Show off your theory chops with my weekly challenge! You’ll find a new question here every Monday. Please comment to post your reply.
Valentine’s Day Challenge:
Scintillating Scarlatti! Here’s a passage from Domenico Scarlatti’s Keyboard Sonata in E minor, K. 198. What is the harmony inside the red circles, and what harmony does it resolve to on the notes with the red asterisks?
Post your reply and come back Friday, February 18th for the answer!
ANSWER for 2/14/22
Ninth chords don’t just appear in pop and jazz…you’ll find them in early 18th-Century Baroque music too! The harmony inside the red circle is F#7, which is V7 of V in E minor. However, the F#7 is decorated with a ninth, G natural, making it an F# dominant minor ninth chord. But unlike in jazz, the ninth here is really just a suspension, which resolves to the root of the F#7 at the asterisk. Jazz music typically treats ninth chords as a more permanent sonority, rather than a temporary decoration.
With Breaking Barlines you learn music theory the right way: fun, holistic, and with a personal touch! Have a look at the complete Breaking Barlines Course! Then sign up for a monthly subscription for full access to all video lessons, worksheets, and answer keys. New lessons are always added, so stay tuned!