How can I actually use bach's 4 part harmony?

Hello again,

As I've said recently, I'm doing grade 6 and have learnt how to harmonise a melody like Bach would without going 'theoretically' or 'technically' wrong.

However, I'd like to compose something the piano can play or the harpsichord voice on my keyboard. I can probably make a bearable/listenable melody, but how do I split the piece up? Is it like an ABA theme or AB?

thanks!

will

Generally, when I have a piece in mind, I usually have a sense of what it will sound like before I write it. That's me, though. I don't know how it works for you.

I'd say you should get the linear ideas and write them out. Any counter-melodies or important cadences should be fleshed out a bit if you know what you want. Then, create the bass. Follow that with the middle voices.

In terms of Form, AB is Binary Form, or 2-part form, and it can also be ABa where the second 'a' section is not fully stated or somehow changes. You can have ABA, 3-part form, also known as Ternary Form where the second 'A' repeats the first statement (not as popular, but still a possibility). You could have a Rondo Form, ABACA... it can go on from there to further sections. You can also try to modify the Sonata Form if you're interested in doing that. You might even try writing a Fugue depending on what your content is. This is more like a Subject/Episode kind of form. A Theme and Variations is possible, or even a Passacagalia where you have one theme through the whole work with variations of the theme at each point. I could go on, but these are just a few of the forms that already exist. Sonata form could be what you're looking for, depending on what you're trying to do. This consists of an Exposition containing 2 themes, A & B, a Development where both themes (and possibly a Development Theme) are developed, and a Recapitulation where the A & B themes are restated and possibly different (following development of those themes).

Are you trying to write a Hymn? Is it a choral work? Depending on how long you want it to be, you could consider combining the above and see what you get. You can also try to create your own form. Formal derivatives of the above are nice templates, but it really comes down to what you are trying to accomplish and what you are trying to accomplish. Maybe you just want a 16 bar hymn.

Tell us more about what you want to do and folks here can probably give you more feedback.

Biggest thing to remember, according to what I was taught, is voice leading.

Then again, I have no idea if that's true, but it's helped me in my music.

Thanks for the replies guys!

What is voice leading?

I will try an AB type thing. I'm no expert so I'll probably create quite a short 'chordy piece'. Would a straight crotchet melody with a few passing notes be ok? A new chord/harmony every crotchet. A cadence at the end of every melodic phrase.

I want it to be for solo piano.

Hello again,

As I've said recently, I'm doing grade 6 and have learnt how to harmonise a melody like Bach would without going 'theoretically' or 'technically' wrong.

However, I'd like to compose something the piano can play or the harpsichord voice on my keyboard. I can probably make a bearable/listenable melody, but how do I split the piece up? Is it like an ABA theme or AB?

thanks!

will

Hi 132will, I think the thing to keep in mind most is that studying the 4 part harmony of things like Bach Chorales will give you good experience with understanding chord progressions (especially of the common practice type) and also brief modulations etc. And good experience in avoiding the pitfalls of parallel octaves and 5ths.

The biggest thing to keep in mind when you take that knowledge to writing for piano or harpsichord is to realize that most non polyphonic keyboard music probably isn't written in 4 part harmony. For a way to start writing for keyboard I'd think to write mostly in 2 parts (which will still imply the 4 part writing you've learned) and use binary form (AABB) where the first half ends on the dominant (sometimes relative major in minor keys) and the second half leads back to the tonic.

Though you might like to work on later classical or even romantic pieces, your background with Bach would probably make something baroque sounding a good place to start. For examples of pieces to try writing check out the smaller pieces in a book like The Notebook for Anna Magdelena Bach which has some pretty well known minuets and other pieces (note though that most people don't think Bach himself wrote most of these little pieces)

From there branch out into bigger things :thumbsup:

Voice leading - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sorry for the link, I just am bad at explaining things.

Basically, make sure there's a good contour to the horizonal lines.