Lesson with theusii

In this lesson, we're going to work on harmonic principles, and maybe a little voice-leading/basic principles of counterpoint.

I will post a preliminary exercise later.

Sir,

Thanks, I shall look forward to learn from you! Sir, have you already taken a look at my compositions that I have posted on the choral/vocal thread? I supposed by now you already know how lacking my knowledge is in this aspect of music theory.

God bless you always,

Rolan

Yes, I had a look. Looks like your voice leading is quite good, and harmony not too bad either! I will try to post an exercise today.

Here is one exercise.

This is a piece written for choir, but deliberately written very badly. I want you to find any mistakes - find anything that sounds wrong to you - and then fix them.

Perhaps you could circle each mistake, to show me what you think is wrong.

I will post another exercise soon.

Exercise theusii.pdf

Exercise theusii.mid

Hi,

My apology for taking quite a while to submit my assignment. Here is my analysis.

M1- wrong doubling, opening tonic chord may have a tripled root provided that the third which clarifies its identity as major or minor chord is present. One can omit the fifth of the chord but not the 3rd.

On the second beat, the inversion of the dominant chord doubled the leading tone. As a rule, it cannot be double if it is a part of the V, V7, VII, or its inversion.

M2- The harmony of this measure is rather unclear to me. On the first beat, after the resolution of the suspension is a IV6; however its expected resolution to ii chord or V chord did not occur on this same measure because the third beat did not form any chord, if one will analyze it vertically, that is.

M3. From the third beat of M2 to the first beat of M# is a parallel octaves between S and T

On beat 2 is a I6 chord with a double fifth. Although the doubling can occur freely in some context, the bass, which is the 3rd of the chord in this context, is still the best choice for doubling.

M4. The first beat is unclear to me. I am not sure if it is a tonic chord in the 2nd inversion without a fifth or a iii chord without also a fifth?

On the second beat, the alto overlap the soprano voice

M5- wrong doubling of the vi chord

M6- the bass crossed the tenor, moreover, a voice overlapping between the tenor and the bass

On the third beat is a wrong doubling of the first inversion IV chord.

M7- Wrong notes on the first and second beat because it had caused a parallel fifth between the tenor and the alto

May God bless you, Sir!

Rolan

OK, very good. You spotted most of the errors.

Let me just point out a few things you said with which I don't entirely agree.

On beat 2 is a I6 chord with a double fifth. Although the doubling can occur freely in some context, the bass, which is the 3rd of the chord in this context, is still the best choice for doubling.

The best note here to double is the root, and then the fifth. The third of the chord functions as a leading tone here, and doubling it would make things a little tricker.

M4. The first beat is unclear to me. I am not sure if it is a tonic chord in the 2nd inversion without a fifth or a iii chord without also a fifth?

Here the chord was obviously a 2nd inversion tonic chord; however, be careful not to think in terms of 'chords' too much. Voice leading, and counterpoint lead to things which can be hard to explain, or understand when you're thinking in terms of chords, so always consider the horizontal motion of the voices as well.

(your other concerns about chords you couldn't identify could be explained by passing notes, clumsy as this example was. e.g., m.2)

The 2nd inversion tonic chord could be deduced here by the movement of the harmony.

On the third beat is a wrong doubling of the first inversion IV chord.

(relating to m.6)

This voicing perhaps isn't brilliant, but there's certainly not much wrong with it. The best note to double in first inversion chords is often the note in the soprano voice. (More problematic was the downright mistake at the start of the measure)

Good job overall. I will try and set another exercise soon.

Sir,

The correction was intensely helpful. I have taken a thorough review on them so as to prepare for the next exercise and/or lessons that you are to give me.

God bless you always,

Rolan

Sir,

When will I have my next lesson?