Area of Study 02: Harmony and Tonality AQA GCSE Music

Areas of Study AoS 01: Rhythm and Metre AoS 02: Harmony and Tonality A0S 03: Texture and Melody AoS 04: Dynamics and Timbre AoS 05: Structure and Form

Tonality – ‘The Key’ This means, the key of the music. The piece will be built from the notes of a particular scale There are different types of Tonality; over the next few slides we will explore the different types.

Recap – What is a Scale? Scale – a group of notes (a pattern of notes) played in ascending or descending order The notes and pattern of a scale that a piece uses is also the Key Just to help you with the next few slides

Major A piece could be built on a Major scale/key Happy/uplifting sound Whatever note they start on, all major scales sound similar, because they follow the same pattern. TTSTTST C Major Pattern T = ToneS = Semi-Tone Tonality – “The Key”

Minor A piece could be built on a Minor scale/key Often Sounds more sad/mournful/serious Different to Major because of the pattern TSTTS TT Pattern A Minor ABCD EF G A Tonality – “The Key”

Major and Minor – Examples “Major” Example – Rondo in D Major, by Mozart Notice how bright and ‘happy/positive’ the piece sounds straight from the start “Minor” Example – Oboe Concerto No. 3 in G Minor, by Handel Notice how much this differs from the Major Example. Not so bright and ‘happy’ Possible to suggest sad, darker, mournful?! Track 01 Track 02

Pentatonic Scale A piece that is built on 5 Notes Used in world music, folk music and rock music 2 types – Major and Minor Pentatonic A common Pentatonic scale is one that uses just the Black Keys on the piano Tonality – “The Key” Check out the video on the next slide….Howard Goodall Explains it all, with some great examples

Video 01 in Folder

Whole Tone This is a scale that just uses just Tones Sounds mysterious F#G#A#C C DE T TTTTPattern T Tonality – “The Key” Video 02 in Folder

Debussy - Piece of Music using a Whole Tone Scale Video 02 in Folder

Chromatic Scale This is when a scale is just made up of Semi- tones (s) All white and black notes are used to make this scale You may sometimes describe part of a melody as being chromatic CC#DD#EF Etc….. Tonality – “The Key” Track 03

Tonal Definition: – A piece of music is described as Tonal if it has a sense of key…..in other words, if it is a major or minor piece it is Tonal. Tonality – “The Key”

Atonal A piece of music with no sense of fixed tonality/key. May sound rather ‘random’. Tonality – “The Key” Example of what Atonal music my sound like Video 03 in Folder

Modal (Modes) Modes existed before Major and Minor scales were established Like Major and Minor, modes are just scales with different patterns of notes (T and S) There are 7 different modes, all with a different sounds (you don’t need to know there names) Tonality – “The Key”

Modes – Continued… Check out the Video on the next slide. This gives you a very good insight to what modes sound like. The video also describes when they were originally used.

Video 04 in the folder

Modulation This is when music changes key/tonality For example if the piece is in the key of C major you could modulate (change key) to the key of G major or A minor... It’s a good way of developing a piece of music. Example – Look at the video on the next slide. This is a “Top 20 Key Changes” in pop music. Listen to each of the examples and notice how there is a change in the tone (key to a another key) usually happens for the last chorus of the song.

Video 05 in Folder

Modulation cont… In a listening exam, you may be asked to describe the tonality of the piece you are listening too. If so, there is a chance the piece could ‘Change Key’ (Modulate). Make sure you listen out for this – especially in some pop music i.e. theatre, pop and rock etc.

Harmony Harmony occurs when two or more notes of different pitch are sounded together When we think of harmony we usually mean the notes that accompany a melody. It has the power to make a melody richer and more emotional. Harmony

Consonance When you listen to a piece of music, you may think the harmony is pleasant and nice. This harmony can be described as “being Consonant.” Harmony

Dissonance When you listen to a piece of music, you may think the harmony uncomfortable and clashes a lot, or even painful to listen too. This harmony can be described as being dissonant. Often used to create suspense or tension. Discord – Harsh, dissonant combination of notes Harmony

Close Harmony This is where the notes are close together within the separate parts e.g. Barber shop singing Video 06 in Folder Harmony

Drone This type of harmony is played in the bass. Can be one note, but is often two notes played at the same time usually a 5 th apart (e.g. C and G) The notes are sustained (held) or repeated while the melody plays over the top. Used in folk, medieval and dance music. Used in Indian Classical Music – this is the role of the Tambura! Harmony

Use of a Drone in this example. Played by the bagpipes, it holds a ‘long bass note’ throughout the piece aka the Drone Video 07 in Folder