Compositional Methods 1

Kaii Lee had combined several piano/keyboard method books and her life long music learning books to create this sequential music theory study for this website. This page is about the understanding of Compositional Methods and the uses of the tools in the Traditional ways. Since the 17th century, composers worked on how to make their music more interesting and outstanding. The tools on this pages has been used by many composers throughout the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods. By clicking on the other colored links at the bottom of this page, the other music theory topics can be found easily.

For more information, please contact Kaii directly: info@kafm.net

Anticipation | Acciaccatura | Appoggiatura | Neighbor Tone | Passing Tone | Pivot Chord | Suspension | Tertian Harmony

The following compositional tools, each has a different way to address the harmonic and/or melodic function in a musical composition.

An Anticipation is the early sounding of one or more tones of a succeeding chord to form a temporary dissonance. See the following example from “Lascia ch’io pianga” of George Frideric Handel's opera, Rinaldo, (1711).

“Lascia ch’io pianga” of George Frideric Handel's opera, Rinaldo, (1711)

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An Acciaccatura is an extremely short note played before the actual note that is supposed to be played. It is a grace note, such as the appoggiatura note, but not played for as long. The Acciaccatura is sometimes referred to as the short appoggiatura since the techniques only differ based on how long the grace note is held.

Acciaccatura

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The actual word Appoggiatura is Italian, as is standard for most music terminology, derives from the Italian word appoggiare, meaning "to lean upon." In German, it is known as a vorschlag. An Appoggiatura is an embellishing note or tone preceding an essential melodic note or tone and usually written as a note of smaller size.

Symphony #40, 2nd Mvt, K.550, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

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A Neighbor Tone is a tone away from a note by step then return to the note. See the Beethoven's minuet below as a sample.

Minuet in G, WoO 10, 2nd Mvt., by Ludwig van Beethoven

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Passing Tones are notes that pass between chord tones. See the same “Lascia ch’io pianga” of George Frideric Handel's opera, Rinaldo, for example.

“Lascia ch’io pianga” of George Frideric Handel's opera, Rinaldo, (1711)

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A Pivot Chord is a chord that belongs to both the home key and the the key the music is changing to. It usually is being used in modulation and/or transposition.

Chord	I	IV	V	Chord Progression from C Major to G Major Modulation
C Major	C	F	G
G Major	G	C	D

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Suspension is the holding over of one or more musical tones of a chord into the following chord producing a momentary discord and suspending the concord which the ear expects, usually in the descending direction. See the following example of a double suspension by Johann Sebastien Bach.

Prelude in F Minor, by Johann Sebastien Bach

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Tertian Harmony, also called Tertiary Harmony, is a simple arrangement to make basic chords like C Major, G Major, D7, A minor, and others with the intervals of thirds, major and/or minor. Tertian refers to the number 3 or a musical interval of a 3rd. An example of a 3rd would be playing A and C notes together. Other examples of thirds are C-E, D-F, E-G, F-A, and so on. Triads and Seventh Chords are created by using Tertian Chord Harmony.

Chord Progression created with Tertian Harmony

The next topic in this Music Theory site is all about "Contemporary Compositional Tools." Thank you for reading!

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Music Theory that every musician could use and should know

The Basics

Math in Music

More Math and Signs

Music Forms

Time Signatures Intervals Modulations Homophonic Style

Polyphonic Style

Diatonic & Chromatic Steps Transposition Contrapuntal Techniques

Key Signatures Triads & Inversions Binary Form

Primary Triads Augmented Sixth Chords Ternary Form

Secondary Triads Traditional Compositional Tools Dance Suites

Scales Seventh Chords Contemporary Compositional Tools Prelude & Fugue

Secondary Dominant Musical Signs Sonata Form

Cadences Rondo Form

Modes Chord Progressions Musical Terms Theme & Variations

Figured Bass & Basso Continuo Serialism

For more information, please contact Ms. Lee at: info@kafm.net

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