Polychords with Major and Minor Triads: Application Example

The chapter on polychords from the Vincent Persichetti book on Twentieth Century Harmony is the basis for this video on composing music with S(6p) polychords with two triadic units (major/minor triads). From stacking combinations of two building blocks, a set of major triads with symmetrically distributed roots SMR4i and two hexatonic triad pairs HTP we create two-layer polychord continuities. From these we derive melody, single layer options with chromatically ascending bass or pedal point, and other modifications. Various options are applied in an orchestral example composition with ternary form.

The companion document (text, diagrams and score excerpts, PDF, 34 pp., A4) is available on Patreon.

Contents:
00:00 Opening titles
00:28 Section 1 Introduction: what this video is about
01:33 Section 2 Source Elements, Persichetti book, Polychords with major and minor triads
04:18 Section 2.1 SMR4i: Major/minor triads SM/Sm with symmetrically distributed roots
05:21 Section 2.2 HTP: Hexatonic Triad Pairs, major-to-minor progression
07:17 Section 2.3 Polychords in thirds, two layers S(3p)|S(3p), continuities, modifications
12:24 Section 3 Composing example, orchestral, ternary form, 3/4
13:02 Section 3.1 Introduction, single layer SMR4i, harp and celesta arpeggio patterns
13:43 Section 3.2 Exposition, main theme 1st statement, polychords SMR4i|HTP, clarinet
14:30 Section 3.3 Transition, imitation motif for strings, variable density
14:57 Section 3.4 Main theme 2nd statement, HTP|SMR4i, woodwinds 4-part, bass pedal point
16:14 Section 3.5 Transition SMR4i|HTP, tremolo strings, contrary motion
17:03 Section 3.6 Exp closing SM|SM, brass fanfare, variable density, contrary motion
18:01 Section 3.7 Development start, fast tempo, percussion only
18:16 Section 3.8 Dev Pt 1, single layer, SM64 2nd inversion position, bass ostinato
19:07 Section 3.9 Hexachords SM|SM, sustained harmony, 16th note scalar runs
20:49 Section 3.10 Transition, upper layer SM, chrom. asc. bass, variable density
22:06 Section 3.11 Dev Pt 2, polychords HTP|SmR4i, staccato 8ths, horn stabs
23:26 Section 3.12 Contrast HTP|SmR4i, staccato 8ths, main theme, top pedal point
24:45 Section 3.13 Tutti climax HTP|SmR4i, many musical elements, new lead melody
27:18 Section 3.14 Recapitulation HTP|SM, incr. tension level, augmentation, trem. strings
29:01 Section 3.15 Closing climax SM|SM, brass fanfare, 16th note scalar runs
31:05 Section 4 Full composition, annotated reduced score
34:12 Summary and conclusion

#VincentPersichetti #Polychords #OrchestralMusic

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