The Greek modes were a system of scales used in ancient Greek music. They were based on a series of seven notes, each with a unique pattern of intervals. The seven modes were:
Ionian: This mode corresponds to the major scale in modern Western music and has a bright, cheerful character.
Dorian: This mode has a minor tonality and is characterized by a melancholy, introspective mood.
Phrygian: This mode has a distinctive character, with its flattened second note creating a sense of tension and unease.
Lydian: This mode has a bright, upbeat character and is characterized by its raised fourth note.
Mixolydian: This mode has a dominant tonality and is often used in blues and rock music.
Aeolian: This mode corresponds to the natural minor scale in modern Western music and has a sad, introspective character.
Locrian: This mode is characterized by its flattened fifth note and has a dark, mysterious character.
While the ancient Greek modes were an important foundation for Western music, they gradually fell out of use as Western music evolved and new harmonic and melodic systems were developed.
One reason for this shift was the development of tonality, which became a defining characteristic of Western music during the Baroque period.
Tonality is the system of organizing music around a central pitch or tonal center, and it relies on scales that have a set of specific relationships between the pitches. The modes of ancient Greek music, while based on specific pitch collections, did not have the same sense of tonality that Western music came to rely on.
The modern system of tonality is based on the use of keys. Each key is defined by a tonic note, which serves as a musical "home base" around which the other notes in the key revolve.
In other words, tonality is music that has a tonic – that specific note on which music is the most stable and at rest. In general, tonal music works by establishing a tonic, moving away from it and then returning to it.
Harmony is the overall sound created by the combination of chords in a piece of music.
In Baroque music, the harmony is typically provided by a basso continuo, which is a musical ensemble consisting of at least two instruments. The basso continuo usually includes a keyboard instrument (such as a harpsichord or organ) and a low-pitched instrument such as a cello, bassoon, or viola da gamba.
The basso continuo provides a harmonic foundation for the music by playing a series of chords and a bassline that outlines the harmony of the composition. The keyboard instrument typically plays the chords, while the low-pitched instrument plays the bassline.
In music, a bassline is a low-pitched melodic or rhythmic line that provides a foundation for the harmonic and rhythmic structure of a piece of music. A bassline works in tandem with chord progressions to create a sense of harmony and movement within a musical composition.
The bassline typically outlines the root notes of the chords in the progression, providing a strong foundation for the harmony. For example, in a common chord progression like I-IV-V in the key of C major, the bassline would play the notes C, F, and G, respectively, to match the chords being played.
Basso continuo was a defining characteristic of Baroque music, but it gradually fell out of use as music moved into the Classical period in the mid-18th century. In the Classical period, a new type of harmony emerged that was based on the use of homophonic textures and functional harmony.
In tonal music, functional harmony is the strategic use of tonic, dominant and other chords to create expectations and resolving them when appropriate.
Functional harmony is often played by a full orchestra, which includes instruments such as strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. The string section, in particular, plays an important role in creating the harmonic foundation of the music, with the lower strings (such as the cellos and basses) often playing the bassline or chord progression.
The bassline is typically played by the double basses, which provides a solid and rhythmic foundation for the rest of the orchestra. The cello section may also play the bassline or a harmony line, depending on the specific piece of music being performed.
In addition to playing the bassline, the lower strings also often play chord progressions, which are a series of chords that create a sense of harmonic movement in the music. By playing these chords, the lower strings help to create a sense of tension and release, which is a fundamental aspect of harmonic music.
To play a C major chord on the base, the bassist would place their first finger on the E string at the third fret, which produces the note G. They would then place their second finger on the A string at the second fret, which produces the note C. Finally, they would place their fourth finger on the D string at the fifth fret, which produces the note E. The bassist would then bow all three strings simultaneously to play the C major chord.
Polyphony and counterpoint are related terms that refer to different aspects of musical texture.
Polyphony refers to the use of multiple melodies or voices played simultaneously.
Counterpoint refers to the specific technique of combining multiple independent melodies in a harmonically pleasing way. It involves the careful arrangement of voices so that they complement and enhance each other, rather than conflicting or creating dissonance. In other words, counterpoint is a specific approach to writing polyphonic music.
The use of chords in Western music can be traced back to the Renaissance, where composers began to use triads - chords consisting of three notes - to create harmonic progressions. This led to the development of tonal harmony, which became the dominant harmonic system in Western music from the Baroque period onwards.
John Dunstable (c. 1390-1453) was an English composer of the early Renaissance period known for his use of triadic harmony. His triadic style, which involves using three-note chords, had a significant influence on the development of Western classical music.
Dunstable's triads were characterized by their clarity and smoothness, which were achieved through careful voice leading and the use of closely spaced intervals. His use of triads was innovative for the time, as it departed from the predominantly intervallic approach of medieval music.
One of Dunstable's most famous compositions featuring triads is the motet "Quam pulchra es," which showcases his signature style of clear and harmonious triadic writing. Another example is his chanson "Mater patris et filia," which features triadic harmony in the upper voices, while the lower voices move in parallel motion.
Chords are groups of three or more notes played together.
Chords are constructed by stacking thirds on top of each other. For example, a C major chord consists of the notes C, E, and G, which are the first, third, and fifth notes of the C major scale. The most important chords in tonal harmony are the tonic, dominant, and subdominant chords, which form the foundation of the tonal system.
The reason that a chord sounds pleasing to the human ear has to do with the underlying physics of sound and the way our brains process auditory information.
When two or more notes are played together in a chord, they create a complex pattern of sound waves that interact with each other in various ways. In particular, the frequencies of the different notes in the chord interact with each other in a way that creates a sense of consonance or dissonance.
For example, when the frequencies of the notes in a major chord form a 4:5:6 ratio, as in the notes C, E, and G played together, the resulting sound is generally perceived as pleasing and harmonious.
When chords are played in succession, they create chord progressions, which form the backbone of much Western music. The way chords are arranged in a chord progression can create a sense of tension and release, leading to the emotional impact of the music.
For example, a common chord progression in the key of C major is the I-IV-V progression, which uses the first, fourth, and fifth chords in the C major scale (C major, F major, and G major, respectively). This progression creates a sense of tension and release, leading to a feeling of resolution when the final chord (the V chord) resolves back to the tonic (the I chord).
Here are some steps to harmonize a melody:
Determine the key: The first step is to determine the key of the melody. This will help you choose the appropriate chords and notes for harmonization.
Identify the melody notes: Analyze the melody and identify the notes that make up the melody. These notes will serve as a guide for choosing the appropriate chords and harmonies.
Choose chords: Select chords that fit with the melody notes. For example, if the melody note is a C, you could choose a C major or C minor chord to harmonize it.