Whole-tone harmony, also known as whole-tone scale harmony, is a musical concept that revolves around the use of the whole-tone scale in creating harmonic progressions and chord structures. The whole-tone scale is a symmetrical scale that consists of only whole tones, meaning there are no half steps between any of the notes. This unique scale creates a sense of ambiguity and tension in music, as it lacks a clear tonal center or resolution point.
Whole-tone Scale
The whole-tone scale is a six-note scale that consists of whole tones only. In Western music theory, it is constructed by stacking whole tones on top of each other, resulting in a scale that sounds evenly spaced and symmetrical. The scale is often used to create a sense of mystery, ambiguity, and tension in music, as it lacks the traditional tonal hierarchy found in major and minor scales.
Harmonies in Whole-tone Harmony
In whole-tone harmony, chords are built using notes from the whole-tone scale. These chords often consist of stacked intervals of major thirds, resulting in a sound that is both dreamy and dissonant. Due to the symmetrical nature of the whole-tone scale, chords built on different degrees of the scale can be transposed and inverted without changing their overall character.
Usage in Music
Whole-tone harmony has been used by composers throughout history to create a sense of otherworldliness and exoticism in their music. It is commonly found in impressionist and modernist music, where composers like Claude Debussy and Igor Stravinsky used it to evoke a sense of mystery and ambiguity. Whole-tone harmony is also prevalent in jazz music, where it is used to create tension and dissonance in improvisational contexts.
Conclusion
Overall, whole-tone harmony is a unique and fascinating concept in music theory that offers composers a different palette of sounds and harmonies to work with. By exploring the whole-tone scale and its harmonic implications, musicians can create music that is both innovative and expressive, pushing the boundaries of traditional tonal harmony. Whether used sparingly for coloristic effects or as a central element in a composition, whole-tone harmony adds a layer of complexity and intrigue to music that captivates listeners and challenges their expectations.
Este glossário sobre O que é Whole-tone Harmony (Harmonia de Tons Inteiros)? visa fornecer uma visão abrangente e detalhada sobre esse conceito musical, explorando sua origem, estrutura, aplicação e impacto na música. Espero que esse recurso seja útil e informativo para músicos, estudantes de música e entusiastas que desejam aprofundar seu conhecimento sobre harmonia de tons inteiros.
