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Thursday, January 31, 2008

Brief Analysis *A*

Harmonic Anaylsis:
I_I6 vi bVI+ I64 viidim7/V_V7 I
(if you can make that out)

Measures 14-17 in Hensel's "Nachtwanderer" use a few examples of modal scale degrees. In measure 15, beat 2 contains a D flat, while in measure 16, beats one and two have an A flat and B natural. Measure 15's D flat functions as a chromatic passing tone between the D of beat 1 and the C of beat 3 and even into the B natural of measure 16. In Measure 16, the A flat and B natural form a vii dim7/V. This diminished chord, which is not a modal mixture, also happens to be on the word "grau", meaning gray, coloring it with a very dreary sound.

1 comment:

Scott said...

The B natural isn't a modal scale degree. But the viio7/V can be considered "secondary mode mixture" since the typical tonicization chord would be viiø7/V as V is a major chord. Give more details of how the diminished chord gives a dreary sound, and why it is appropriate for this word. Also note that "grau" is repeated, the first time with the Db passing tone that creates the augmented triad sonority. Why did Hensel repeat this word and harmonize it in these two ways? What affect does it have on the listener, and how would you perform this?