Questions tagged [theory]
For questions about how music works, seeking to identify structures and patterns in music. Used to indicate questions about musical concepts and structures, as opposed to techniques and execution.
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Do 20th- and 21st-century concerti still follow the expected forms of the 18th and 19th centuries?
When looking at opening movements of instrumental concerti in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, we see a pretty standard alternation of ritornello (orchestral-focused) and solo sections. These ...
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Is there a list of Just Intonation chords as defined by Fétis, using ratios?
One way of ‘spelling’ chords in just intonation is using ratios - such as 10:12:14:17 (multiplications of the frequency of an implied ‘missing fundamental’). Fétis is quoted in Wikipedia (and here by ...
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Is it possible to approach hidden 5ths & 8ves by contrary motion?
is it possible to approach hidden 5ths & 8ves by contrary or oblique motion?
In another meaning every time there is contrary or oblique
motion between voices, are direct 5ths & 8ves allowed ...
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Hexachordal solmization and the melodic minor scale
How does one sign an ascending melodic minor scale using hexachordal solmization?
Here is an example, it's the famous Bourreé by Bach, from the Suite in E minor, BWV 996:
We know that Bach used this ...
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How did tetrachords become whole and half steps?
How did the ancient Greek concept of tetrachords evolve into the whole- and half-step model familiar today?
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How to identify voice of whole note
I've got a chord of whole notes and have no idea which voice they're in.
There are other chords in the sheet music that I looked at to try to figure out the voice, but this hasn't been conclusive. At ...
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Roman numeral analysis: how to notate tonic root anticipation / triple suspension V7 I742 I?
Sometimes in a cadence between V7 and I there's a moment when an anticipated tonic root in the bass given on top of suspended 7^2^4^ from the V7 (triple suspension?). Two examples:
Beethoven op 10 no ...
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Consonant vs. Dissonant Major Thirds: Historical Process and Significance of Tuning System
In the comments to the question Why is the fourth against the bass considered a dissonance?, I wrote
A 5:4 third was considered dissonant until musical tastes changed and declared it consonant.
To ...
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3part counterpoint 4th species fusion resolving note appearing in other parts
This is 16th century 3 part 3rd and 4th species fusion counterpoint.
At the second measure, there's C, The first note on the soprano.
In the bass, there's sustained D, which will resolve to C.
The ...
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What is the proper study of composition and arrangement?
I have been composing and arranging on my own for about 10 months now, i am confident that they sound good but i am not sure, how good, how to make them better and if taking the proper course will ...
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Rules for improvising intermediate notes in basso continuo
When realizing figured bass, passing notes in the bass are analyzed quite thoroughly in literature (e.g. The Art of Accompaniment from a Thorough Bass). However, I cannot find any information or rules ...
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What are the acceptable ways to traditionally resolve dissonance?
This is a follow up to my previous question, about a seemingly unresolved "suspension" in Bach's Prelude in C major, bar 21:
In the next bar, it resolves to this chord:
If we block the ...
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I am teaching myself to identify sequences (harmonic and melodic) in Bach Orchestral Suite No.3 Air
I am using Bach's "Air" to identify melodic/ harmonic sequences. I started some of the first page and want to know if I am on the right track. IS the bass I labeled considered a sequence? I ...
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More Terms for Melodic Functions in Narrative Situations
Leitmotifs (which in this context I mean as a motif or theme representing a person, place, thing, idea, etc.) are one of the only music theory concepts that have really escaped into (comparatively) ...
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katapayadi sutra - some melakarta raagas' numberings that I can't understand
The KaTapayadi system hinges upon the table below:
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ka
Ka
ga
Ga
~ga
ca
Ca
ja
Ja
~ja
Ta
Tha
Da
Dha
Na
ta
tha
da
dha
na
pa
Pa
ba
Ba
ma
ya
ra
la
va
sha
Sha
sa
ha
I have come to ...
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Did percussion instruments communicate spoken words in click languages?
There are a number of click languages in Africa where 'clicks' function as part of their language. It seems like it would be possible to communicate some words with percussion instruments (maybe a ...
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Inverted pedal tones but intervals
What is the correct term when you play melodic intervals in higher pitch than primary melody? As for the rhythmic support for primary melody. If it was pedal tones played that way, it would be called ...
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Slonimsky Double Note Progressions
What method did Slonimsky use to derive his Double Note Progressions? ... Starting on p.196 Double Notes Tritone progressions to p.214 Sesquitone (minor3th) progressions from (Thesaurus of Scale and ...
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What does affect the recognition of melodies, rhythms, and chords?
I am looking for studies or meta-studies in which it has been systematically explored how two presented pieces of music (two rhythms, two melodies, two chords) may deviate such that test persons do ...
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What is it that makes I närvarande parter a polonaise?
Bellman's I närvarande parter is a polonaise. What is it that makes it a polonaise?
In this video (at 1:31):
it is explained that a polonaise should be based on a ...
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Why did the ancient Greeks choose tetrachords?
Why did the ancient Greeks choose tetrachords as the basis for their musical theory rather than some other structure?
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Tchaikovsky's sleeping beauty Op. 66 introduction measure 28
I was listening to the ballet sleeping beauty.
In the beginning in the introduction, when there is a change of time signature. (measure 28) it felt like three beats.
I looked up the score, and it ...
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Liszt Transcendental Étude No.1 (Prelude): Top voices on ascending fifth, descending second, descending second
I wanted to follow up to analyze the top voice on the right hand of the Liszt Transcendental Étude No.1 (Prelude).
Here are my (related) questions:
Is the red box note a B-flat or B? (It looks that ...
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Set special reverb in midi player/editor which is oriented to midi reverb event
I am looking for a way to play midis with a special reverb in a midi player or editor.
I'm working on a patch for a videogame which fixes its midi based music (it's buggy in the original game). Among ...
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What is the internal harmony of this Liszt melody?
This is an exercise taken out of Walter Piston’s Harmony (4th ed). Let me know how you would change my progression.
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Pythagoras ratio, 3 out of 7 ratios missing?
As per wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_hammers page about Pythagoras Hammers ratio discovery, there are following ratios I could find from wiki page:
C Unison 1:1,
D Major Second 9:...
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Grouping and Beaming rules for specific time signatures
The question asks to rewrite the notes according to the grouping and beaming rules of the given time signature.
The first picture is the question and the second picture is my answer to it. Am I ...
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