Modulations - Examples

Question 1

big idea

Answer 1

• a few examples of the various situations in which you will find modulations
• note: presence of pivot chords and length of modulation

Question 2

examples

Answer 2

• when a modulation occurs from major to minor
• • keep track of accidentals creating the leading tone tonicizing the minor
• • look at the chord progression and determine function and use your prior knowledge to determine if the progression makes sense
• move the dominant
• • adds a sharp or loses a flat
• • four possible pivot chords (I, iii, V, or vi in the original key)
• • minor keys like to move to dominant, and they still use raised leading tone. minor v is not as common
• moving through the dominant using the secondary
• • the secondary leading tone chord provides us with enough to hear the shift in tonic
• direct modulation is an unprepared modulation
• • AKA an abrupt modulation or (if it happens at the opening of a phrase) a phrase modulation
• • very common in chorale writing
• • phrase ending with a fermata, then new phrase is a new key
• • no preparation and no pivot chord

Question 3

modulations are a common occurrence in music

Answer 3

• they happen all the time, you may not notice them or if you do you think nothing of them
• modulation, when done well, adds interest to the music
• modulation, when done poorly, can destroy the flow of a piece of music
• a great “go-to” when you are stuck writing music…use it carefully
• gradual modulations are smoother than abrupt modulation
• • stay with closely related keys, unless you want to attack the listener

Question 4

one of the most common types of modulations is to modulate to the ________ of the home key

Answer 4

• relative minor

Question 5

modulating to a key’s dominant is usually very smooth because it is ___________ sharp(s) or flat(s) away from the home key

Answer 5

• 1

Question 6

any chord in the home key can be used as a pivot chord

Answer 6

• false