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Modal HarmonyCharacteristic Pitches/Harmonic Cadences
Today:
• Characteristic pitches • Tonic systems• Modal Chord Progression• Major Modes chord progressions• Minor Modes chord progressions• Discussion of Project
Modal Harmony
• Up until this point, we have used the ionian and aeolian modes as tonic systems. • However, any mode can be used as a tonic
system.• The most common modes used as tonics systems
are derived from displacing ionian.
IonianDorianPhrygianLydianMixolydianAeolianLocrian
… can all function as TONIC SYSTEMS
Ionian Primary Tonic Function Major Quality
Dorian Substitute Subdominant Function
Minor Quality
Phrygian Substitute Tonic Function Minor Quality
Lydian Primary Subdominant Function
Major Quality
Mixolydian Primary Dominant Function
Major Quality
Aeolian Substitute Tonic Function Minor Quality
Locrian Ambiguous Function Diminished Quality
Each mode has a specific function and quality:
• Examine page 68 in your H4 text• What are some common characteristics you
notice?
• Each mode has it’s own unique placement of the ½ steps relative to the first scale degree• The triad built on each mode’s first degree has a
perfect fifth above it’s root (except locrian)• Each mode has an overall quality that is either
major or minor (except locrian)
Therefore each mode is able to stand alone as a primary tonic scale away from ionian (except locrian).
Characteristic Pitch
1. What is the characteristic pitch of an ionian scale? (major)
2. What is the characteristic pitch of an aeolian scale? (minor)
Each mode has a characteristic pitch that sets it apart from other modesWe can discover each characteristic pitch by comparing major or minor modes to ionian and aeolian respectively
Major Modes:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1
1 2 3 #4 5 6 7 1
1 2 3 4 5 6 b7 1
C Ionian
C Lydian
C Mixolydian
Minor Modes
1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1
1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7 1
1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1
C Dorian
C Aeolian
C Phrygian
Each mode’s character note is on one of the two ½ steps. Because of the strong tonal
gravity of the ½ step, the character note will have a direct connection to the
modes cadential functions.
Activity
Complete the first column of the activity on Worksheet 4
• The dominant cadence in major/minor key systems is defined by the tritone located between the 4th and 7th scale degrees.• Examine pg 70 of your H4 text• The diatonic tritone is controlled
differently in modal harmony
Modal Cadences
• Avoid using the tritone from the relative ionian harmonically• Still rely on the instability of the half-step
instability for cadences• The goal is to avoid accidentally cadencing to the
relative ionian• This is achieved by splitting the tritone so that
only one of the two ½ steps are available
Activity
1. Find the relative ionian for the following modes:• C Lydian• C Mixolydian• C Aeolian• C dorian• C phrygian2. Now compare the location of the tritone from the
relative ionian to that of its related tonic mode3. Isolate the ½ step interval attached to the character
note of the tonic mode4. This is the ½ step available for creating modal cadences
Modal Chord Functions• There are three basic chord functions in modal harmony:• Tonic Function – In modal harmony, only the I chord can be
regarded as a tonic chord – there are no substitutes
Tonic Function
• In modal harmony, only the I chord can be regarded as a tonic chord – there are no substitutes• The I chord is often used as a triad
Cadence Chords
• Any chord that uses the characteristic pitch as root, 3rd, 5th, or 7th and is not diminished or m7(b5) has a cadential function• Cadence: The dominant 7 chord• Conditional Cadence: any other chord with the
characteristic pitch – treated on a case by case basis• All other chord types
• Generally, the closer the characteristic pitch is to the root, the stronger the cadence• Stepwise root motion is a primary characteristic of modal
music
Avoid Chords
• Diminished triads• m7(b5)• These are avoided because of their tritone
content and strong pull towards the relative ionian
Modal Chord Progression
When attempting to create the sound of any one particular mode, it is usually necessary to limit the harmonic and melodic activity
• There is more I chord function than anything else
• Cadence chords are usually located on weak stress points moving directly to the tonic
• Other diatonic functions are used sparingly to add variety to the progression
Typically:
• Examine page 73 of your H4 text for common chord function patterns• Now examine pages 74 – 83 for detailed
information on chord functions of each mode
Listening List Activity• In small groups, listen to the following songs, look up/
transcribe the chord progressions and thing about how they are functioning.• Lydian:• Oceans – Pearl Jam
• Mixolydian:• Royals – Lorde
• Dorian:• Scarborough Fair – Trad.
• Phrygian:• White Rabbit – Jefferson Airplane
• http://nickleusmusic.blogspot.co.nz/2013/07/examples-of-modal-music-ionian-dorian.html
Activity:• Begin working on Worksheet 5