Embedded Files
Lesson Objectives
Lesson Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
Compose a chordal harmonization for a diatonic melody using functional chord progressions.
Identify different ways of harmonizing a melody and interpreting non-chord tones.
Explain how different chord progressions and harmonic rhythms enhance the melodic line and create harmonic interest.
Preparation for Class
Preparation for Class
Read:
Read:
"Harmonizing Melodies with Diatonic Chords" (Rozin & Rimmple, A New Approach to Music Theory)
"Harmonic Rhythm," pp. 89–94 (Turek, Today's Musician)
"Improvising a Chordal Accompaniment to a Melody" (Chenette, Foundations of Aural Skills)
In-Class Activities
In-Class Activities
Discussion
Discussion
Improvisations on Hungarian Peasant Songs: Listen to the first movement of Eight Improvisations on Hungarian Peasant Songs composed by the Hungarian composer Béla Bartók (1881-1945). The movement features a four-measure melody stated 3 times (0:00– 1:16). Each time, Bartók harmonizes it differently. Listen to the movement twice:
The first time you listen: Think about emotions, colors, or associations that you experience for each of the harmonizations. Is one more tense? More wistful? More mysterious? Share some of these experiences with the class.
The second time you listen: Try to focus more on musical details. Do you hear/see particular chord types or particular harmonic intervals? What are the various levels of dissonance? Are there certain harmonies that feel particularly surprising? Share some of these detailed insights and discuss the link between musical details and emotional expression.
Activities
Activities
Harmonizing "Crooked Shanks": Occramer Marycoo (1746–1826) is likely the first black American composer to have his work published. He was brought to Rhode Island as a slave when he was 14, and was sent to study music by by his master. He was able to buy freedom for himself and his family in 1791, and began his own music school in Newport, Rhode Island. At the age of 80, he travelled to Liberia. He died not long after arriving, fulfilling his wish to be buried in Africa. His tune "Crooked Shanks" was published in 1803, but current scholarship suggests that it was written as early as 1768.
Begin by listening to the melody, then harmonize it using diatonic triads. A PDF and MuseScore file is provided here: PDF | MuseScore.
Each measure of the melody can be harmonized with 1 or 2 chords on the main beats. The first and last measures are harmonized for you. The pitches that occur on those main beats must belong to the chord that you harmonize it with. The pitches on the weaker beats can be embellishing tones.
Label all non-chord tones by type. Consider harmonic rhythm in your harmonization.
Have one of your classmates or your instructor play the harmonizations. Use your ears to check your work.
Harmonizing Folk Songs: Select a few folk songs to practice harmonizing. Look for diatonic examples. These collections from IMSLP offer a number of great examples: 100 Folksongs of All Nations, English Folk Songs, and Nursery Rhymes with Old World Tunes. Ignore the harmonization provided in the book until after you've completed your own Roman numeral harmonization, then compare yours to the harmonization used in the collection.
Worksheets for Practice:
Harmonic Rhythm: Turek, Today's Musician Workbook, pp. 59–63.
Repertoire for Practice
Repertoire for Practice
Folk Songs for Harmonization: Flip through your sight-singing anthology or try a few of these collections of folk songs from IMSLP to find practice examples for harmonization: 100 Folksongs of All Nations, English Folk Songs, and Nursery Rhymes with Old World Tunes.
Want to learn more?
Want to learn more?
Check out this video by Jacob Collier on reharmonizing melodies.
Optional Additional Practice
Optional Additional Practice
Musition: Harmonization Levels 1–4
Quizlet Flashcards: Melodic Harmonization
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