Adding Harmony to a Melody

transcript

ADVANCED PLACEMENT MUSIC THEORY

Essential Question: What is the process to add an alto, tenor, and bass harmony line to a melody (like the one below)?

Prior Information You Will Need

Reading the Treble and Bass Clefs.Finding and labeling the key.Using numbers (or solfege) to analyze the

melody. Building triads/chords on each scale degree.Analyzing what triads/chords contain the melody

pitch.Writing down the Roman numeral analysis.Inversions.Vocal ranges of the voice parts.Basic part writing rules.

THE PROCESS

DETERMINE THE KEY.ANALYZE THE MELODY USING SCALE DEGREES. ADD THE ROMAN NUMERALS FOR THE CHORDS TO BE

USED.CREATE YOUR BASS LINE.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO USE PARALLEL FIFTHS AND EIGHTHS REMEMBER TO WRITE IN THE RANGE OF THE BASS VOICE

FILL IN THE ALTO AND TENOR LINES. FILL IN THESE VOICES ONE VOICE AT A TIME AS IF EACH WERE

THEIR OWN MELODY. REMEMBER EVERY CHORD MEMBER MUST BE PRESENT UNLESS

THE RESULT WILL BE BREAKING THE RULES. ONLY THE THIRD MAY BE OMITTED.

DOUBLE CHECK YOUR WORK TO MAKE SURE YOU DID NOT MISS ANYTHING OR BREAK THE RULES.

1. DETERMINE THE KEY

2. ANALYZE THE MELODY USING SCALE DEGREES

1 1 1 5 6 7 1 7 65

1 7 6 5 5 26 4 3 1

3. ADD THE ROMAN NUMERALS FOR THE CHORDS TO BE USED. (FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT, WE WILL ONLY USE CHORDS – I, IV, & 5)

1 1 1 5 6 7 1 7 65

1 7 6 5 5 26 4 3 1

V VI I I I I I IV IV V IV V V V VIV IV IV

ON YOUR OWN…

ADD THE ROMAN NUMERALS FOR THE CHORDS TO BE USED.

CREATE YOUR BASS LINE. BE CAREFUL NOT TO USE PARALLEL FIFTHS AND

EIGHTHS REMEMBER TO WRITE IN THE RANGE OF THE BASS VOICE

FILL IN THE ALTO AND TENOR LINES. REMEMBER EVERY CHORD MEMBER MUST BE PRESENT UNLESS THE RESULT WILL BE BREAKING THE RULES. ONLY THE THIRD MAY BE OMITTED.

DOUBLE CHECK YOUR WORK TO MAKE SURE YOU DID NOT MISS ANYTHING OR BREAK THE RULES.

WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED

WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THIS ASSIGNMENT ONE STEP FARTHER…

WE ARE GOING TO USE THE ARRANGING TOOL IN SIBELIUS AND CREATE AN

ARRANGEMENT FOR AN ENSEMBLE.

Steps to make an easy arrangement in Sibelius

1. Select your current SATB arrangement – notes only.

2. Copy the material selected.

3. Open a new Sibelius file/arrangement.

4. In the Manuscript Paper select an ensemble that has at least FOUR pitched instruments.

5. Choose the same time signature of the original version.

6. Select the same key as the original. (Remember you can change it later.)

7. Put in the title, composer, and remember YOU are the arranger of this one.

8. Select all of the pitched instrument parts to include in your arrangement. Remember, include at least FOUR.

9. Go up to NOTES in your top bar, and click on Arrange…

10. In the Arrange… screen select Standard Arrangement and click OK.

10a. Sibelius should automatically create the arrangement for you.

11. Edit and add what you choose to your arrangement.

Things to look for:1. Out of range notes.2. Parts doubled too many time for YOUR ear.3. What is thought of as a “tenor” instrument may be playing the “alto” line, which if fine if YOU want it that way.

Adding Harmony to a Melody

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