Renaissance 3/4 B - Lecture Slides

It’s possible to decorate the suspension itself!
(Decorate the decoration.) Play (p13)
Crotchets here anticipate the preparatory note (a), the
resolution note (b);
or both (a)+(b) to form a chain.
Using Quavers Sing:
Rules with quavers:
• They only ever move by step
• They ornament the melody
• They’re usually present in pairs
• They replace an unaccented crotchet or quaver after a dotted
minim or dotted crotchet.
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Be careful...
If more than two parts are involved in your harmony
and you change a bass note under the note of
resolution, this can (wonderful musical effect)
imply a change of inversion or a change of
harmony. - It subverts the resolution! E.g. play
(p13)
A strange chord characteristic of the
Renaissance period
This can be produced by setting up a prepared
dissonance between the upper parts (i.e. bass
is not involved in the dissonance). E.g. sing:
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Double Suspensions
Double suspensions can happen, most
commonly in 3rds and 6ths. NB the resultant
word painting effect in this madrigal: (play p15)
b. Unprepared Dissonance
Unprepared dissonances only happen on
weaker beats of the bar in Renaissance
music. This effect carried through right into
Romantic music.
There are four types:
1. Accented passing note (apn)
2. Nota cambiata
3. Anticipation note
4. Consonant 4th.
...These will be dealt with in turn...
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(i) Accented Passing Note
Occurs when moving by step, usually on the
weaker beats of a descending line. E.g. play
(p17):
(i) Accented Passing Note cont.
Minim-value accented passing notes are
hardly ever seen in 2-part Renaissance
music.
It’s possible to have long passing notes
causing dissonance, e.g. when they
pass over stationary notes in the
texture. PTO.
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Accented Passing Notes cont. (great effect!)
Accented Passing Notes cont. (great effect!).
Play:
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