advanced placement music theory adding harmony to a melody
TRANSCRIPT
ADVANCED PLACEMENT MUSIC THEORY
Adding Harmony to a Melody
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
D:
2. ANALYZE THE MELODY USING SCALE DEGREES
D:
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)
D:
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.
Steps to make an easy arrangement in Sibelius
2. Copy the material selected.
Steps to make an easy arrangement in Sibelius
3. Open a new Sibelius file/arrangement.
Steps to make an easy arrangement in Sibelius
4. In the Manuscript Paper select an ensemble that has at least FOUR pitched instruments.
Steps to make an easy arrangement in Sibelius
5. Choose the same time signature of the original version.
Steps to make an easy arrangement in Sibelius
6. Select the same key as the original. (Remember you can change it later.)
Steps to make an easy arrangement in Sibelius
7. Put in the title, composer, and remember YOU are the arranger of this one.
Steps to make an easy arrangement in Sibelius
8. Select all of the pitched instrument parts to include in your arrangement. Remember, include at least FOUR.
Steps to make an easy arrangement in Sibelius
9. Go up to NOTES in your top bar, and click on Arrange…
Steps to make an easy arrangement in Sibelius
10. In the Arrange… screen select Standard Arrangement and click OK.
Steps to make an easy arrangement in Sibelius
10a. Sibelius should automatically create the arrangement for you.
Steps to make an easy arrangement in Sibelius
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.