times about where to put the redundant entry. Is it the 5th or more entry of the subject and/or answer? I’m not sure.
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2answers
107 views

How do I determine the key of this given only an E7 secondary dominant chord

How am I supposed to determine the key with the only given E7 chord, which is used as an extended dominant in this case .
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2answers
75 views

How would these nonchord tones from Beethoven's Pathétique Sonata best be analyzed?

Hi everyone. I'm working on an analysis of Movement II from Beethoven's Pathétique Sonata. In the measures shown in the image, I am trying to analyze the nonchord tones that occur in the chromatic ...
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2answers
184 views

How to think about this moment from BWV 816

I've been tasked by a textbook I'm going through to make a harmonic analysis of the G major "Gavotte" from BWV816, "The French Suite" specifically minding a handful of questions ...
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7answers
156 views

Name two reasons why the music in the next passage starts in C Major and ends in G major?

Please help with the question in the title. I am struggling so much, thank you. Why?
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2answers
144 views

Why the flat roman numerals in minor when they aren't needed?

This is one thing that has always bothered me, why are VI and bVI 2 different chords in major but the same chord in minor? That makes no sense to me. I mean it does but it also doesn't. If you view ...
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2answers
144 views

How does James Bay's song Let it Go sound sad in a Major key? [duplicate]

If you listen to James Bay's - Let it Go, it sounds sad yet written in major key. In general, not just for this song, what in theory makes this happen? I've read people suggesting flat majors make a ...
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1answer
70 views

What properties make this piece sounds good?

Those two bars catch my attention and I started analysing what is making it to sound so unique and pleasant. And I want to extract from it the universal bricks for the relations of music components. (...
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1answer
56 views

Pre-requisite to analyze classical music [closed]

First, I'm sorry for my poor English. I enjoy listening to classical music. According to Schiff's analysis of Beethoven's Sonata, It seems that classical music has a certain form, so if any note ...
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2answers
112 views

Naming and analyzing chords : problem with a stack of fourths (and 2 other slash chords)

I am writing a piece from little licks I have from years, and I found what seems to me a really moody intro consisting of 3 "exotic" chords. for context, I have no education in music theory,...
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3answers
205 views

What meter is it when the accented beat is the fourth beat out of six? (one-two-three-FOUR-five-six)

In this song when the drum comes in, the accented pulse is the 4th beat out of 6 in a measure. 6/8 has the accented beats on the 1st and 4th beat, but there is no accent on the 1st beat in this song. ...
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2answers
199 views

What chords does Donald Fagen mean?

Willie Nelson says: All you need is three chords and the truth. I expect those chords would be I, IV and V But in his song H Gang, Donald Fagen sings about: …the ultimate five-chord band". ...

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