Harmony
Listen to this description of harmony and its relation to melody. The frist 37 seconds is entertaining. The important part begins after.
Harmony supports melodies. While melody is the linear part of music there is a vertical dimension called harmony. in this song, “Amazing Grace,” the added vocal parts constitute the harmony or the vertical aspect of the musical framework. A piano or instrumental group, such as an orchestra or a band often accompany melodies.
Listen first for the additions of added singers. Then hear the addition of instrumentalists. These added parts in this selection are in the form of chords—a group of pitches sounding simultaneously. Chords (or harmony) are not melody. They do not sound like a melody. They support the melody and, in their progression, help to give it “harmonic” direction. Be aware of harmony as you listen to melody!
Consonance and Dissonance
In this course harmony is described in terms of consonance or dissonance. This best definition of consonance is pleasant sounding and dissonance as clashing or unpleasant sounding. The following concise example shows the difference between the two. The first 15 seconds shows consonance while the last 15 seconds shows dissonance. LIsten!
This is a work called Romance by Shostakovich. – a fine example of consonance.
This is the 2nd movement of the Double violin Concerto by Bach. Just listen to part of it as an other example of consonance.
Another example of consonance – Mozart’s Horn concerto No. 3
Another example of consonance – Barcarolle from Tales of Hoffmann by Offenbach (below): https://youtu.be/g7czptgEvvU
Listen to the following example and note the clashing dissonance in the repeated chords.
Dissonance- Stravinsky – Dance of the Maidens
This Video below is 20- minutes long. Listen only to part of it (unless you prefer to view all). It gives more complete insight into what comprises dissonance.
Here is a n example of Dissonance by Mozart — His string Quartet No 19 Movement 1. Listen especially to the very beginning slow part for the clashing notes. Less dissonance follows in the faster part though some dissonance is also present.
The following Power Point has pages on Harmony beginning with slide 14-the end. (Open part is on Melody).
