In This Issue
C.P.E. Bach All compositions studied should be a learning experience, not just memorized. Unfortunately, compositions by the masters are ‘just memorized’ and without the slightest knowledge of what they are made up of. Josef Lhevinne, the legendary pianist of the 20th century, and…
Definitions are the basis of understanding the language of music, and without complete definitions of musical terms there is no such thing as musical understanding that is meaningful. ‘Harmonic Identity’ is the first definition,[1] with ‘harmonic function next.[2] Please note the hierarchy of…
Music is a language, and if one doesn’t know the grammar, so to speak, one is only ‘parroting’ compositions by simply memorizing them. The CPE Bach ‘Solfeggio’ is a perfect example of learning, instead of memorizing. The following is a…
Modulation: moving from one key area to another key area; CM to FM, EbM to GM, for two such examples. The process of doing this is the subject of this article. First of all, avoid indications of modulations whenever possible. …
‘Harmony’ is defined as, ‘Any simultaneous combination of tones’. (from ‘Dictionary’ on the web). ‘Identity’ is the thing, person, scale, interval, or chord itself without reference to a function. Scales, intervals, and chords must have their own unique identifiers; M…
Tonal music, or ‘Western’ tonal music is based on the major scale, and the major scale in turn is derived from the ‘key circle’, aka ‘circle of fifths’, or simply the ‘Circle’. The major scale is constructed with steps and half-steps.…
The Tritone: its Elemental Functions[1] The tritone is one of the more important intervals in music. Theory text books barely mention it. The interval of a tritone is the distance of three steps, hence ‘tri’- tone. It is the characteristic interval…
Nocturne in C# minor (1830) …an analysis ©2018 Ralph Hedges Conventions Used in the Analysis of the Nocturne Notes are enclosed with singe quotation mark to differentiate between a note vs. an article; ‘A’ major triad on…, vs. ‘A major triad…
