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You are here: Home / Questions / What exactly does prolonging the harmony mean? And what limitations does the practice posess?

What exactly does prolonging the harmony mean? And what limitations does the practice posess?

June 15, 2017 By

Forum › Category: Harmony › What exactly does prolonging the harmony mean? And what limitations does the practice posess?
1 Vote Up Vote Down
Dylan G asked 5 years ago

Hello fellow composers,
Throughout my study of the small musical forms, I have come across some small musical confusion. I am able to create strong basic ideas, however I do not understand how to prolong the harmony underneath the structure of the melody.
While looking at the works of Beethoven and Mozart, I noticed that during their basic ideas they frequently shift from tonic to dominant. When I attempt to do this, my music becomes incomparable. 
Does the harmony have to match up with the notes in the melody? Or can the harmony just shift around on its own while the melody pursues the function of a basic idea? These are a few questions left in my mind after watching the prolongation video.
Thanks!
Dylan

Question Tags: basic idea, composition, dominant, harmony, melody, prolongation, tonic
1 Answers
0 Vote Up Vote Down
Jon Brantingham Staff answered 5 years ago

Dylan,

I accidentally skipped your question. Here is an answer I gave to someone else in the forum.

What means Prolongation?

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