** This page is under development: See the harmony page in the NYU Theory Anthology for a more extensive list of examples for transcription .
Examples for dictation that include modulation to closely- or distantly-related keys.
Listen to the selection indicated and state which key the passage modulates to. See the column "closely-related" to focus on only closely-related keys or to practice will all keys.
Bob Cole, “The Katy-did, the Cricket and the Frog,” mm. 14–23
Lyrics by James Weldon Johnson (1903)
Audio: Youtube (0:24–0:42)
Florence Price, The Deserted Garden (1933), mm. 9–20
Audio: Youtube
Gussie L. Davis, “The Fatal Wedding: Descriptive Waltz Song,” mm. 78–93 (1893)
Audio: Youtube (2:05–2:30)
Johanna Kinkel, No. 4 “An Luna,” mm. 1–8
From 6 Lieder, Op. 6 (1839). Lyrics by Heinrich Heine.
Audio: MP3 (0:00–0:17) (Midi recording from Musescore with oboe playing the vocal part)
Joseph Bologne, String Quartet Op. 1, No. 5
Movt. 1, mm. 6–13
Audio: Youtube (0:09–0:25)
Josephine Lang, No. 4 “Im Frühling,” mm. 21–30
Sechs Lieder, Op. 10 (1841). Lyrics by Wilhelm Wackernagelt
Audio: Youtube (0:33–0:58)
Louise Farrenc, “Étude in A Minor,” mm. 1–8
From 25 Études Progressives, Op. 50 (ca. 1859–63)
Audio: Youtube (0:01–0:22)
Louise Reichardt, "An Maria," mm. 1–8
No. 11 from Zwölf Gesänge, Op.3 (1811)
Audio: Youtube (0:00–0:30)
Nickel Creek, “Love of Mine,” first half
From A Dotted Line (2014), written by Chris Thile
Audio: YouTube (0:00-2:07)
F#mi A
Love of mine when you're
D Bmi
born I tell myself that you'll
C#mi F#mi
never die
(Continue on your own)
And I throw my arms around
the girl who finds you
'Cause the world is rosier,
through your eyes
I don't suppose you caught
her name
F#mi A
Never mind I'll just
D Bmi
name her after you,
C#mi F#mi
love of mine
I'll fashion her into a sweet
long-legged icon making all
praise holier
Satisfied
Oh, but she gave us to
each other
The only thing she's done for
me that you could never do
For that she'll always be
remembered
After she discovers I don't
love her half as much as you
Love of mine when she
goes why can't you stay
Here with me
Kent D. Cleland & Mary Dobrea-Grindahl, Developing Musicianship through Aural Skills - Available online through the NYU library
Modulation to Closely-Related Keys: Explanation, prep exercises, progression for improvisation, melodies and duets, and sing-and-play melodies, pp. 390–401 (direct link to section)
Modulation to Distantly-Related Keys: Explanation, prep exercises, progression for improvisation, melodies and duets, and sing-and-play melodies, pp. 401–411 (direct link to section)
Examples from the Literature (Closely-Related and Distantly Related), pp. 412–414 (direct link to section)
Direct, Chromatic, and Enharmonic Modulation: Explanation, prep exercises, progression for improvisation, melodies and duets, and sing-and-play melodies, pp. 423–435 (direct link to section)
Examples from the Literature, pp. 442–445 (direct link to section)
Paula Maust, Expanding the Music Theory Canon: Modulation
Diverse Music Theory Examples: Tonicization, Pivot Chord and Direct Modulation, Common-tone Modulation, Abrupt and Enharmonic Modulations
Music By Women: Explore the Database (Click on the Harmonic Progression Filter on the left and select Modulation.)