Harmonizing Folk Songs

Question 1

steps to harmonizing a melody correctly

Answer 1

• determine a harmonic rhythm
• • not all notes have to fit into chord
• keep the rhythm consistent
• figure out what key and mode it is in
• analyze the scale degrees in melody
• • a lot of folk songs use just a V and I chord
• • figure out a chord grid
• write in chord names and roman numerals
• look for cadence points and what cadence should be used
• this process is very useful if you want to write your own music
• when you have a better understanding of harmonic function, writing becomes easier

Question 2

background variance

Answer 2

• harmonic structure can stay the same but we can change how to play the notes
• rhythmic variance

Question 3

texture

Answer 3

• contrapuntal - individual voices are fighting for attention. individual voices are independent of each other
• homophonic - one melody and harmonic to support it
• if you change the background or texture, you can change the sound of the piece

Question 4

texture style

Answer 4

• sousa style
• chord displaced to beat
• eighth note arpeggiated
• 16th note arpeggiated

Question 5

when harmonizing a melody, it is common to have one chord per measure. what is the term for how often chords change?

Answer 5

• harmonic rhythm

Question 6

folk songs are often harmonized with only two chords. using Roman numerals, what are the two chords?

Answer 6

• V and I

Question 7

before harmonizing a melody, what should be identified first?

Answer 7

• the key

Question 8

what is the texture of a melody accompanied with blocked chords in root position?

Answer 8

• homophonic

Question 9

name the cadence type heard most often at the end of the first phrase

Answer 9

• half